Roosevelt Brownlee: Jazz Chef and Soul Food Master (Savannah, GA)

The Southern Fork

Roosevelt Brownlee lives on the curve of a quiet street in Savannah, GA, the tall stalks of okra in his vegetable garden just visible from the side drive. It’s one of many such streets in the port city, and only a few minutes from the old City Market area where he spent his earliest years. But in between those two Savannah addresses, Roosevelt has traveled the world, from France to Africa, the Caribbean to Denmark, cooking for everyone from Muddy Waters and Stan Getz to Nina Simone and the Rothchild family. His fried chicken was famous in Europe, his family’s red rice recipe honed and tweaked in chateau kitchens. With every deviled crab and pan of mac and cheese, he brought comfort and sustenance to jazz musicians hungry for a taste of home, and at the same time, introduced countless newcomers to the joys of good Southern cooking. Although he’s cooked for much of the last two decades in Savannah kitchens, he’s mostly retired now, though every so often you can see him at special events in the Lowcountry, big hotel spoon in hand, stirring a pan or a pot of something. If that happens, make sure that you get a taste of what he’s cooking. Remember, it’s the true stuff of legend.

Other episodes you might enjoy:

Mashama Bailey & John Morisano, The Grey and The Grey Market (Savannah, GA)

Adrian Miller, Author and Soul Food Scholar