A show of her OWN
Oakland chef Tanya Holland debuts on the Oprah Winfrey Network
Just months after launching a podcast series, Tanya Holland — Oakland celebrity chef, soul-food specialist and cookbook author — is branching out to TV.
“Tanya’s Kitchen Table” premiered last weekend on the Oprah Winfrey Network, along with three other all-new cooking shows, all featuring Black chefs. Weekly episodes for this season are scheduled to run through Dec. 26.
The culinary shows are a new focus for the network launched by Winfrey in 2011.
“We’re excited to introduce for the first time a programming block of fun-filled cooking shows and look forward to making Saturday afternoons on OWN a new destination for foodies,” Tina Perry, president of the network, said in a statement.
The block of programming kicks off at noon Saturdays with “Lovely Bites,” with Chicago chef Connie “Lovely” Jackson highlighting dishes for festive occasions; followed by “Tregaye’s Way” at 12:30 p.m., with chef Tregaye Fraser of Atlanta pairing foods from different regions to create quick family meals.
“Food Fantasies” at 1 p.m. features some fun banter and meals prompted by questions like “What’s the one dish you would make if calories didn’t count?” or “What’s the meal you would make for your 9-year- old self?” with chefs Eddie Jackson, Nyesha Arrington, Jernard Wells, Darnell Ferguson, Danni Rose, Amaris Jones, Kelli Ferrell, Jocelyn Delk Adams, Gerry Garvin and Kiano Moju.
Then, at 1:30 p.m., Holland is up. The show by the founder of Brown Sugar Kitchen is described by the network as a “stand-andstir” format, with Holland discussing and demonstrating how to “cook local while thinking global.”
Holland burst onto the Oakland scene more than a decade ago, introducing diners to her newstyle soul food. Since then, she has earned Michelin Bib Gourmand honors for cuisine that is fabulous yet still affordable, published a cookbook (“Brown Sugar Kitchen: New-style, Down-home Recipes from Sweet West Oakland”) and appeared on the Food Network’s “Top Chef.”
Her Brown Sugar Kitchen is currently cooking for takeout and delivery, as well as preparing meals for nonprofits via the Oaklanders Serving Oaklanders initiative.
She also just wrapped up her first season of “Tanya’s Table,” a podcast that put cultural, culinary and social issues on the front burner. According to her newsletter, she is currently booking guests for the second season on Muddhouse Media.
DETAILS >> 2295 Broadway, Oakland; www.brownsugarkitchen.com