198: Charlotte Jenkins, Gullah Cuisine (Awendaw, SC)

Charlotte Jenkins of Awendaw, SC, has been cooking since she was nine years old when her mother left her in charge of the kitchen to take care of a sick family member. She was the chef and owner at Gullah Cuisine on Hwy. 17 in Mount Pleasant (just over the bridge from Charleston) for 17 years until that restaurant closed in 2014, but she's never stopped cooking, catering for a select group of clients and now, in her 70s, considering a new venture. When we sat down to record, she was so enthusiastic about the session, she started right in, and that's just Charlotte. She has more energy than many of us, and her energy, pride in her heritage, and of course, some serious cooking chops, have helped bring Gullah culture more recognition. Her book, Gullah Cuisine: By Land and By Sea is in its third edition.