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Uplift: Chef Jernard's popular TV show travels the country spotlighting Black-Owned Food businesses.
· 30 min
Episode Uplift: Chef Jernard's popular TV show travels the country spotlighting Black-Owned Food businesses.
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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Chef Jernard Wells.
The discussion centers on Wells' culinary journey, his family influences, entrepreneurship, television success, and his newest TV One travel series, Savor the City. The conversation highlights how food, culture, travel, and storytelling come together to celebrate Black excellence and community impact.
Purpose of the Interview
The purpose of the interview was to:
• Introduce Chef Jernard Wells' new TV One series, Savor the City. • Share his journey from a young entrepreneur in Mississippi to a nationally recognized chef and television personality. • Discuss how food can connect families, cultures, and communities. • Highlight Black-owned restaurants, businesses, and entrepreneurs across the country. • Inspire viewers to pursue their passions while embracing creativity and hard work. • Celebrate positive stories within the Black community through food and travel.
Key Takeaways
1. Family Inspired His Culinary Journey
Wells credits both of his parents for sparking his love for food.
• His father was a professional chef specializing in Creole cuisine. • His mother was a nurse who later became a pastry chef.
Growing up surrounded by cooking and baking gave him a strong culinary foundation and appreciation for food as an expression of love.
Key Point: His culinary career began at home, where cooking was both a life skill and a family tradition.
2. Entrepreneurship Started Early
After his father's passing when he was 16 years old, Wells looked for ways to help support his family.
Using the cooking skills he learned from his parents, he started selling meals from his mother's kitchen.
He served:
• Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
to members of his local community.
Key Point: His first business emerged from necessity, creativity, and a desire to help his family.
3. Cooking Is About More Than Food
Throughout the interview, Wells emphasized that food creates connections.
For him, cooking is about:
• Family • Culture • Community • Storytelling • Shared experiences
His work consistently focuses on bringing people together through meals and hospitality.
4. New Soul Kitchen Was Built Around Real Life
Wells explained that his CLEO TV programs evolved from the realities of balancing:
• Family • Career • Cooking • Everyday responsibilities
He recognized that many people want flavorful meals but lack hours to spend in the kitchen.
5. New Soul Kitchen Remix Solves Modern Cooking Challenges
One of Wells' most successful concepts is helping viewers prepare meals quickly.
The show focuses on:
• Fast recipes • Budget-friendly meals • Practical cooking techniques • Meals that can be completed in 30 minutes or less
Key Point: Great food shouldn't require sacrificing family time.
6. Television Requires Constant Preparation
When asked about mistakes on television, Wells admitted they happen.
His strategy is simple:
• Stay calm. • Keep moving. • Don't stop. • Adjust in real time.
He also revealed that he is often his own harshest critic, constantly reviewing ways he could improve after each appearance.
Key Point: Excellence comes from preparation and self-evaluation.
7. Travel Expands Creativity
Wells believes traveling helps him become a better chef.
Exploring different cities and cultures allows him to:
• Discover new flavors • Learn new techniques • Meet innovative chefs • Gather inspiration for future…
Links in the notes 4
Transcript
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