Kardea's Best Dishes
Best Barbecue Sides 19 Photos
Bring bold Low Country flavors to your next cookout.
Sweet Treats 34 Photos
Satisfy your sweet tooth with these delicious desserts.
About the show
About the Host
Kardea Brown
Episodes
See Episode GuideWine and Dine
Kardea Brown and her mom sign up to compete in a grape stomp at a local vineyard. After they have a blast stomping grapes like Lucille Ball, Kardea makes a wine-inspired meal that includes Steak and Patatas Bravas, Brussels Sprouts and Kale Salad with Green Goddess Dressing, Salted Caramel Pots de Crème and Red Muscadine Sangria.
Mamas Who Lunch
Kardea Brown hosts a Mother's Day lunch for her childhood best friends. She's cooking up Scalloped Potato-Stuffed Chicken alongside her Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Roasted Grapes. Then, Kardea has the perfect dessert for these mamas, a Lemon Meringue Pie with shortbread cookie crust, tart lemon filling and pillowy meringue. Plus, every mama deserves a delicious cocktail, so Kardea treats her ladies to a Strawberry Rosé Daiquiri -- a frozen treat with sparkling rosé, rum and strawberries.
Just Horsin' Around
Kardea Brown is cooking up a Derby Day-inspired lunch for an afternoon of horseback riding with her best friend Yolanda. First up, Kardea's Hot Brown Sandwiches have roast turkey topped with a beautifully cheesy sauce. Then, she makes a Cream Cheese Ball with smoked cheddar, olives, pecans and chives, and a Ginger Mint Julep is Kardea's twist on the classic derby cocktail. Last, but not least, Miss Brown's Kentucky Butter Cake is a fluffy, buttery cake that melts in your mouth!
Breakfast for Dinner
When she was a kid, breakfast for dinner was such a fun treat for Kardea Brown, so when her best friend, Yolanda, visits for the weekend, Kardea invents elevated and exciting breakfast dishes for dinner … just for the big kids! First up, Kardea grills up a bone-in rib eye with a fried egg for her Fancy Steak and Eggs and a Savory Dutch Baby, Kardea's take on a savory pancake with smoked salmon and creme fraiche. And Kardea can't have Yolanda over without a cocktail, so Kardea shakes up her refreshing Bourbon Hibiscus Tea and makes fluffy, sky-high Souffle Pancakes with Butter Pecan Sauce for dessert.
There's Nothing Like Home Cooking
Kardea Brown treats her friend Trevor to some Southern home cooking after months of being on the road for work. The star of the table is Lemon and Garlic Baked Chicken, and, for the sides, there's Country Wild Rice with Sausage and Collard Greens with Tomatoes. For dessert, Kardea has something extra Southern -- Upside Down Peach Cornbread Cake!
Oh Baby, Baby!
Kardea Brown cooks up a special meal to celebrate her sister's journey to parenthood. She starts with Golden Yellow Split Pea Soup topped with a little cream and then makes Blackened Trout with Escovitch that brings all the flavor! For veggies, Kardea whips up a Ratatouille with Shrimp and Okra, and her homemade Blackberry Crunch No-Churn Ice Cream ends the dinner on a sweet note.
Bridal Brunch Bites
Kardea Brown is getting married, and her friends and family are throwing her a bridal shower. As every cook in the family does, she brings her own bites of Open-Faced Mini Salmon BLTs, Smoked Ham Salad in Lettuce Cups, Deviled Eggs with Fried Shrimp and Chocolate Coconut Nests.
Fun Park Feast
To celebrate her friend's birthday, Kardea Brown is throwing down some of her friend's favorite Tex-Mex flavors. She's cooking up a Cheesy Birria Dip, Burger Sliders with Esquites and Summer Squash Salad with a smoky agave vinaigrette. Plus, Kardea finishes the celebration with some Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes!
Campfire Eats
Kardea Brown welcomes her nephews and nieces for a night of camping in their Auntie's backyard! Kardea is cooking up her Brisket and Bean Chili with Sweet Mini Corn Muffins, served with Vegetable Medley Sauté with garlic, cauliflower, broccoli and carrots. Plus, no camping outing is complete without s'mores, so Kardea whips up her S'mores Cereal Treats that are perfect for everyone to enjoy around the fire!
Shaking Up Soul Food
Kardea Brown loves a challenge, so she's making classic soul food dishes -- but vegan -- for her cousins. She starts with tofu for Lemon-Pepper Fried "Chicken" Tenders with dairy-free Ranch dipping sauce. She also makes Jackfruit Pulled "Pork" Sliders, Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese and Maple-Glazed Donuts with Coconut "Bacon."
Ladies Who Lunch
Kardea Brown plans a fancy Southern-style light lunch for her good friend and colleague Nancy Fuller. First, Kardea creates an assortment of Southern Tea Sandwiches filled with Smoked Salmon, Homemade Egg Salad and Ham. She pairs those with a Lowcountry Charcuterie Board featuring Buffalo Blue Pimiento Cheese and Candied Pecans. For dessert, she makes mini versions of Nancy's favorite, Key Lime Pie Tartlets. Of course, no lunch with Nancy would be complete without a little Gigi juice, so Kardea mixes up a Spiked Peach Tea.
A Garden Grows
Kardea Brown invites Aunt TC over to help plant a container garden in the backyard while Kardea cooks up a fresh veggie and herb-inspired meal. First up, Veggie Soul Rolls are stuffed with collard greens, carrots, cabbage and rice. Then, Kardea grills Lamb Chops with a Mint Pesto and prepares a Fresh Tomato and Feta Salad. To finish off a beautiful day, nothing sounds better than keeping the oven off, so Kardea makes a no-bake Carolina Mud Pie.
Aw, Shucks!
It's oyster season in the Low Country, and Kardea Brown has invited a couple of friends over for a classic Southern oyster roast. She gives this classic Southern tradition a light and hearty makeover with her Roasted Oysters with Thai Chili Mignonette, Crab Rangoon Wonton Cups, Easy Brunswick Stew and Slow Cooker Black Cherry Cobbler.
Fresh Is Best
Kardea Brown's pal Nancy Fuller is in town, so Kardea and Nancy head to the local farmer's market to get inspired by farm-fresh goodness and grab ingredients for a delicious meal! On the menu is Lemony Herb Shrimp Scampi over Middlins Risotto and Collard Green Salad with a BBQ vinaigrette. For dessert, there's a beautiful Berries and Cream Layer Cake. As Nancy always says, "Fresh is best!"
Cooking Through History
Kardea Brown gets a personal tour of the International African American Museum in Charleston, and she cooks up traditional dishes for the staff. To start, she's serving sweet Charleston shrimp with her Low Country Pickled Shrimp Salad. Then, the main course is Braised Oxtails served over Rice and Sea Island Red Peas. For dessert, Kardea makes Puff Puff with Mango-Papaya Sauce. The food celebrates the flavors from across the African diaspora and how that heritage inspired Low Country cooking!
Puppy Play Date
Kardea Brown is packing up a Mediterranean-inspired lunch to meet with her friend for a puppy play date at the dog park! She's grilling up a Chicken Shawarma Gyro and serving it with a delicious Couscous and Chickpea Salad. For dessert, Kardea adds a twist to her Bundt Pan Baklava and creates a refreshing Raspberry Ouzo Fizz. She even whips up Peanut Butter Pup Cakes for the doggies to enjoy!
Couples Date Night In
Kardea Brown forgoes the expensive restaurant with a fun date night in! She and her boo invite their favorite couples over for a delicious dinner of Braised Chicken with Onion Gravy, Maple-Roasted Root Vegetables, a Hot Toddy and Fried Rice Pudding Balls.
One Night Only
For one night only, Kardea Brown's Aunt TC is dusting off her comedy routine for a church fundraiser, and Kardea is fixing up the food. She's making Fried Mac and Cheese Bites, Party Meatballs with marinara sauce, Artichoke Dip-Stuffed Mushrooms and Mini Cubans. Perfect bites to enjoy all the laughs!
The Festival Is in Town
The Moja Arts Festival, a celebration of African American and Caribbean art, is in town, and Kardea Brown is excited to experience it with her friend. Afterwards, she cooks up a beautiful meal with foods that reflect the African diaspora, including Callaloo, Senegalese Yassa, Black-Eyed Peas with Smoked Ham Hock and Sweet Plantain Foster.
Feeding the Team
Kardea Brown is always rooting for the home team, and today she's feeding her local college football team some winning dishes to fuel them all season long. She serves up Chopped Cheese Sandwiches, Colossal Onion Rings, Hot Carolina Chicken Fingers and Apple Pie Hand Pies with Apple Cider Glaze.
Housewarming Party
Kardea Brown opens her new home to welcome friends, family and new neighbors! For the party, she's making Buttery Lobster Rolls with a charred scallion aioli, Coconut Shrimp with Fruit Salsa, and a Summer Pasta Salad with grilled okra, corn and peppers. Plus, everyone gets something sweet with Kardea's jarred layered dessert -- Strawberry Shortbread Trifles.
#1 Dads
Kardea Brown is planning the perfect meal to celebrate her brothers as two of the best dads she knows! She is frying up her Country Fried Steak with White Gravy over Kardea's Herby Grits with parsley and thyme, alongside Green Beans with Cherry Tomatoes and caramelized onions. Then, to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth, Kardea bakes a Banana Pudding Poke Cake.
Southern Table
Kardea Brown is cooking up the perfect Lowcountry meal for her new Southern table: Fried Chicken with hot honey sauce, Hoppin' John and Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic and Pepper. For dessert, she puts a Southern twist on a sweet Apple Raspberry Cobbler with a Biscuit Top.
Sister Supper
Kardea Brown gets her sisters together for a super Southern and special dinner. The scrumptious menu includes Fried Pork Chops with Homemade Table Gravy, Sauteed Yellow Squash and Zucchini, and Rainbow Rice Pilaf. For dessert, Kardea bakes up a treat that all the sisters love -- Red Velvet Sheet Cake!
Fresh Is Best
Kardea Brown's pal Nancy Fuller is in town, so Kardea and Nancy head to the local farmer's market to get inspired by farm-fresh goodness and grab ingredients for a delicious meal! On the menu is Lemony Herb Shrimp Scampi over Middlins Risotto and Collard Green Salad with a BBQ vinaigrette. For dessert, there's a beautiful Berries and Cream Layer Cake. As Nancy always says, "Fresh is best!"
