Diva Foodies sits down with Chef Alexis Hernandez to talk recipes, roots, and the power of a good meal to bring people together.
I’ve known Toby—the force behind Diva Foodies—since my first restaurant, Union Hill Kitchen in Chamblee, Georgia. We first connected in the golden days of Twitter, when a hashtag could open the door to real friendship. She has championed food creators for years, so when she asked to talk about my new cookbook, Conversation Starters from the Other Side of the Stove, I said yes.
This interview goes to the heart of why I wrote the book. Not only to share recipes, but to share the stories that made them. We talk about Cuban lunches and an open-door kitchen. We get into how I wound up in culinary school after my other half filled out the application. We even touch on what Prince taught me about legacy and storytelling, and how that shows up in food.
We also dig into the practical side. Translating restaurant recipes for home cooks. Learning to shoot my own photos in natural light when a stylist wasn’t in the budget. And yes, there are recipes. Two favorites: Fried Chicken with Sriracha Glaze and the dangerously addictive Piedmont Club Buttered Crackers.
Give it a read here, and maybe set a few extra places at your table tonight. You never know what stories show up when the food hits the plate.
-Chef Alexis Hernandez
