What Chef Kenny is feeding us on the pages of his book is a delicious pathway into the mind of a well-traveled, highly skilled chef with a creative intelligence. His recipes are a testament to his Southern roots and he found the bridge that allows flavors to cross over from other cultures and delight us with new and exciting dishes. -Chef Ricky Moore, 2022 James Beard Award winner, Best Chef: Southeast
Just like the man himself, the mouthwatering recipes in this book are comforting, global, dripping with creativity and filled with love and passion. This is the evolution of Southern food as it embraces the world beyond its borders and becomes a cuisine that is rooted in tradition but inclusive of all the finest ingredients around the world. -- Chef Edward Lee, author of Buttermilk Graffiti, 2019 James Beard Award For Best Book of Year In Writing
Reading through this book reminds me of what I love so much not only about Kenny's cooking, but about who he is as a person. His versatility, his fresh, bold flavors, and the authenticity which he cooks with will make you want to run into the kitchen immediately and grab your favorite cast iron pan. He somehow seamlessly is able to stay true to his soulful southern style, while introducing us to global combinations of flavors that only he could put together. I only wish I could see the smile on your faces when you take the first bite of his coconut-curry collard greens with pineapple-cornbread gremolata! -- Chef Brooke Williamson
Recipes are a bridge to the past and a gateway into the future. They have the ability to tell a story and connect us by integrating cooking techniques and ingredients from all over the world. The ability to draw from a variety of culture canvases that result in unique flavor compositions and culinary storytelling. Chef Kenny has accomplished incredible, progressive thoughtfulness in this book, and it is incomparable! -- Chef Nyesha Arrington
Kenny looks at food and finds connections in them from a spiritual and soulful perspective. He has dedicated his life to the pursuit of meaningful, flavorful dishes. The vibrant colorful foods radiate his personality. -- Chef Sonny Sweetman
I've had the pleasure of cooking with Chef Kenny Gilbert on numerous occasions and I'm just amazed at his vast knowledge of so many cuisines. He cooks with explosive flavors with a global mindset, from whole ingredients, infusing spice, texture, bursts of flavor and color into simple everyday recipes. This book will transform your dinner to another destination. -- Mei Lin
Publishers Weekly Spring Announcements. This season's cookbooks promise cross-cultural flavors that pack a punch, while recipes inspired by familiar favorites offer creative reinterpretations of comfort food. Southern Cooking, Global Flavors. Top Chef star Gilbert turns up the heat in a collection that calls on global flavors to reinterpret Southern classics. - Publishers Weekly
Southern Cooking, Global Flavors is incredibly innovative and an instant classic. Informed by his fascinating, international culinary experiences, Chef Kenny Gilbert brilliantly translates classic southern food combinations for cooks around the world. Chef Gilbert rightly begins by reminding us that 'Cooking is a form of storytelling.' You'll definitely enjoy this soulful and tantalizing tale by the mouthful! -- Adrian Miller, James Beard Foundation Book Award winner
The personalized stories that Kenny shares are beautiful and draw a vivid picture of how family and food are connected. Southern food naturally has soul, though with Kenny's childhood memories and recipes this book has deeper southern roots. -- Chef Angelo Sosa
I have loved watching Kenny's food evolve over the years. In the mid-2000s, Kenny and I were the only two African-American chefs at the helm of a AAA Five-Diamond restaurant and a Five-Star Mobil Travel Guide restaurant in the United States. He has always inspired me with his flavor combinations and approach. Now the at-home cook can get a sample of how Chef Kenny redefines some of the Southern classics we all love. -Chef Duane Nutter
Kenny Gilbert's talent as a chef and restaurateur shines through in his debut cookbook, Southern Cooking, Global Flavors. His innovative take on iconic dishes like Shrimp & Grits and comfort foods like Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes shows that Kenny has both the knowledge and skill to marry Southern ingredients with global flavors-resulting in a cookbook jammed full of thoughtful, well-crafted dishes. -- Chef Jennifer Hill Booker:
This book is a true American cookbook, one that captures the tapestry of American culture through food. From the outset, my mouth was left watering reading about his mother's fried chicken, and as I continued I was left with a rumbling stomach begging to taste his biscuits, jerk spiced spareribs with coconut guava slaw, Thai Turkey burger with tempura green bean fries, and so so many more. This book is a welcome addition to a blossoming genre of cookbooks that go beyond recipes, and into helping us to gain greater cultural understanding of our neighbors. -- Jessica Nabongo
Kenny is a class act and a great friend. He is a visionary in the culinary world and part of the original Ritz Carlton dream team, all of which have gone on to make a mark in the industry. Bottom line, he is a true pioneer in making good food great! With his creative techniques, Kenny adds texture and flavor to an amazing story behind the food that just makes you fall in love with his cuisine from the moment you see it. -- Farmer Lee Jones
Southern Cooking is a culmination of a curious and passionate mind. Kenny's ability to honor the past with moving his cuisine forward is a gift to all of us. We should all thank Kenny's mother for the food seeds she planted into her boys. Kenny's culinary dissertation within the pages of this book is a beautiful testament to how he sees the world and chooses to celebrate the multi-cultural aspect of our country and definitely our professional kitchens. Every recipe gives you a glimpse into how he connects these threads in a seamless way and gives you the confidence to make a tasty dinner. Any preconceived notion you have on both southern food and its ingredients get blown out of the water. Thankful for you KG! -- Chef Claudette Zepeda
