When did you first get in to cooking and do you remember the first recipe you tried?
Danielle's first exposure to baking was as a little girl by her grandmother's side, learning her recipes and helping her make cakes. The first thing she ever made were pancakes — they weren't great but they were edible! Sherród grew up watching his dad cooking and started in the kitchen in high school. The first recipe he ever learned was fettucine alfredo.
What's your kitchen like and how do you keep organized when cooking?
Danielle's kitchen is very small so she makes use of vertical space whenever possible. She has a baker's rack with lots of containers plus storage underneath and a huge pantry full of ingredients. In what what normally be an office she has a commercial stainless steel work table and a large hutch containing all of her cake decorating supplies. Sherród's kitchen is big but it has odd-sized cabinets and drawers. He pays close attention to what he needs while cooking and organizes drawers near the stove and fridge accordingly. He likes to keep countertops clear of decorations and equipment to allow plenty of room while coking.
What tips would you give to someone wanting to become a better cook?
Don't be afraid to fail. Like any skill, cooking takes practice and that means some recipes won't work out, some days you'll be off, and sometimes you just won't like what you make. Don't take it to heart, just keep trying new things and learning along the way.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party and what would you cook for them?
If we were throwing a dream dinner party (and money were no object), we'd invite Carla Hall and Beyoncé. We'd serve an overflowing smorgasbord of meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, honeys, crudités, dips, crackers, and breads. Then we'd move into some of our favorite southern comfort foods like Fried Chicken, Biscuits and Honey, Collard Greens, Black Eyed Peas, Cornbread, and Virginia/NC-style Barbecue. For dinner we'd end on a classy note with fresh fruit and our signature Opera Cake.
Do you do any other crafts and what are your hobbies?
Danielle enjoys collecting and caring for plants while Sherród enjoys photography.
Which cooking blogs do you love to read?
Geo's Table
Butter Be Ready
Cardamom & Tea
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Thanks for choosing us to be a superstar! We love that people are so into cooking and baking and want to encourage everyone to really give it a try and find what they like to make. You can do it!
Cakes
Dessert
