About Us

"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and every living thing that moves on the earth.' And God said, 'Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.' And it was so. And God saw everything he had made, and behold, it was very good." - Genesis 1: 26-31a

Growing up in small town North Carolina, I developed an early and deep connection to the 4 F's - Faith, Family, Food, & Fire. (You can always add a 5th F for football, too.) I learned about honoring the gifts of food that God has given us and began hunting and fishing at an early age. It's hard not to love good food when you're surrounded by incredible cooks like my grandmothers and mom. My Nanny taught me the ins and outs of Southern cooking and how to prepare the bounty from my papa and daddy's avid hunting and gardening adventures. From my grandma and momma, I was inspired to discover and experiment with flavors to learn what ingredients and seasonings pair best. Through the years, my love of eating good food turned into a love of cooking it, too. My appreciation of the art of smoking meats was one I developed on my own and has only grown over the last 20 years. In this time, I have learned that the best food is cooked over live fire coals with locally sourced firewood, such as oak and hickory. It's an honor to share this love with Jenn and our families, but now I'm excited to share my love of faith, family, food, and fire with all of y'all. 

Oh, and that 5th F? Go Tigers!

"Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God." - 2 Peter 4:8-10 

Hailing from a long line of good cooks in the Upstate of SC, a love of preparing, eating, and sharing good food began early in my life.  Cooking and gathering around the table is such a part of the DNA of my family and I was blessed to be involved early and often in the work of loving and serving others through food and hospitality. The kitchen has always been the heart of our home and it is there I learned that the chopping and slicing, the stirring and kneading are the best therapy, only topped by the feeling of gathering those I hold most dear around our table. Whether it's preparing dinner for the two of us, loving on or celebrating friends or family with a special meal or treat, or gathering a large group around the table, I'm always happiest when my people are well-fed.  While we don't agree about his 5th F (Go Gamecocks!), I'm thrilled to partner with John in life, love, and The Southern Sow to help you love, show hospitality, and serve your people well.