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Mon, Dec. 5 at 7pm – A Chef's Life Holiday Special

Chef Vivian Howard, host of ‘A Chef's Life’ on PBS.
Courtesy of South Carolina ETV
/
PBS Pressroom
Chef Vivian Howard, host of ‘A Chef's Life’ on PBS.

Join Chef Vivian Howard for a taste of the holidays as she serves up the best of her Southern cooking heritage and the Chanukah traditions her husband Ben grew up with. From a simple corned ham to an upscale oyster dressing, from humble Hoppin’ John to an elegant red velvet cake, sample one of the most charming and delicious holiday celebrations of the season.

Tune in Mon, Dec. 5 at 7pm on the WSIU stations: WSIU 8.1, WUSI 16.1, WSEC 14.1, WQEC 27.1 and WMEC 22.2 or access the WSIU local broadcast livestream online at pbs.org or via the PBS Video app. Get extended access to this program and more with WSIU Passport.

About the Program
Having spent most of her adult life in the kitchens of highly-lauded restaurants, Vivian has rarely celebrated the holidays during busy Decembers. This year, she and her husband Ben Knight are determined to give their toddler twins a traditional holiday experience, cooking, laughing, and yes, crying their way through Southern traditions new and old. In A CHEF’S LIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL, Vivian discovers that mistletoe is traditionally shot out of a pecan tree, experiences her first hog killing, and leads a “tacky Christmas sweater” night with the restaurant staff at Chef and the Farmer.

This is television you can virtually taste, complete with culinary expert friends and family stopping by to help Vivian with her feast. Chef Scott Barton (Voyage), Vivian’s mentor and an expert on Southern food, shows her how to prepare Hoppin’ John, and North Carolina’s Bill Smith (Crook’s Corner) shares his secrets for his world famous corned ham. Vivian recreates her childhood memories as she bakes red velvet cake with her sister and celebrates the first night of Chanukah with Ben’s family, making traditional foods and lighting the menorah.

“With A CHEF’S LIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL, you truly get a sense of the emotion of the holidays, and PBS is pleased to feature the new special in primetime as families gather at home and around their own culinary traditions,” said Donald H. Thoms, Vice President, General Audience Programming, PBS. “PBS has a long-standing tradition of quality food and documentary programs, and A CHEF’S LIFE encapsulates the best of both worlds as an insightful and inspiring documentary food series.”

More than a cooking show, A CHEF’S LIFE is a character-driven documentary series that takes viewers inside the life and kitchen of Chef Vivian Howard. Howard originally made a name for herself in the competitive Manhattan restaurant world, before she and her husband Benjamin Knight moved back to her home of Eastern Northern Carolina to open their own restaurant. From a devastating fire to the opening of a second restaurant, A CHEF’S LIFE has followed Vivian and Ben as they raise a family, manage their business, and discover the food traditions that make the South such a special place. A CHEF’S LIFE was honored with a Peabody Award in 2014 and was also nominated for a James Beard Award.

With over a decade of experience in public media, Stackhouse serves as the Assistant Director of Digital Services for WSIU Public Broadcasting. The Digital Service department supports the promotion of the station’s digital content and services including social media, web-based membership services and activities, and marketing and communications. Stackhouse's professional goals include creating an inclusive environment where media students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale can gain experience and professional development opportunities in various aspects of the broadcasting industry.
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