Graza

Q: How do you describe yourself?

D: I would describe myself as fun, a straight shooter and extremely creative.

Q: Finish this sentence, cooking for me is...

D: Cooking for me is therapeutic and I love the instant gratification.

Q: Take us through your seasons of MasterChef. What did it mean to you to be the first African-American female winner of MasterChef?

D: This question is always super emotional for me. One of the biggest lows is that my mom couldn’t see me on the show. She would have been so proud. The biggest high is my kids being able to be a part of one of my most rewarding accomplishments.

Being the first and as of right now the only African-American female in the MasterChef franchise is hard to put words to and I can only answer with I’m happy God chose me. It’s a crown that I carry with humbling gratitude and never forgetting who I represent.

Q: What's one thing we can find in your kitchen?

D: A good olive oil and butter hahah!!

Q: Who is your biggest culinary inspiration? Who are some chefs you love to follow? 

D: I pull from so many but the ones that stand out are Chef Kenneth Anderson of Kreationseventservices and Chef Benjamin Kendrick of Kendrick_bbq.

Q: What is your go-to dish or recipe to bring together a meal? 

D: My go to changes from time to time but right now it’s my Jamaican style short ribs over dressing with fried plantains. You are talking about a full flavor dish.

Q: Something you wish more people knew about Southern cooking and cuisine?

D: I wish that people could see southern cooking as beautiful as I do. I wish that it was more respected and not seen as just this mound of food on a plate. There is a world of history that goes along with each dish and in each ingredient that is used.

Q: Any words of wisdom, quotes, or mottos you live by?

D: I live my life with the “Trust The Process” attitude. It’s super hard at times but I have found that if I just see a situation or a recipe till the end I will always learn something. It doesn’t matter if the results are in my favor or not, there is something I had to learn to make me a better person. So I have to trust it all the way through.

Q: What's on the horizon for you?

D: Wow, this is sooo hard to answer and that is because I truly believe that God put me on this wave. I don’t know what he has planned for me but I can say that I’m working on my next cookbook.

I would love to be back on tv as a judge of a cooking show. I have some pop ups planned for later this year and of course I look forward to growing my collaborations with more amazing companies and foodies like me.