Sideboard

dishing with

Cooking up comfort with Southern darling TAMRA PATTERSON

Chef Tam would’ve sworn up and down she’d never go into the culinary industry like the rest of her family. The biggest reason? She’s never been a fan of cleaning the inevitable dirty dishes. She’s the first to tell you that stubbornness is her superpower, but sign after sign led her to the path she was meant to follow. Now, after years of stealing hearts (and stomachs) with her restaurant’s soulful meals and her appearances on several televised cooking competitions, she’s set her sights on making her star shine even brighter. We talked with her about her storied career so far and what more she has in store for her fans. This is what she had to share.

I grew up in a family of professional cooks and bakers, so I was always in an apron. And