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Culinary Services Rooted in Heritage


Gullah Cuisine A

Legacy That Lives On

For nearly two decades, Gullah Cuisine Restaurant was more than a dining destination — it was a gathering place where tradition was tasted, stories were shared, and a centuries-old culture came alive on every plate. When the restaurant closed in 2014, the fire didn't go out. It simply moved closer to you: into intimate kitchens, community demos, private feasts, and shared tablescarrying the heart of Gullah Geechee heritage forward with every dish.

Whether you're seeking a chef-led cooking class, a curated meal plan, or small-scale catering steeped in authentic flavor, each experience is an invitation to taste history — and to keep it alive.

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Gullah Cuisine

Chef Charlotte Jenkins

Charlotte A. Jenkins, a native of Awendaw, South Carolina, discovered her calling in the kitchen at the tender age of nine. What began as childhood curiosity would blossom into a lifelong mission to preserve and celebrate the rich culinary traditions of the Gullah Geechee people. After graduating from Johnson & Wales University's School of Culinary Arts in 1988, she launched her own catering business, laying the foundation for a remarkable career.

In 1995, Charlotte, alongside her late husband Frank Jenkins and their daughter, opened the doors to Gullah Cuisine in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The restaurant quickly became a beloved destination, serving traditional Gullah dishes and Gullah Geechee favorites seven days a week. For nearly two decades, it drew food lovers from across the country, earning acclaim from The Washington Post, The New York Times, Gourmet, and Southern Living. Though the restaurant closed its doors in 2014, its legacy continues to inspire and influence Southern cuisine today.


Chef Charlotte Jenkins

In 2010, Charlotte published her cookbook, Gullah Cuisine: By Land and By Sea (Evening Post Publishing Company). Written by William Baldwin and beautifully illustrated by renowned Gullah artist Jonathan Green, the book chronicles Charlotte's Lowcountry upbringing and the deep culinary traditions of her community. More than a recipe collection, it is a cultural treasure that offers readers an intimate look at the heart of Gullah cooking—from the significance of rice and okra to the storytelling that accompanies every meal.

Growing Up Gullah: A Philosophy of Freshness

Today, Charlotte is a celebrated Historical Gullah Chef dedicated to preserving Gullah culture and its culinary heritage. Gullah Cuisine continues as a culinary experience—offering chef services, cooking demonstrations, private events, and cultural storytelling that bring the Gullah Geechee tradition to a new generation.

For Charlotte, Gullah cooking begins with the land and the sea. Her kitchen relies on fresh, locally sourced ingredients—chicken, beef, seafood, vegetables, and herbs—because she believes that fresh foods are healthy foods.

A New Chapter: The Gullah Geechee Culinary and Culture School

Charlotte's most ambitious step is the opening of the Gullah Geechee Culinary and Culture School at Gullah Village Farms. "If we don't teach it, it disappears," she reflects. The school is a living classroom where students learn to grow traditional crops, harvest fresh ingredients, and prepare authentic Gullah dishes—connecting history, agriculture, and culinary artistry from farm to table.

Keeper of the Gullah Flame

At the heart of every great Gullah dish lies the art of seasoning. Inspired by the flavors that shaped the cookbook, Charlotte and her daughter Kesha Jenkins joined together to create Gullah Tings—a thoughtfully crafted line of signature spice blends that carry the soul of the Lowcountry in every pinch. Rooted in tradition and perfected through generations of family cooking, Gullah Tings brings authentic Gullah flavor directly to your kitchen. Explore the full collection of Gullah Tings products and taste the heritage for yourself.

Kesha Jenkins is a culinary entrepreneur, agricultural visionary, and the heart and soul behind Gullah Tings. Her story is one of deep roots, seasoned by generations of farming and flavored by a lifelong love of the kitchen.

With more than two decades in the food industry, Kesha honed her craft as the Consultant, Catering Manager, and Chef at the renowned Gullah Cuisine Restaurant in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. It was there—within the bustling kitchen and alongside the pages of the celebrated cookbook Gullah Cuisine By The Sea—that she began perfecting the signature seasoning blends that would become the cornerstone of Gullah Tings. These recipes are more than just spices; they are a tribute to the Gullah Geechee flavors she grew up with.

About Gullah Tings

Based in the historic lowcountry of Awendaw, SC, Gullah Tings is more than a food company—it is an innovative enterprise dedicated to preserving and celebrating Gullah Geechee culture. Our authentic seasonings and culinary creations honor ancestral wisdom while delivering exceptional taste experiences. We are committed to uplifting our local community, supporting sustainable agriculture, and ensuring that the rich traditions of the Gullah Geechee people continue to inspire and nourish future generations.

Driven by that same momentum, she established De Gullah Farmers Market in August 2025—a powerful platform dedicated to uplifting and amplifying Minority and Gullah Geechee farmers, artisans, and service providers, ensuring their voices, goods, and gifts reach the communities that need them most.

Inspired by her grandparents and parents, who were farmers themselves, Kesha took her passion a step further. She started growing her own herbs and vegetables, ensuring that every jar of Gullah Tings reflects an authentic journey from soil to table. What began as a booth at local farmers' markets has blossomed into a full-fledged movement.

True to her visionary spirit, Kesha formalized her agricultural mission in April 2024 by launching Gullah Village Farms, with plans to break ground in 2027.


Chef-Led In-Home Private Experiences

Bringing the Lesson to Your Kitchen

Imagine a Gullah Geechee chef arriving at your door with fresh, seasonal ingredients and transforming your kitchen into a classroom and feast hall. Our private in-home experiences are structured as Gullah feast cooking lessons — intimate, personalized, and unforgettable. Your guests don't just dine; they learn, participate, and leave with a deeper connection to the food they've enjoyed.

What's Included

  • Chef arrival with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients
  • Guided cooking lesson in your own kitchen
  • Full Sea Island feast prepared together
  • Menu customized to your preferences and dietary needs
  • Recipe cards and take-home provisions
  • Flexible group sizes for intimate gatherings

Menu Philosophy

Every menu is built around seasonal, local ingredients — fresh, honest, and flavorful. Whether you're hosting a dinner party, a family reunion, or a special celebration, we craft a menu that reflects your vision while honoring Gullah Geechee tradition.

Dietary accommodations are available on request, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and allergen-conscious options

Cooking Classes with Gullah Geechee Chefs

You Cook. You Learn. You Connect.

Our classes are led by the finest Gullah Geechee cooks and culture-bearers in the Lowcountry. Chef Charlotte Jenkins, celebrated founder of Gullah Cuisine, and Chef Kesha Jenkins bring spices and seasonings by Gullah Tings an Gullah Geechee favor! Alongside our flagship chefs, we draw from a curated network of skilled Gullah cooks — vetted for both culinary excellence and the depth of their cultural knowledge. When you cook with us, you are learning from the source.

Traditional Recipes

Learn the classics — from okra soup to red rice — using methods that have sustained families and communities for centuries.

Hands-On Techniques

From seasoning to slow-cooking, every step is taught with intention. You'll leave confident in your ability to cook Gullah Geechee cuisine.

Story-Driven Learning

Every recipe has a story. Our chefs weave cultural history into each lesson, making the experience as enriching as it is delicious.

Take-Home Recipes

Guests receive curated recipe cards and ingredient guides to continue their Gullah Geechee cooking journey at home.

Specialty Guest Chefs

Collaborations That Expand the Flavor Journey

Great food brings people together — and great chefs make it unforgettable. Our specialty guest chef program features pop-ups and collaborations positioned as community-centered, culture-mixing culinary moments. From intimate tastings to fuller gatherings, each event is a celebration of shared heritage and creative exchange.

Culinary Demos That Teach the Why

Not Just the What

Gullah culinary demonstrations go far beyond technique. Guests discover the history behind every ingredient, the cultural significance of each method, and the living legacy of Gullah Geechee foodways. Led by chefs and culture-bearers who learned these traditions from grandmothers and community kitchens — not cookbooks — our demos transform a meal into a memory. Understanding why a dish exists, its roots and its resilience, is what makes every session a living classroom.

What You'll Experience

  • Live cooking demonstrations — Watch and participate as Gullah Geechee culture-bearers guide you through recipes passed down for generations, explaining the significance of each step.
  • Gullah Tings spice blending workshops — Discover the spices that define Gullah cuisine and craft your own custom blend to take home.
  • Hands-on preparation of iconic dishes — From Frogmore Stew to okra soup and cast iron cornbread, guests get into the real work of Gullah cooking.
  • Take-home provisions and stories — Every guest leaves with jars, blends, printed recipes, and the cultural context that makes them meaningful.

Perfect For

  • Corporate team-building — Shared cooking builds communication and camaraderie in ways conference rooms simply cannot.
  • Cultural festivals and heritage events — Authentic, educator-led content that honors Black American history and Gullah Geechee traditions with depth and dignity.
  • Private gatherings and dinner parties — Transform any private event into an unforgettable evening of discovery and flavor.
  • Schools, museums, and nonprofits — Bring food history to life and connect participants to living cultural heritage in a tangible, delicious way.

Every demo is tailored to your group — from intimate gatherings of 8 to cultural events of 60+.

Your Table, Your Story

Heritage-Led · Experience-First

At Gullah Cuisine, we believe food is more than sustenance — it's memory, identity, and community. Our small catering for intimate affairs is built to deliver authentic Gullah Geechee flavors as meaningful experiences, not just meals. From private dinners to small celebrations, we specialize in gatherings where every guest feels the warmth of Lowcountry hospitality. Every event we serve becomes a gathering worth remembering.

Ready to Book Your Gullah Feast?

Let's Create Something Beautiful Together

Tell us your date, your guest count, and your vision — and we'll craft a Gullah Geechee culinary experience that exceeds your expectations. Whether you're planning a private dinner, a cooking class, a catering event, or a chef collaboration, we're ready to bring the heritage, the flavor, and the warmth to your table.

📅 Share Your Event Details

Provide your event date, time, number of guests, and venue type so we can tailor our services to your needs.

🍽️ Choose Your Experience

Select from our full range of services: chef demos, cooking classes, guest chef collaborations, meal planning, or small catering.

✨ Receive Your Custom Quote

We'll respond with a personalized proposal, menu options, and pricing — crafted specifically for your event and vision.

"Food is the most powerful way to share culture, build community, and honor those who came before us." — Gullah Cuisine

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