In 1996, Brenda and her late husband, George Gantt, opened the Cottle House, a popular bed and breakfast. Beside this home is “The Lodge,” a small, oneroom, cozy cabin that she also rents. Brenda cooks homemade breakfasts for her guests from all over the world. In one video, Cape Merrill demonstrated how to make her grandmother’s famous buttermilk biscuits. Cape also helps to film some of Brenda’s cooking shows.
lamented about being unable to find one like it. One lady told about calling the Lodge Outlet in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, only to be told that “a little old lady, down in Andalusia, Alabama, had made cornbread in this pan on a Facebook video, and within a week, the entire stock had sold out.” A prophet for practicality, Brenda encourages her friends to “use what you got in your kitchen.” She believes that a good cook can make something out of anything! She demonstrates healthy money-saving dishes, like dried beans, collards and cabbage or shows pieces of meat that can be used in many differ-
Brenda’s daughter-in-law, Anna Gantt, is also an exceptional cook, who has appeared in Brenda’s videos. She helped Brenda teach some visitors from Connecticut to make tomato pies. Once the guests got home, they shared their Southern treat with friends, who loved this South Alabama favorite.
ent dishes. She has taught fans to fry fatback, make sawmill gravy and cut up their own chickens. Once, she even prepared wild boar, harvested by her grandson, George. Brenda Gantt has become a “one-woman Chamber of Commerce” for the city of Andalusia. She often shares stories of shopping at “The Pig” (Piggly Wiggly), Wingard’s Produce Stand and the Andalusia Coop. She uses “Dixie Dirt,” a rub made in Andalusia, and had the makers on one of her videos. Once, Brenda even put on her boots and cowboy hat to take her followers on a personal tour of Hilltop Seafood Restaurant and Hilltop Meat Company. These road trips excited viewers in countries like Australia, England and Canada, who told Brenda that they were searching for safe destinations in small-town America. After seeing her videos, they plan to visit Andalusia. A free spirit who drives a pickup truck, Brenda has used her newfound fame as a way to be a positive influence on others. She reads thousands of “comments” that her viewers leave, but her greatest joy comes when her fans talk to each other, even answering questions and sharing recipes. Her viewers send hundreds of cards and letters, as well as homemade gifts. Brenda loves her family, and family members often join her to cook their favorite dishes. Her granddaughters often help with filming. She shares her faith, joyfully quoting scriptures and even singing familiar refrains from her childhood. Brenda’s positivity and optimism endear her to her fans. She ends most videos by telling her viewers that she loves them. “I started this page because I wanted to teach people how easy cooking great Southern meals could be. I never imagined all of this would happen, but now I know I am on the right path!” For country cooking at its best, find the “Cooking with Brenda Gantt” videos on Facebook. October 2020
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