Chef B.J. Dennis of Charleston, preparing black sea bass.
‘Cooking with PRTC’ Culinary show adds flavor to Channel 57 lineup BY JOHN CLAYTON
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hether it’s fresh seafood, homemade biscuits or a tasty dessert, PRTC has the perfect recipe for its culinary-themed show, “Cooking with PRTC.” The show, which regularly airs on Channel 57, welcomes guest hosts from the area to the newly designed kitchen set at Channel 57 Studios. “We just want to inspire others to enjoy cooking,” PRTC Marketing Coordinator Michelle Strickland says. Strickland says the goal is for people to develop a relationship with the chefs so they can duplicate recipes at home or just learn a few quick tips. Chefs B.J. Dennis, LaShawn Williams and Liz Nettles have rotated as guest hosts of “Cooking with PRTC” since the show’s launch. Each of them offers up something unique in the kitchen. Dennis is a respected chef known for his work in Charleston, where he offers
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his take on some traditional Gullah Geechee dishes. Recipes often include seafood from Lowcountry waters, along with fresh, farm-to-table vegetables. Nettles, a local educator and mother of young children, provides tips on food preparation and home recipes to feed the whole family. “You can do a weeknight meal at home with Liz Nettles, who has some really good ideas about how you can make your school nights easier,” Strickland says. Williams, who teaches in the culinary program at the Thunderbolt Career and Technology Center, studied culinary and pastry arts at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Atlanta. He demonstrates how to make treats like blueberry scones and homemade biscuits. While the culinary arts take center stage on “Cooking with PRTC,” the show also gives a nod to Lowcountry life and culture. “Folks can learn a little
bit about our culture, what we grow here and how to eat healthy in some shows, but they can also learn how to make those indulgent recipes in others,” Strickland says. Recording occurs on the newly constructed set at Channel 57 Studios — a modern kitchen with touches of home. “We wanted it to look like a modern home. We wanted the viewers to feel an intimate relationship with the hosts — get to know them and learn their stories,” Strickland says. “We choose people who have interesting backgrounds and are knowledgeable and relatable.” The South Carolina Artisans Center in Walterboro has provided the decorations that make the kitchen set seem more like a home. “We started out with one motif, and we’ve switched it to another just to showcase the handmade, handcrafted artwork by South Carolina artists that are available at the Artisans Center,” Strickland says. “They make our kitchen a little more homey and inviting. ‘Cooking with PRTC’ is presenting a warm, friendly way to cook.” Stay tuned to “Cooking with PRTC” for more guest chefs from different culinary backgrounds. PRTC