Welcome back to our weekly feature highlighting brothers who throw down in the kitchen. Missed one? Catch up on all the interviews and recipes of our featured chefs in our Men Who Cook Roundup >>
Name: Don Bowie
Occupation: Entrepreneur, Chef, and Renaissance man
Age: 31
City: Atlanta, GA
ESSENCE.COM: Take us back to your favorite cooking memory.
DON BOWIE: When I think of cooking, my mother immediately comes to mind. I remember being greeted by a home cooked meal every night for dinner. Many of my friends only got to experience a home cooked meal on Sundays, but for me it was a daily routine, steady and consistent. As an adult, I now realize how rare that was. The home cooked meal coupled with the time I spent with my family was unparalleled. Today, when I go back home to Houston, my mom still prepares those same meals, putting in time, energy and effort. It’s a sincere expression of her love and there is nothing like a meal prepared by her loving hands!
ESSENCE.COM: Definitely. What cooking tips are you willing to share?
BOWIE: Use fresh ingredients whenever possible. For example, infusing a dish with fresh basil does wonders in comparison to the dried version. Also, know and monitor your cooking temperatures. A majority of meals go wrong due to improper temperatures. You want to try to start with a low to moderate temperature, then observe closely and determine if you need to make adjustments based on your dish.
ESSENCE.COM: And how do you impress the ladies with your cooking?
BOWIE: Taste, presentation and variety. I pride myself on my ability to season my food by experimenting with different flavors and spices. Although a meal may stimulate the pallet, presentation is key – my food doesn’t just taste great it also looks great! Last but not least, there is nothing more exciting and challenging for me than preparing a new dish for someone. I think everyone should step out and add a little variety by trying something they’ve never had. My goal is to make them a fan of the dish and to keep them coming back for more!
Try Don’s Cilantro Orange Tilapia >>
Are you a brother who can cook or know one? Email food@essence-online.com
BE FEATURED IN ESSENCE MAGAZINE
Calling all kitchen mavens! Do you have a magical meal in your repertoire that you swear made your man fall in love with you or even propose? ESSENCE is looking for women who can burn to share their stories AND their recipes for an upcoming issue. Send an email to healthyliving@essence.com (with the subject line RECIPE). Include your recipe, the tale of how it flipped your guy head over heels, your name, age and geographic location.