Chef Carlos Brown, CEO of C3 Culinary Group, has launched a line of sauces and dressings that reflect the Gullah Geechee culture of the Carolinas and Georgia.
A veteran restaurateur known for his unique takes on Southern “lowcountry” cooking, Brown is launching the Gullah Gourmet by Chef Carlos Brown line in several specialty retail stores and cafes, including Omni Coffee and Eggs in Atlanta, Ruby’s New York-Style Bagels in Charleston, South Carolina, and a retail outlet in Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
“Gullah” refers to both a group of people and their culture along the coasts of the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida, which share a blend of African, European, and Native American influences. Gullah Geechee cuisine is a fusion of West African, Caribbean, and Southern culinary traditions, emphasizing the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients, particularly seafood and produce harvested from the surrounding coastal regions, Brown told SFA News Daily.
“Personally, it’s always been my mission to share my heritage, the rich flavors, and the even richer history of Gullah culture,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for years through every meal I make.”
He also seeks to pass down Gullah Geechee culinary traditions to the next generation through educational workshops such as his C3 Culinary Camp for the Youth.
In addition to Brown’s advocacy for the culinary traditions of the region, Gullah cuisine also received a boost in publicity in 2022 from the release of a New York Times bestselling book called Gullah Geechee Home Cooking, by Emily Meggett, which was filled with both recipes and anecdotes about the Gullah Geechee community. Recipes include her Gullah Geechee versions of dishes such as Shrimp and Grits with Gravy, Okra Gumbo, Macaroni and Cheese, Barbecue Ribs and Sauce, Black-Eyed Peas, and Chocolate Cream Pie.
Brown, a graduate of culinary school Johnson & Wales University, previously operated multiple restaurants, including the Shrimp & Grits Café in Charleston, where he is from, and Atlanta. In fact, his Shrimp and Grits recipe is recognized in the Smithsonian African-American Museum in Washington, D.C.
His cooking has also caught the attention of several celebrity customers, including President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Shaquille O’Neal, and others. He has also gained a following among college and professional athletes for his upscale, Southern-style culinary creations.
Brown said he has received several requests from his clients to offer products that would make it easier to incorporate Gullah flavors into home-cooked meals, which led him to create the new line. He timed the February launch to coincide with Black History Month.
The new Gullah Gourmet line includes:
• Gourmet Steak Sauce: A savory blend of tomatoes, spices and vinegar, designed for enhancing grilled steak, burgers or roasted vegetables;
• Gourmet Wing Sauce: Tangy, spicy and sweet, for coating and baking chicken wings, drumsticks, or tofu;
• Gourmet Strawberry Vinaigrette: Sweet and slightly tart dressing with fresh strawberries, made for topping leafy greens, grilled chicken, or quinoa salad.
• Gourmet Basil Citrus Vinaigrette: Herbaceous with citrus zest and chopped basil, for summer salads, seafood, or grilled vegetables.
• Gourmet Onion Citrus: Savory and bright, with caramelized onions and citrus juice, for drizzling on roasted chicken, salmon, or grilled shrimp.
“These sauces are more than just condiments,” said Brown. “They're a gateway to a whole new way of experiencing Southern cuisine.”
The line is expected to expand into more retail locations around the country, and it will also be available online. To promote the launch, Brown is planning to host a series of live cooking demonstrations and guest cooking at multiple events across the U.S.