Kevin Mitchell

Next up on The Savers of Flavor: “Okra From Another Mother.” On @southcarolinaetv @pbs @appletv dropping May 18th In this episode, David and I dive into Motherland Okra — a remarkable West African variety grown by Jon Jackson of @comfortfarms in Milledgeville, Georgia. Unlike the familiar Clemson Spineless, this okra is shorter, and its real prize is the leaves. They grow large, bold, and — as Jon likes to point out — shaped like the continent of Africa itself. While many only think of okra for its pods, these leaves are cherished and cooked much like collards and other Southern greens. In the episode, I take this ingredient in two directions: • A bright, vinegar-based slaw where the leaves are eaten raw. • A soulful dish where they’re cooked slowly with smoked catfish, honoring culinary traditions that reach back to West Africa. This episode holds special meaning for me. It is dedicated to my grandmother, the woman who lit the fire in me to become a chef. She recently passed, but her love, courage, and guidance are alive in every moment of this story. I hope you’ll tune in and celebrate the roots, resilience, and flavor that continue to shape who we are. #okra #history #saversofflavor #africa #motherland

Once thought to be lost after World War II, the South’s only pie cherry, the Dyehouse, makes a remarkable return. What started as a search ends with a single surviving tree on a Kentucky artist’s farm. Watch "The Savers of Flavor" on May 14 at 8 p.m. on ETV or stream on-demand.

This past Saturday night was something truly special. My wife @rmitchelleats the heart and creative force behind @thedrizzledpear hosted the most beautiful premiere party for David and I as we celebrated the launch of Savers of Flavor. From the moment guests walked in, you could feel her touch in every detail. The food she prepared was absolutely delicious, each dish a testament to her talent and the love she pours into everything she does. Folks are still talking about those plates today! The room was full of joy, laughter, and the kind of warmth only she can create. One of the highlights of the night was sharing Episode 3, “Okra From Another Mother.” This episode celebrates a West African okra variety grown not just for its pods but for its leaves — tender, flavorful, and perfect eaten raw or cooked like the other greens we cherish in Southern kitchens. This story is deeply personal to me. The episode honors my grandmother, who recently passed away. She was my first inspiration, the one who set me on the path to becoming a chef all those years ago. Sharing her legacy in this way, surrounded by friends, family, and community, meant more than words can express. I’m beyond grateful for my wife — for her love, her support, and the way she shows up for me time and time again. None of this journey would feel the same without her by my side. Thank you, my love, for making the night unforgettable. ❤️ #history #southernfood #okra #saversofflavor #scetv

“Our homeplaces hold stories worth saving.” Artist Daniel Dutton turns memory, land and tradition into living art, reminding us that flavor is more than taste, it’s identity. 📺 Tune in to "The Savers of Flavor" on ETV Thursday, May 14 at 8 p.m. or stream on-demand.

What do y’all think this is? This beautiful fruit is the DyeHouse Cherry — a small but mighty piece of history growing in Somerset, Kentucky. As part of Savers of Flavor, we traveled to Somerset to spend time with artist, storyteller, and preservationist Dan Dutton, learning how this cherry has shaped the land, the people, and the traditions tied to his DyeHouse community. Once grown from Louisiana to Virginia, it was the first choice for pies, preserves, and jams. But in the 1940s Michigan built itself into the nation’s supplier of sour cherries blanketing the grocery shelves and freezers with canned and frozen Montmorency sour cherries. People stopped planting the Dyehouse. 70 years later it had vanished from southern orchards and yards. If you want to see more of this journey, tune in tomorrow for Episode 2 of Savers of Flavor on @pbs @southcarolinaetv @appletv @pbsfood on @youtube . Check your local PBS listings outside South Carolina — and don’t forget, the preview link is in my BIO.

Take a look inside "The Savers of Flavor" premiere event. From community conversations to an exclusive first screening, it was an evening rooted in culture, history and the stories that shape Southern food. Thank you to everyone who joined! Don’t miss the premiere of "The Savers of Flavor" on ETV Thursday at 8 p.m. or stream on-demand.

“Peas come to the table— but they carry history with them.” From the gardens of Monticello to seed savers right here in South Carolina, this episode of "The Savers of Flavor" is a reminder that preservation is a community effort. Lifelong growers, historians and cultivators are working together to protect what feeds us and what defines us. 📺 Tune in to ETV Thursday, May 7 at 8 p.m. or stream on-demand.

Today’s the day! Savers of Flavor officially premieres, and I couldn’t be more excited to finally share this journey with all of you. Our very first episode, “Peas Come to the Table,” sets the stage for the stories, traditions, and heirloom flavors we’re bringing forward. You can start streaming the show now on: • @pbs + for national broadcast • PBSD on @appletv Amazon Prime, and @pbs Passport • @pbs digital to watch directly on the website And for those in South Carolina, we will premiere on @southcarolinaetv on May 7th at 8 PM. Viewers outside of South Carolina—be sure to check your local PBS stations for air times in your area. This project has been years in the making—rooted in the stories of heirloom ingredients, the keepers of tradition, the seed savers, the cooks, and the culture-bearers who protect our foodways. I’m also grateful to @gardenandgun magazine for publishing a beautiful article that introduces the heart of the show and the incredible people who make up this journey of preservation and flavor. The link to the article is in my BIO. Let’s celebrate the past, honor the present, and savor the flavors that shape who we are. Tune in, share, and join us on this unforgettable ride. #heirloom #savetheflave #southern #thesaversofflavor #history

Where in the world are David and I? 🌿✨ Drop your guesses below! If you want to really find out, tune in tomorrow for the premiere of Savers of Flavor—where our journey, the landscapes, the stories, and the flavors all come together. 📺 Where to Watch: • PBS+ for national broadcast • PBSD for streaming on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and PBS Passport • PBS Digital to watch on the website • Premiering on @southcarolinaetv May 7th at 8 PM Be sure to check your local @pbs station for airtimes in your area. Can’t wait to share this adventure with you all! 🌱🔥🍽️ #savetheflave #heirloom #thesaversofflavor #scetv #pbs

We are less than a week away from the premiere of Savers of Flavor, produced by @pbs and @southcarolinaetv , with support from @etvendowment — and I couldn’t be more excited to share this journey with you. 📅 Tune in May 4th! You’ll be able to watch in several ways: 📺 PBS+ – for the national broadcast 📱 PBSD – streaming on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and PBS Passport 💻 PBS Digital – available on the PBS website Be sure to check your local PBS station for premiere dates and air times in your area. You can also view the promo for our first episode, Peas Come to the Table, where David and I travel to Virginia in search of the historic Early Frame Pea. 🔗 Link to the promo is in my BIO. Let’s celebrate the savers, the growers, the keepers of tradition — and the ingredients that tell our Southern story. 🌱✨ #southern #saverofflavor #heirloom #savetheflave #ingredients

“To find what’s lost, you have to know what was.” We’re getting a first look at “The Savers of Flavor” at SCETV Columbia studios tonight with Chef Kevin Mitchell and food historian David Shields.

From fields to fine dining, "The Savers of Flavor" features Chef Kevin Mitchell (@ChefScholar ) and food historian David Shields, who explore and protect the ingredients that shaped the South. 🎬 Join us April 28 at 6 p.m. in Columbia