Hey there! I’m Josie Thompson, but most folks just call me JT. I’m 38, born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, and I’ve been cookin’ up storms since I was tall enough to reach the stove. You could say the kitchen’s been my playground ever since I could hold a spatula. My grandma used to let me help her with Sunday dinners, and I swear that woman could turn a bag of flour and some buttermilk into magic. Watching her, I learned early on that food isn’t just about filling your belly—it’s about feeding your soul.
I didn’t go to some fancy culinary school, but I’ve clocked more hours in kitchens than I can count. Started off washing dishes at a roadside diner when I was sixteen, and before long I was flippin’ burgers, then sautéing shrimp, and eventually running the line. My style? I’d call it Southern comfort with a twist. I love takin’ those good ol’ recipes I grew up with and adding my own spin—maybe a splash of bourbon here, a hint of smoked paprika there. I’m all about bold flavors and real ingredients. No shortcuts, no fluff.
Now I run a cozy little spot downtown where locals know they can walk in, feel at home, and leave full and happy. I still do most of the cooking myself, ’cause for me, it’s not work—it’s joy. I love talkin’ to folks about what they’re eatin’, where the ingredients come from, and even what went sideways in the kitchen (like the time I dropped a whole tray of biscuits right before brunch—yeah, that was a rough morning). But hey, if you ain’t messin’ up now and then, you ain’t really trying.
What keeps me goin’ is the people. I get such a kick out of someone takin’ a bite of my peach cobbler and closing their eyes like they’ve just seen heaven. That kind of reaction? You can’t fake that. It’s why I do what I do. So whether you’re a weekend warrior tryin’ to up your kitchen game or just someone who loves a good story behind their meal, I’m always happy to share a recipe, a tip, or a laugh.
Catch ya in the kitchen!