January 2024
A new chapter and a new way to experience The Southern Fork (luggage required)
I know I’ve been quiet lately, with both the podcast on hiatus until Spring 2024, and fewer writing bylines. But I have been working on something big, and it’s time to share the news!
Introducing The Southern Fork Experience
In the 15 years I’ve been a food and travel writer, I’ve had one overarching question that slides into my DMs: "How can I travel like you?”
To attempt to answer that question, I’ve written hundreds of pieces of editorial, recorded 350 podcasts so that when you go places, you know someone cooking or growing your food, and even answered countless emails about “where to eat” for bachelorettes, travel planners, and plenty of people who feel like I might know where their son, mom, or best friend from college might want to go when they visit a particular Southern city. Whew. But now I’m ready to do you one better.
Let’s travel together.
Introducing The Southern Fork Experience, immersive culinary journeys in some of my favorite places in the American South, meeting some of my favorite people who you know and love from The Southern Fork podcast.
First up (naturally), is Charleston. I’ve built a trip as your guide that will provide you a crash course in some history, plenty of one-of-a-kind excursions, copious amounts of some of the best food and drink the city has to offer, and you’ll get to share it with some of my favorite people in the Lowcountry. This is my love letter to Charleston, and there are only 16 spots available.
This new chapter for The Southern Fork doesn’t replace anything. I’m deep in the work for the ninth season of the podcast, working on articles as we speak, and doing some more freelance audio production as well. But this is an important evolution of my work as it responds in a changing world. Why?
Sharing an experience builds community, if just a little. And it fuels connection, if just a little.
Travel shouldn’t harm the people and the places you’re going to see.
Food is an access point to something bigger than just what’s on the plate.
The ultimate luxury is access.
The best travel aims to get out of the head and into the senses. And there’s no true substitute for that.
The soul of a place sits at the table, and there’s always a seat for you.
The regular format of the newsletter will return next month, but in the meantime, if you think a friend might be interested in this new chapter, please consider sharing. I’m excited to get to know my traveling companions for October!
However, with the doldrums of winter, I have been cooking, so I’ll leave you with this:
Cooking soundtrack album: Music for Museum, Air
Best thing I cooked this month: Mom’s Mississippi Mud Cake from The Good Book of Southern Baking by Kelly Fields. With cocoa, chocolate chips, a chocolate frosting and marshmallows, it is decidedly the most decadent thing ever to emerge out of my oven.
Until next time,
Steph
Hey girl,
This is a fantastic evolution of your brand! I know that it will be a marvelous weekend.