Grandma’s cooking is a staple in the Black community and very rarely can it be duplicated. A dish from grandma is filled with love and every bite is packed with flavor. Recipes have passed through generations, expanding the impact and keeping families connected by eating familiar dishes and celebrating together.
Mercedies Harris, owner of Savor Red, has had a passion for cooking for as long as she can remember. Savor Red, which is a Black-owned food pop-up and catering service, specializes in a variety of dishes that can surly please any palate. Harris recalls cooking with her Grandma Red as a child and carries the memories of her now during her culinary career. She paid homage to her grandmother for her love and influence by including her name in her company and logo.
“You know how you can eat something, and it taste like grandma’s cooking? It takes you back. I have people tell me that all the time and that’s when I tell them it’s my grandma. She taught me how to cook. It’s like the cookout or like the holiday dinner where you would come together, and everything is good.”
After having the time to reevaluate her career path during the pandemic, Harris decided to step out on faith and pursue the food service industry seriously. She wanted to work in a field that made her happy, doing something she is passionate about.
“You cannot do it for money. If you do it for money, customers will know. For me the money is just extra, that’s like the cherry on top. You have do it because you love to do it when it comes to food because the food speaks to you. So, you know when you’ve been fed some bull.”
Harris prides herself on bringing variety to the menu while switching seamlessly between food types. Currently covering a few weekly pop-up locations, she loves creating the staples, but she always adds a side of excitement. Burgers, tacos, corned beef and chicken wings are some of the options you can expect on a typical bar night.
Now working in her passion full time Harris is excited to continue expanding. Along with making delicious and savory dishes, she can also bake. She takes credit for the majority of her food recipes, but proudly admits that her dessert menu options are personal recipes of her grandma Red. Cupcakes, cookies and delicious Bundt cakes are all made with patience and love just like her grandmother taught her.
“She would bake a lot. She cooked too, but I remember being in the kitchen with her when she would bake and make sauces. She literally did everything. She was the person on the block who would make cakes for every single neighbor for Christmas day. This wasn’t a career for her. It was a passion. It was a love for her. It’s a passion for me too.”
Harris plans to continue cooking in the name of her Grandma Red, keeping her name and spirit alive. The future for Savor Red includes travel, more pop-up locations and some surprises with her dessert menu. She is also sharpening her culinary skills by expanding her training and expertise. This year will showcase increased pop-ups and Good Mood Food for Savor Red. To stay in the know of all things Savor Red follow their Instagram @SAVOR_RED.
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