A Southern-Focused Concept with Purpose
Chicago restaurateur Kristen Harper uses her grandmother's legacy, recipes as inspiration for her two wildly successful eateries.
I recently caught up with Kristen Harper, the owner of Chicago-based Cleo’s Southern Cuisine, on Instagram Live. She joined mixologist Lynn House and me on the weekly LIVE! Culinary Series to tell us her story, which is just so darn inspiring!
Harper keeps the legacy of her Grandmother Cleo alive by not only naming her two restaurants in her honor, but she also uses her grandmother’s recipes as the foundation of her menu. During our conversation, Harper talks about how her grandmother willed her the massive, handwritten recipe book she created in the 1940s. These recipes influenced some of Cleo’s most popular dishes, including the collard greens and fried chicken.
Check out the interview in its entirety right here.
Wonderful feature
Great job! Fantastic interview!