Known for her style and grace, Bridgewater is humble and very down to earth given the fact that she has won two GRAMMY® Awards with numerous nominations and a Tony Award among her recognition repertoire. But there is also a sense of pride and creativity that goes into her performance in the kitchen when she is not on the road and at home in Henderson, Nev.
Born in Memphis, Tenn., the mother of three is a big fan and advocate for using organic products when cooking. However, like many of us, she grew up on traditional soul food and still continues to enjoy it today but prefers to put a healthier spin on it.
Basic fresh vegetables, vinegar, oil, lemon juice, fresh garlic and white pepper are just a few of her favorite staple items. When asked about her favorite foods, without hesitation she notes “anything spicy.” As a matter of fact, she likes a lot of spice with her favorite being cayenne pepper and an African hot sauce made with the hottest pepper you can find. Indian and Mexican cuisine also made the list.
Cooking, just as music, has been a part of her life from a young age. Since the age of nine she has been whipping up meals from family and friends and she shares that it is rare for her to follow a recipe. She takes the basics and then from there does her own thing. And the final creations have been spinning heads and putting professional chefs to shame. This year, she is determined to prepare gumbo for the first time, healthy-style of course.
Like many celebrity foodies, she has been fortunate to travel the world and eat at some of the best places. According to Bridgewater, the food in France is amazing and in Italy, the regional dishes make for the ultimate culinary experience. Testing her adventurous side, she once ate bull testicles with polenta while in Italy but didn’t hint that she was up for a second serving nor would she recommend the experience to anyone else.
But all fun aside and down to business, she is one of the first Ambassadors for the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) since joining in October of 1999 and has been a part of this very important mission to battle world hunger. This mission has also taken her around the world to help develop poor rural communities so that they can become a source of food for those living there.
Lover of life, music and food, Dee Dee Bridgewater is in a place of nirvana. What’s next? We know more great music but speaking for myself, I would love a cookbook on DVD featuring Bridgewater preparing some of her best recipes set to the tune of her favorite songs. Now that is a performance worth waiting for.
To learn more about Dee Dee Bridgewater, her music and upcoming performances, visit www.deedeebridgewater.com.