By: Yasmine Malone | Oct 15, 2024
Clarksdale, Mississippi – Deandre Metcalf, better known as Chef Dre, is channeling his passion for cooking to make healthy eating an exciting experience for generations of Mississippi Delta residents. Chef Dre is currently collaborating with Rootswell, an organization dedicated to promoting the sale and consumption of fresh, locally sourced food.
Chef Dre’s love for cooking was instilled in him as a child, growing up in a close-knit family where food played a central role in every gathering.
“Whether it’s celebrating or grieving a loss, food has always brought my family together,” Chef Dre recalls. “We’d gather at my great aunt’s house, play and talk until the sun went down. I remember the mosquito trucks spraying and lightning bugs twinkling through the trees. Food and fellowship were one and the same.”
This passion for food blossomed into a career, starting with restaurant work and eventually leading him to own his own catering business. Now, Chef Dre is using his culinary skills to influence a healthier food landscape across the Delta.
As an adult, Chef Dre developed a deeper understanding of food’s impact on health, which inspired him to incorporate more fresh produce into his menus.
“I’ve always loved food, but I had to learn to be more intentional about what I eat and how it’s prepared,” he explains.
One of the challenges Chef Dre faces is the issue of food insecurity, a common struggle in the Mississippi Delta. While many residents may want to pursue a healthier diet, limited financial resources or market availability can make accessing fresh, nutritious food difficult.
Despite this, Chef Dre remains committed to offering healthier options to his clients and community. However, he notes that the local food culture doesn’t always prioritize vegetable-forward dishes.
“As a chef, I can provide healthier food, and that’s my preference,” Chef Dre shares. “But from a business perspective, I have to do what sells. Most people in the Delta aren’t as concerned with the healthiness of their food—we just want good eating and to be satisfied. To regularly offer these healthier options, I’d need to tap into a whole new market in the area. That means finding a supplier for fresh produce and building a demand large enough to sustain the cost of fresh ingredients.”
When asked how his collaboration with Rootswell aligns with his goals as a chef, Chef Dre expressed excitement about the possibilities.
“My ultimate dream is to have a stable source of fresh food to cook with—ideally, a farm. I envision picking fresh produce from my own farm to use in my dishes. That would make healthier cooking more affordable and faster,” he says.
Rootswell shares a similar mission, focusing on getting fresh, locally grown food from farms to families’ tables. Chef Dre describes their work as timely and essential for the Delta community—and for his own culinary aspirations.
“That’s why I’m so grateful to be part of Rootswell’s efforts. I’ve seen their events where elders gather to talk, kids play, and fresh Delta-grown produce is given away. Rootswell is pioneering a new wave, and I’m honored to support their mission as they support me.”
Chef Dre will be the featured chef for Rootswell’s Homecoming Tour, with upcoming events at Coahoma Community College on October 19th and Clarksdale High School on October 25th. At these events, he will showcase his spin on traditional Southern cuisine, using ingredients grown by local farmers.
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