Up Home
with Ouita Michel
A HOLLY HILL PRODUCTION
title card paintings by Arwen Donahue
Two women standing in a cemetery, looking at a small gravestone. One woman has dark skin and long braids, wearing a patterned dress. The other woman has light skin and short gray hair, wearing a light blue shirt and jeans. There are trees in the background.
Two women in a kitchen, one elderly and the other middle-aged, prepare baked dishes. The elderly woman adds sauce to one dish, while the middle-aged woman looks on and smiles. Several baked dishes are on the counter.
A man and woman outdoors smiling and talking, the woman showing something in her hands.
photos courtesy of Pony Boat Media
Chef Ouita worked with acclaimed filmmaker and Kentucky native Harrison Witt to explore stories of Kentucky food and culture. It’s a love letter to restaurants, farmers, chefs, artists and everyone else who’s part of our state’s rich culinary tradition.
Up Home with Ouita Michel helps answer the question – What is Kentucky cuisine? – and celebrates the people, places and ingredients that are behind it. Weaving together relationships, food, and artistry, Chef Ouita will welcome you into her Holly Hill family and show how our rich food culture connects us to one another.
“Food culture should reflect the diverse experiences, preferences, and identities of all individuals. We fiercely embrace different tastes, flavors, recipes, and people, and invite you to do the same,” said Chef Michel. “Our story goes deeper than what’s on your plate. It’s written by the people, places, and ingredients behind every dish. And when we celebrate these things, a new food culture is born — paving the way for generations to come.”
Three women sitting on porches, enjoying conversation and laughter, with a rural landscape in the background.
A man wearing a wide-brimmed hat, glasses, and outdoor clothing, gesturing with his hands inside a rustic shed with mushrooms hanging from the ceiling.
photography by Richie Wireman