Gene Hovis's Uptown Down Home Cookbook

Uptown Down Home Cookbook by Gene Hovis is a soulful culinary memoir that blends Southern tradition with the elegance of New York entertaining. Rooted in his North Carolina upbringing, the book pairs comforting classics like fried chicken and sweet potato pie with more refined, “uptown” dishes shaped by his career as a celebrated Manhattan host. Warm, nostalgic, and richly personal, this collection captures the journey of a Black chef navigating—and elevating—two culinary worlds.