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Celebrity Chef Serves Up Southern Cuisine at Columbus Library Event
Vera 'Very Vera' Stewart featured at 'Food and the Soul of America' celebration
Published on Feb. 20, 2026
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Celebrity chef Vera 'Very Vera' Stewart brought her Southern-inspired cuisine to the Columbus Public Library on Tuesday night for a special cultural celebration hosted by the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries, Muscogee County Library Foundation, and Columbus Public Library. The event was part of the 250th anniversary commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Why it matters
The event highlighted the rich culinary traditions of the American South and their role in shaping the nation's culture and identity. As a renowned chef and entrepreneur, Vera Stewart's participation helped draw attention to the significance of Southern cuisine and its enduring influence.
The details
Stewart, who is known for defeating Bobby Flay on 'Throwdown with Bobby Flay,' served bites from her own kitchen at the event. She spoke about her journey from being a home economics teacher to building a successful food-oriented business empire, including mail order, catering, and cookbook writing.
- The event took place on Tuesday, February 18, 2026.
The players
Vera 'Very Vera' Stewart
A celebrity chef and entrepreneur known for her Southern-inspired cuisine and for defeating Bobby Flay on 'Throwdown with Bobby Flay'.
Chattahoochee Valley Libraries
The library system that hosted the 'Food and the Soul of America' event in Columbus, Georgia.
Muscogee County Library Foundation
The organization that co-hosted the 'Food and the Soul of America' event with the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries and Columbus Public Library.
Columbus Public Library
The library that hosted the 'Food and the Soul of America' event in Columbus, Georgia.
What they’re saying
“The exhibit that they have going on right now that speaks to southern food and traditions that have made us who we are. I was so thrilled to be involved in that.”
— Vera 'Very Vera' Stewart (WTVM)
“I kind of told my story of my journey as a home economics teacher and then moving into mail order and catering and writing cook books and all of it goes all the way back to being under the apron strings of my mother and my grandmother.”
— Vera 'Very Vera' Stewart (WTVM)
What’s next
The event was part of the 250th anniversary commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which will be celebrated nationwide on July 4, 2026.
The takeaway
The 'Food and the Soul of America' event showcased the enduring influence of Southern cuisine on American culture, and highlighted the role of chefs like Vera Stewart in preserving and celebrating these rich culinary traditions.
