The heroes of our cuisine are often unsung and uncelebrated women and men. Their considerable skills tend not to be rewarded with the type of fame and fortune that is increasingly part and parcel of the white tablecloth world of celebrity chefs and destination restaurants.
Still we recognize that they are the essential elements, the foundations of American cuisine in general and Southern cuisine in particular. So we have established the Tabasco Guardian of The Tradition award.
In this way we hope to bring attention to those cooks, chefs, restaurateurs and others in our various regions whose work has helped keep alive Southern foodways. We hope to remind them, the world, and ourselves of their crucial importance in maintaining those traditions on which our cuisine, our region, and our identities are built.
Each Tabasco Guardian of the Tradition is presented with a special award designed by artist and MacArthur Grant recipient John T. Scott. And, of course, we collect their stories.
It is with great sadness that we note the passing of artist John T. Scott. Mr. Scott, a native of New Orleans and recipient of a prestigious McArthur “Genius” Fellowship, created the print we use to celebrate the life and work of our Tabasco Guardians of the Tradition.
