Joseph Mbah’s Cooking with OhSoBella is an enjoyably laid-back cooking series hosted by Christine Brown. In each episode, she cooks delectable meals, ruminates on family history, and shares anecdotes in a typical kitchen setting. The series has a whip-fast pace and rhythm, spanning around eighteen minutes per episode. Our host-chef cuts right to the chase, focusing on the meal while casually providing background information about the food or herself in the process.
The first episode follows Brown as she makes country-fried crispy chicken, a Southern dish she grew up with on a farm. Her knowledge and passion for cooking are evident, especially in how she makes barbeque sauce, substitutes ingredients, and isn’t afraid to experiment with a traditional meal.
“…focusing on the meal while casually providing background information about the food or herself in the process.”
As the animated host of Cooking with OhSoBella, Brown informs and entertains. How she carries herself and presents each step feels wholly sincere and refreshingly offbeat. Her liveliness in front of the camera, coupled with the homely atmosphere of a common kitchen, gives the show a flavorful authenticity. Brown is not portrayed to be infallible or completely poised; she makes mistakes and occasionally blurts out an obscenity. Nevertheless, her lively spirit is more than enough to win over audiences.
After making fried crispy chicken, Brown is assisted by her friend Roota Shirinyans to make Persian rice and lamb. The banter between Brown and Shirinyans is naturally comical. They interact like two good friends, simply cooking a meal and not putting on a show. After making the dish, Brown makes her version of chicken wings, which she describes as spicy, piquant, and sweet all at once. But perhaps the most appealing selections are the vegan cornbread chili and the street corn. Suffice to say, the food always looks delicious and well-prepared.
Everything from the preparation and presentation of the food to the vibrant presence of Christine Brown makes Cooking with OhSoBella an informal and endearing dose of food-centric entertainment. Even for those uninterested in the mechanical way food tutorials are structured (a static camera films the chef as they go through the steps), there is so much joy and laughter sprinkled throughout. At the end of every episode, you get a savory aftertaste that leaves you craving more.
Cooking with OhSoBella is available to watch at ParadoxUniverse.net.
"…an informal and endearing dose of food-centric entertainment."
