Jolan developed a deep passion for culinary arts and Southern Down Home Soul Food by watching his Grandmother cook in the kitchen. Unfortunately, his Mother passed away at his tender age of 3 years old, so he and his sisters were raised by their Grandparents, Pastor Daniel & Evangelist (First Lady) Della Mae Sawyer. Coming from a huge family, his grandmother cooked big meals every day. His mother was one of 10, his GrandMother was one of 10, and his Grandfather, was the knee baby of 14 children. People all over the community with Austin stop by Pastor Sawyer‘s house if they were hungry and in need of food, Evangelist Sawyer would fix them a plate of food and there was still plenty left for us. My Grandmother affectionately known as, “ Momma” would take meat out the freezer to defrost in the refrigerator the day before to prepare meat to clean, season, and marinate. So by that morning after breakfast, the meat was seasoned and ready to go in the refrigerator and marinate until it was time for her to cook dinner or supper as she will say. We never ate school breakfast, Momma cooked us a hot meal for breakfast every day!
By the time I was five years old, I asked Momma, “can I make a grilled cheese sandwich”? Momma asked you know what you’re doing, I said yes ma’am I’ve seen it done enough times before. She said all right wash your hands and I’ll come turn the stove on for you. And she watched me make my grilled cheese sandwich. That was the first thing I ever cooked! Everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned just by watching. What I didn’t understand I would ask questions, and she would explain. I never understood why rice had to be washed, but she told me you got to get all that starch out of it. You see how cloudy that water is that starch that’s no good for you. You got to wash that out, and I will say OK Momma! So many precious memories I’ve had with that woman she was the greatest cook in the world!!! my food is good, but it just quite doesn’t touch her. And there were many other family members who helped along the way I must give credit to Grandma Annie Nelson, for her dressing recipe that she shared with me, but you know I had to make it my own, but she’s another phenomenal cook, to my cousin deceased cousin, James Scott, who lived with us, and taught me how to make my first pan of macaroni and cheese! And lastly, my Beautiful Cousin, Pam Gregory Baldwin, who thought it not robbery to teach me how to make my first pan of peach cobbler!!! Selling Soul Food Dinners for the Church, I’ll be there sometimes till 1 am. I was just doing what I saw my Grandmother, her sister Aunt Mildred, and her daughter, My Aunt Lucille do. How they got in that kitchen, and they sold them good ole Church Soul Food Dinners all weekend. And SOLD OUT every time! I’m talking 200 pounds of Chitterlings, Ribs, Fish, Chicken (Leg Quarter or Breast Quarters, Collard Greens, String Beans, Candied Yams, Potato Salad and Baked Macaroni & Cheese. Sock-To-Me Cake, Homemade Bread Pudding, Whole & Slices of Sweet Potato Pie, and Peach Cobbler or Pear Cobbler!
Savannah’s Catering is just bring you excellent quality delicious Soul Food prepared with Love, the way “Momma” did it! That’s what I saw, that’s what I learned, that’s what I perfected, “A Taste You’ll Never Forget”
Respectfully,
Jolan Q. Sawyer, Owner
Savannah’s Catering LLC
“A Taste You’ll Never Forget”
Since 2013
