About Us
About
I started cooking as a little girl, sitting at the kitchen table while my mother (Mary), aunts (Vernice and Juanita) and Big Momma (Grandmother) cooked. I would ask questions, paying great attention to their cooking; I can still smell their delicious food! Meanwhile, I would play being a cook myself with my beloved Easy Bake Oven. When I was big enough for the big oven, I learned my family’s comfort food recipes, some of which I still make today for even the highest-profile customers.
My parents had a BBQ restaurant, where I learned more than cooking; I also learned the art of hospitality; however, they had to sell it. I was left with a delicious collection of recipes, which, by that time, I knew by heart and the desire to learn more. My journey was just getting started. I attended Columbia Southern University with Bachelor of Science Healthcare Administration and won Fox 40 Best Gumbo in Sacramento.
My husband, Booker T Pannell and I decided to put our history together. We created Chef Booker T Catering and Candie’s Kitchen. Comfort food meets five-star cuisine; the result is nothing less than exquisite. Let us share our passion for good food with your guests, business associates, friends and family. Taste our food; you’ll feel right at home.