“Yo-Yo” Whitaker Dishes On “Downright Scrumptious”
Legendary lyricist nd philanthropist Dr. Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Whitaker is continuous to feed followers recent taste on AspireTV, serving up one thing delightfully completely different.
Supply: Santiago Felipe / Getty
Now in its third season, her collection Downright Scrumptious with Yo-Yobrings collectively household, taste, and religion in a single kitchen.
“The cooking present is my love language,” Yo-Yo advised BOSSIP. “It’s a ardour I’ve had for a very long time. I’ve been cooking on the highway for Too Quick and his crew, the Lynch Mob, Dice and the gang. I’ve been cooking for my household and mates for a lot of moons.”
Identified for traditional bars and daring vitality, Yo-Yo’s all the time been a artistic power. However on Downright Scrumptious, she trades the stage lights for stovetops, letting followers see the lady behind the mic.
“Though I’m a kitchen cooker and a celebration goer, a hip hop legend, an educator, a radio host; I believe the enjoyable is at house,” she defined. “This lane I’ve created is full circle for me. Folks get to see me and my household in a distinct form of mild.”
The AspireTV hit offers viewers a front-row seat to Yo-Yo’s actual life, the place garlic, laughter, and good music fill the air. She’s additionally not shy about exhibiting off her taste.
“You gonna scent garlic and listen to music, you already know what I imply? Relying on the music, I can cook dinner two meals in someday in case you let me,” she laughed. “I’ve firm and I gotta present out, which means I gotta go to the shop!”
The Recipe For Connection
Meals has all the time been greater than only a meal for Yo-Yo. It’s her method of exhibiting love.
“It’s the artwork of exhibiting love, making a secure house for individuals to come back in and really feel appreciated with out you shopping for their time,” she mentioned. “My youngsters scent these onions, they usually working down the steps asking ‘Mother, you cooking?’”
When requested which dish takes her again to her roots, Yo-Yo didn’t hesitate.
“It’s my Spanish meals, my Mexican meals. I’m low-key Mexican and I’m okay, so I’m spicy with my dishes,” she joked. “I’m making burritos, fish tacos, refried beans over rice..and regardless that it’s burritos, it’s nonetheless a feast. And don’t overlook the Cadillac Margarita with somewhat shot of Hennessy on the aspect. All people can’t grasp with the massive canine!”
Supply: Downright Scrumptious With Yo-Yo / AspireTV
A Household Affair
Of all her company, one stood out probably the most.
“The very best has been my mom,” Yo-Yo mentioned proudly. “Having my mom in that kitchen jogs my memory of being 17, leaving house to tour the world. To return again and cook dinner together with her, and have her respect my kitchen, that’s full circle. My mother might be my greatest visitor. Mama Mia, that gangster!”
Yo-Yo says her mom taught her the golden rule of cooking: by no means go away the kitchen till it’s proper.
“You possibly can comply with a recipe, however make it your individual,” she mentioned. “I all the time put a timer on as a result of my ADD gained’t let me sit nonetheless, however my mom..she doesn’t go away the kitchen. One trick she gave me is: it’s your kitchen, it’s to your liking. Style your meals. Don’t go away it till it’s proper.”
Boss Brunch Power & Sisterhood
One standout episode this season options Yo-Yo’s “Boss Brunch,” celebrating ladies in enterprise, magnificence, and vogue. For her, it’s extra about development and sisterhood, than simply good meals.
“It took me a very long time to even know find out how to be a pal,” she admitted. “It wasn’t till I had an actual pal that made me notice I used to be a pretend pal. The sisterhood is so essential. To have somebody you possibly can share a recipe with is essential.”
Yo-Yo even cooks just about together with her girlfriends.
“We go to the market and sit on FaceTime and cook dinner for our households,” she mentioned. “That’s our motivation, that’s sisterhood. Cooking, cocktails, and dialog. It helps individuals get again on monitor and reminds them that you’re worthy.”
Grounded In Religion, Fueled By Love
Exterior of the kitchen, Yo-Yo’s nonetheless the identical trailblazer: a two-time recipient of President Biden’s Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and an honorary physician in humanitarianism.
“It feels good to be humbled. It feels good to be beloved. It feels good to offer love,” she mentioned. “It’s development, it’s love, it’s being settled, it’s being pleased.”
With regards to stability and longevity, she says the reply is straightforward:
“Prayer. That’s my recipe. I stand up, I present up, I find time for my household. I’m not chasing cash, I do know what it means now. It feels good to be at peace, to be within the kitchen cooking, to entertain, and to let the world see younger ladies who grew up with me doing the identical.”
Ultimate Style
Whether or not she’s dropping knowledge or whipping up wings, Yo-Yo proves that actual taste comes from love, legacy, and laughter.
“It’s nothing like good vibes, nice meals, and higher firm,” Yo-Yo mentioned with a smile. “That’s downright scrumptious.”
Catch Downright Scrumptious with Yo-Yo Thursdays at 8 PM ET on AspireTV. The place dishes inform a narrative, company get fed, and episodes remind us why Black ladies are nonetheless defining the which means of legendary.
