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Arts & Culture

A CHEF’S LIFE: Season 3

In the third season of this Emmy-winning series featuring chef Vivian Howard (pictured), she and her husband, Ben Knight, juggle the pressures of running two restaurants and raising their young twins, while Vivian writes a new cookbook.
Courtesy of Rex Miller
In the third season of this Emmy-winning series featuring chef Vivian Howard (pictured), she and her husband, Ben Knight, juggle the pressures of running two restaurants and raising their young twins, while Vivian writes a new cookbook.

Airs Saturdays, Sept. 5 & Sept. 19 - Nov. 21 & Dec. 19 & 26, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. on KPBS TV

The character-driven docu-series takes viewers inside the life and kitchen of acclaimed chef Vivian Howard and her restaurants located in the low country of eastern North Carolina. Season three of A CHEF’S LIFE finds Vivian, with husband Ben Knight and her twin children by her side, blending and balancing the high stakes of managing two restaurants, writing a new cookbook and tackling a family reunion feast, all while the farm-to-table chef’s plate is packed with food festivals and competitions.

Vivian selects some peaches. In the third season of this Emmy-winning series featuring chef Vivian Howard, she and her husband, Ben Knight, juggle the pressures of running two restaurants and raising their young twins, while Vivian writes a new cookbook.
Courtesy of Rex Miller
Vivian selects some peaches. In the third season of this Emmy-winning series featuring chef Vivian Howard, she and her husband, Ben Knight, juggle the pressures of running two restaurants and raising their young twins, while Vivian writes a new cookbook.
Vivian stands in front of a fig tree. In the third season of this Emmy-winning series featuring chef Vivian Howard, she and her husband, Ben Knight, juggle the pressures of running two restaurants and raising their young twins, while Vivian writes a new cookbook.
Courtesy of Josh Woll
Vivian stands in front of a fig tree. In the third season of this Emmy-winning series featuring chef Vivian Howard, she and her husband, Ben Knight, juggle the pressures of running two restaurants and raising their young twins, while Vivian writes a new cookbook.
Vivian presents a dish made with okra. In the third season of this Emmy-winning series featuring chef Vivian Howard, she and her husband, Ben Knight, juggle the pressures of running two restaurants and raising their young twins, while Vivian writes a new cookbook.
Courtesy of Rex Miller
Vivian presents a dish made with okra. In the third season of this Emmy-winning series featuring chef Vivian Howard, she and her husband, Ben Knight, juggle the pressures of running two restaurants and raising their young twins, while Vivian writes a new cookbook.
Vivian with a bunch of rutabagas. In the third season of this Emmy-winning series featuring chef Vivian Howard, she and her husband, Ben Knight, juggle the pressures of running two restaurants and raising their young twins, while Vivian writes a new cookbook.
Courtesy of Rex Miller
Vivian with a bunch of rutabagas. In the third season of this Emmy-winning series featuring chef Vivian Howard, she and her husband, Ben Knight, juggle the pressures of running two restaurants and raising their young twins, while Vivian writes a new cookbook.

EPISODE GUIDE

“Stop, Squash and Roll” airs Saturday, Sept. 5 at 3:30 p.m. - With squash season in full effect, trouble with the twins, staffing issues at the Boiler Room and a new cookbook overloading her plate, Vivian seeks motherly advice from Mrs. Scarlett and her sister Johnna over a Southern classic: squash and onions.

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“Pretty In Peach” airs Saturday, Sept. 19 at 3:30 p.m. - Mrs. Scarlett teaches Vivian the secrets of Gramma Hill’s canned peaches and shares memories from her own childhood. Vivian sweats through a Thanksgiving-in-July photo shoot while a major mix-up leaves the restaurant team scrambling.

“Gettin' Figgy With It” airs Saturday, Sept. 26 at 3:30 p.m. - Vivian is under the gun to pen an entire book chapter on figs in three days. The stress inspires a fig and honey bourbon slushie tasting and a fig preserves session. After much debate, Vivian and Ben decide to charge for bread at the restaurant.

“Pickle Perfect” airs Saturday, Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m. - Vivian visits her friend Nancy for a surprisingly comforting combination of homemade pickles, chicken salad and chocolate cake. Ben and Vivian audition a new chef to offer Ben some relief and much-needed time to focus on his art.

“Prickly Business” airs Saturday, Oct. 10 at 3:30 p.m. - Vivian's mentor, Scott Barton, stops by the restaurant and shares the African roots of okra. Vivian learns that picking okra is a prickly business and gets a crash course in food styling during a photo session for her upcoming cookbook.

“If You Can't Beet Em…” airs Saturday, Oct. 17 at 3:30 p.m. - Matt from Crooked Fence Produce shows Vivian how to make "the best pickled beets she ever ate." Vivian incorporates beets into an unconventional chocolate cake in honor of Ms. Mary's 89th birthday. There's no telling how Ms. Lillie will respond.

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“A Casserole Says Plenty” airs Saturday, Oct. 24 at 3:30 p.m. - The Boiler Room welcomes a new manager, much to Ben's delight. A family reunion brings out long-lost relatives, the warmth of fellowship and an impressive spread of home-cooked casseroles.

“Honey, I'm Home!” airs Saturday, Oct. 31 at 3:30 p.m. - After a visit from "The Honey Man," Vivian turns up the heat on a dish of chicken livers drizzled with hot honey. While Ben preps for his art show in Durham, Vivian descends on the "Bull City's" restaurant row to sample sweet, honey-themed dishes.

“They Call ’Em ’Bagas” airs Saturday, Nov. 7 at 3:30 p.m. - Lillie shows Vivian three ways to bring out the bitter and the sweet in rutabagas. Vivian showers her team with gifts as they prepare a holiday menu. A hectic New Year’s Eve at the restaurant ends in a toast and a smile, despite brewing tension.

“Gone Clamming” (Part 1) airs Saturday, Nov. 14 at 3:30 p.m. - Vivian heads to Charleston’s Wine and Food Festival, the South’s premiere gathering of world-class chefs and food folk. Her jam-packed schedule includes the prestigious “perfectly paired” dinner at Frank Lee’s High Cotton Restaurant. A clamming trip with low country legend “Clammer Dave” adds a bit of adventure.

“Gone Clamming” (Part 2) airs Saturday, Nov. 21 at 3:30 p.m. - Vivian’s plate runneth over as her tour of Charleston continues. A highlight is the high-energy and popular Waffle House Smackdown. Frank Lee, “The Mayor of Charleston,” invites Vivian to his home and schools her on the proper way to open a clam and the secret to his aunt’s decadent clam hash.

“What's Your Beef?” airs Saturday, Dec. 19 at 3:30 p.m. - After some initial hiccups, Vivian’s whole cow program finds its groove. Mrs. Scarlett shows her how to make a classic cubed steak, inciting an epic tantrum from Flo. Vivian nervously heads to New York to meet her new editor as work on her upcoming cookbook continues.

“One Potato, New Potato” airs Saturday, Dec. 26 at 3:30 p.m. - Vivian judges the Southern Sides competition at the annual BBQ Festival alongside Mrs. Scarlett and Ms. Lillie, who prove to be finicky judges. Vivian follows up with a take on the BBQ plate, featuring a crispy potato salad. When the Avett Brothers stop by the restaurant for dinner, the entire staff, including Vivian, serves up a side of girly giddiness.

Visit the series website for recipes featured on A CHEF'S LIFE. Past episodes from the series are available for online viewing.

A CHEF'S LIFE is on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and you can follow @chefsouth on Twitter. Chef and the Farmer restaurant is on Facebook, and you can follow @chefandthef on Twitter.