For Miss Val, cooking has never been just about preparing a meal. It’s about bringing people together, making them feel welcome, and showing love through something delicious. To some, she is known as Mama or Grandma. To the many others who have visited her home and enjoyed her hospitality, she is Miss Val, or Miss Vallarie. Feeding family and friends has always been one of her greatest joys, and her kitchen has long been a place where favorite recipes are shared, new ideas are tried, and everyone looks forward to what’s coming out of the oven. Miss Val’s Kitchen grew naturally from that passion, offering homemade cakes, pies, brownies, and other treats that have earned their place among the family’s favorites.
Behind the name is a story of hospitality on a grand scale. When Vallarie puts out a call to bring her family and friends together over a meal, whether for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or simply because it is time to gather, the table can grow to one hundred people or more. There is always enough food for everyone to feast, and then some: guests head home with boxes of food and desserts to enjoy in the days that follow.
That love of cooking runs deep in the family. Miss Val is the grandmother of celebrity chef Gabriel Lewis, known for his appearance on *MasterChef* and his cookbook We Got Food at Home: A Guide to Great Home Cooking. Gabe has spoken publicly about the women in his family who fostered his love of cooking, including his grandmother Vallarie. Miss Val’s influence belongs to a broader family food tradition that Gabe has carried into his professional work.
At Miss Val’s Kitchen, those traditions continue, one delicious creation at a time. Whether she’s preparing a tried-and-true family favorite or experimenting with a new recipe, Miss Val brings the same care, creativity, and generosity that have always defined her cooking. Our menu features a chosen selection of homemade specialties available by pre-order for celebrations, holidays and everyday sweet occasions. We invite you to discover the flavors that have brought joy to Miss Val’s family for generations.
