Iverson: The Reappearing Act
Anyone can be at the whim of Charleston’s rumorville. Even the best caterer to ever step foot here, Iverson Brownell.
“I heard his house burned down…” True.
“…and then one day, the big ‘Iverson Catering’ sign disappeared…” True.
“Word on the street is that he’s living somewhere in Mexico now…” False.
Chef Iverson is alive and well, living here in Charleston, and reinventing himself – the man and the brand.
After closing his catering business in Park City during the flailing economy, selling the Charleston branch, and investing in a restaurant in a cool surf village just north of Puerto Vallarta, Iverson is now setting his sights on cooking, giving back, and limitless possibilities.
On his plate first are cooking classes, which begin tonight at the Aquarium. He’s been around the block – and the world – and is ready to share his wealth of knowledge. The 30-person class tonight will be demo-style, but he’s all about the participation classes. He seems particularly excited about doing in-home cooking classes, and hints that online cooking podcasts may be in his future.
He is also an in-demand food stylist. You know all those gorgeous photographs of dishes in your cookbook? Well food doesn’t get that pretty by itself. And just as mega movie stars have stylists for the red carpet, so does food for its close-up. Iverson’s always been a highly artistic chef – preparing and plating food in a way that made your memory of Iverson Catering far outlast that of other caterers in the endless sea of Charleston parties – so it makes perfect sense.
And of course he won’t ever stop being a chef (we hear him chopping onions while on this phone interview). He’s simply taking it private label now, offering chef services to those people and businesses he chooses to work with, whether it be for an intimate dinner or a larger event. An off-menu version of catering, if you will.
The thing he says he is most “super stoked” about is his entree into preventative foods. Iverson is a health nut – always in yoga or riding his bike – and has had personal experience with loved ones and disease just like the rest of us. He’s serious about healthy living and the foods we put in our body. He’s currently in talks with MUSC Hollings Cancer Center about possibly working to bring great food, using doctor-approved ingredients, into the hospital. Of course the purpose is to be preventative – i.e. before hospital. So he is also available to keep your pantry and fridge stocked from week to week in a healthy way. Busy, health-conscious folks are already hiring him for the job. “It’s a long term win-win for a lot of people,” he says. Farm-fresh, healthful food delivered to your door by Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome? Win-win indeed.
As for limitless possibilities? From healthy living retreats combining yoga and delicious cooking, to aspirations of starting a Charleston School of Cooking, it’s safe to say he’s got his sights set on some great things.
And we’re so glad those great things are happening here.
Sorry, Mexico.
http://www.iversonbrownell.com/
Story by: Caroline Nuttall
