Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheri L. Raleigh.
Hi Sheri L., it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Sheri L. Raleigh is a prominent Chef Instructor and the Owner of Cast Iron Skillet Culinaire, LLC, based in Waco, Texas. She has made significant contributions to the culinary world as the founder of the Gifts From The Ancestors Foodways Project and the author of two notable works, “Okra & Tomatoes” and “Creole Celebrations.” With a rich background in cross-cultural education, Sheri offers community cooking classes across various sectors, including education, hospitality, and healthcare. Her establishment, Cast Iron Skillet Culinaire, is dedicated to delivering “culinary edutainment” and fostering team-building experiences, with a particular focus on Creole cuisine.
Beyond her culinary endeavors, Sheri serves as a Community Expert for Cuisine Noir magazine. She holds a Master of Science in Human Relations and Business from Amberton University and a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition from Northwestern State University of Louisiana.
In 2022, the Gifts From The Ancestors Foodways Project introduced a five-part YouTube series that examines the influence of West African foodways on Creole cuisine. Sheri has collaborated with various organizations, such as the Iberia African American Historical Society, and received a Red Cares Grant from Tabasco to host events at Shadows-on-the-Teche, a National Historic Society site. Her efforts were recognized in 2024 when she was awarded the Texas Food and Wine Alliance Statewide Grant.
In 2025, Sheri participated as a featured Chef Instructor at the Louisiana Food and Wine Festival in her hometown of Lake Charles, LA. In October 2025, she showcased “Cooking with Culture: A Creole Cooking Demonstration,” an event sponsored by NSULA’s HMT Department, NSULA’s Creole Heritage Center, and NSULA’s Gail Metoyer Jones Center for Inclusion and Diversity. Additionally, Sheri established the Lawrence J. and Viola M. Raleigh Hospitality Scholarship through the NSULA Alumni Foundation.
Sheri emphasizes the cultural significance of food, stating, “Food tells a beautiful story. It creates opportunities that bridge cultural divides and builds strong food communities.”
Additional Info:
Sheri has been featured in several media outlets, including KLFY in Lafayette, WGNO in New Orleans, KXAN in Austin, KWTX in Waco, and the Waco Tribune. Her work has also appeared in ShoutOutHTX Magazine, Houston Style Magazine, Cuisine Noir Magazine, Wacoan Magazine, Cherry Bombe publications, and the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IPAC). Additionally, she has been highlighted in Louisiana Country Magazine, NSULA Alumni Columns, the Natchitoches Parish Journal, and CBS Digital News.
Sheri is a featured guest on both the Freestyle Flavor Podcast and the Cookbook Love Podcast. Furthermore, she is the founder of the Instagram account @blackwomenchefs.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My culinary journey has presented challenges, especially in the area of professional equity. However, I was very fortunate to have great mentors during my career who demonstrated genuine confidence in my skills and abilities.
There were times of setback, especially when I moved back to Houston from Raleigh, NC, in 2001. During this season, I learned how to pivot within my career in public education from the kitchen to the classroom. Becoming a culinary instructor was by far the best decision for me, but more so for my students in the ProStart program. The renewed energy I gained in the classroom enabled our program at Foster High School to excel beyond my expectations.
During this time, I also became a Cooking Connections Chef for HEB Grocers, which introduced me to great mentor Chefs in the Culinary Arts profession. In 2010, I began collaborating with other chefs to present food and wine experiences.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Raising children who are artistically gifted led me to seek out programs that diligently elevated their skills. I love and support the arts, but did not see myself as one. At least not until my daughter Arielle told me, “Mom, you are an artist, your work is just on the plate.” I contemplated that statement and embraced it wholeheartedly, which led to the development of lesson plans and teacher guides for the state of Texas. I am very proud of those accomplishments.
I believe that what sets me apart is my ability to listen to what is needed and tap into my skills that can fill a need. Combining my love for history and genealogy has turned me into a good culinary storyteller!
In 2024 through a collaborative partnership with GO3 Vodka/Jubilee Distilling of Houston and a grant from the Texas Food and Wine Alliance, I was able to bring the Creole Celebrations cookbook to life!
What’s next?
My plans include expanding my YouTube channel to tell more Creole culinary stories. I desire to develop a series for children that showcases my Substack newsletter, Lone Star Creoles.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://giftsfromtheancestors.com
- Instagram: @giftsfromtheancestors
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/giftsfromtheancestorsfoodways/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@s.linetteraleigh2610
Image Credits
Guilermo Rosas, https://www.24fotos.com – Photo in Red Chef Coat
Michael Stone, Experience Photography, experiencephotography.ms@gmail.com – Cookbook cover and Creole table
All other photos are my own.
