Soul food is more than a cuisine—it’s the foundation of American cooking, born out of resilience and creativity. From humble beginnings, enslaved Africans took scraps and transformed them into the hearty dishes we now celebrate, passing these traditions down through generations. Today, in a digital-first world, chefs like Davon Moseley, better known as @RoyaleEats to his 1.7 million TikTok followers, are keeping those traditions alive while adding their own twists.
A self-taught chef, Davon is proof that the best education is often found in the family kitchen. At seven, he first learned to cook, perfecting his skills by drawing on his family’s soul food staples and blending them with modern flavors. Whether creating viral mac-and-cheese recipes or sharing healthier take on collard greens, Davon’s content bridges the gap between nostalgia and innovation. Beyond his TikTok fame, he hosts private cooking classes, teaching others how to avoid being intimidated in the kitchen and released The Home Cook Ebook, which allows you to try his dishes for yourself.
In this conversation with WayMaker Journal, Davon talks about the roots of soul food, how it shaped his identity, and how he stays true to Black food traditions while navigating a digital platform. For him, it’s not just about cooking; it’s about preserving a history and building a community, one recipe at a time.
This conversation has been edited for length and style.
WayMaker Journal (WMJ): What does soul food mean to you, and how has it shaped your identity as a chef?
Davon: Soul food, at its foundation, is about making something great out of what you have. Historically, our people didn’t have access to the best ingredients, but we took what we had, poured love and care into it, and created something delicious that people can enjoy. I believe that’s what I apply and what I do with my food—taking simple ingredients and getting creative with them. That’s the essence of soul food.
WMJ: How long have you been cooking? Do you remember the first dish you learned to make?
Davon: I’ve been in the kitchen since I was a kid. The first dish I learned to cook was spaghetti. In Black households, spaghetti is a staple—it’s affordable, stretches to feed a lot of people, and you can make it a full meal. My dad sat me down one day and said, “You’re going to need to learn how to cook for yourself,” and taught me how to make spaghetti.
@royaleeats 4-cheese Macaroni & Cheese recipe! Ingredients are posted below and full recipe is available on my blog, as well as my e-book cookbook The Home Cook that is available on my blog’s shop. The Home Cook e-book contains many recipes that you can use to serve your family over the holiday season! Ingredients: •1 pound Elbow Pasta, or pasta of choice •¼ cup Unsalted Butter, (½ stick) •2 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour •3 cups Heavy Cream •1 ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt, or to taste •2 teaspoons Black Pepper, or to taste •1 teaspoon Garlic Powder •1 teaspoon Onion Powder •(optional) 1 teaspoon Ground Mustard •½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika •2 tablespoons Sour Cream •16 ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded, divided •8 ounces Colby Jack Cheese, shredded, divided •8 ounces Smoked Gouda, shredded, divided •8 ounces Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese, shredded, divided •(optional) Smoked Paprika, for sprinkling on top of cheese before baking #royaleeats ♬ original sound – Royale Eats
WMJ: Are there any family recipes that inspire your content?
Davon: Funny enough, my family didn’t want to share all of their recipes with me once they saw what I was doing! My cousin was the last person to get our mac and cheese recipe, and she refused to give it to me. But I’ve always found inspiration by watching and tasting the dishes my family made repeatedly. Over time, I put my own twist on those recipes.
WMJ: TikTok is such a visual and interactive platform. How do you use it to tell the story behind the dishes you create?
Davon: TikTok forces you to grab people’s attention within the first three to five seconds. I connect by sharing a personal story or explaining what the dish can do for them. I also use sound—like the sizzle of something frying—to pull people in. It’s all about pacing and keeping them engaged with visual and audio elements.
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WMJ: What are some of the biggest misconceptions about soul food?
Davon: The biggest misconception is that soul food has to be unhealthy. Traditionally, we cooked with what we had, like pork in greens, but today, we can make healthier substitutions. I’ll use smoked turkey instead of pork or switch to healthier oils. It’s all about keeping the flavor while making mindful adjustments.
WMJ: How do you see your work bridging people together online and offline?
Davon: Food has this unique way of bringing people together. When I started my journey, it reconnected me with family I hadn’t seen in years. They supported me by ordering food and sharing my content. Online, it’s been just as powerful. When people tell me they made one of my recipes for their family, and their kids loved it—that’s everything. Kids are the harshest critics!
Food was used to keep us together and to propel us forward.
WMJ: How do you stay authentic as a Black chef in a space that can feel commercialized?
Davon: I stay true to myself and my roots. My experience growing up is synonymous with a traditional Black experience. Watching elders cook, seeing just every aspect that food plays, not only in tasting good, but in bringing people together. I just do my best to be authentic to my roots and what I tasted [and saw] growing up. I believe people, whether they experienced that within themselves or not, they can relate to it or they want to relate to it. Food was used to keep us together and to propel us forward.
@royaleeats Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs. Full Recipe with Measurements in my Ebook. Link in bio ?? #food #foodie #recipe #chicken ♬ Lazy Sunday – Official Sound Studio
WMJ: Do you see yourself as a bridge between the past and future of Black cuisine?
Davon: I hadn’t thought about it like that before, but yes. By sharing my experiences and what I know, I’m helping preserve our traditions while pushing them forward.
WMJ: If you had one soulful dish that defines comfort and love for you, what would it be and why?
Davon: It’ll definitely be candy yams. I love starchy foods, and the mix of sweetness with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of clove makes it perfect. It’s my go-to soul food dish—comforting and full of flavor. A lot of people probably say mac and cheese, and I love that too but for me, candy yams will always be the standout.
WMJ: What message do you want to share about the importance of Black food traditions for Black History Month?
Davon: Black food traditions go beyond the food itself. It’s about staying together, no matter what life throws at us. I want people to take pride in our culinary contributions and research the stories behind the dishes we’ve created. We’ve made a huge impact on American cuisine, and it’s time we get the acknowledgment for it, such as James Hemmons when it comes to macaroni and cheese. Everyone around America loves macaroni and cheese, but he wasn’t acknowledged for it for a long time. So, with that now being profound and being shown and coming to service, it really does make you wonder, what other dishes did our people bring over? Or what did we invent that we haven’t gotten acknowledgment for?
