What’s up my Eaters!! Welcome to The Eating Chambers, The Citizen’s new weekly food column! I am Chef Andrew Chambers—a chef, pitmaster, and content creator. I’m an absolute foodie and a world traveler. I am a friend, a brother, a daddy, and a husband. Community and fellowship are what dreams are made of. Now, I am your weekly source of everything culinary and hospitality in Fayetteville and the surrounding areas.

I have been a Fayette/Coweta County resident since 2006. I got married here. I purchased my first house here. My children were born here. I graduated from college here. I started my business here. I turned into a man here. Fayette and Coweta County are my home. It is an honor to serve you all each week in this way.

As I was conceptualizing this column and what I want it to represent, I was reminded of my early years in the kitchen at home with my mom and dad. My dad was one of the greatest cooks to ever live. My mom could hold her own in the kitchen as well. She was always at my dad’s side—he was the chef, and she was his sous chef. My siblings and I learned to be prep cooks very early.

Although he was a fantastic cook, my dad was not very patient in the kitchen. He would typically start and finish the meal, delegating the middle steps to my mom. If she was busy or didn’t feel like cooking, she passed the responsibility to my sister or me. We knew it was our turn when we heard our name called to the kitchen. Upon arrival, the instruction was always, “watch the fire.”

That phrase became synonymous with cooking in our home. It was never taken lightly. We were expected to ensure that everything continued smoothly until they reassumed their position in the kitchen.

It wasn’t until years later that I truly understood the weight of the phrase “watch the fire.” As a child, I thought my parents were just being extra cautious about not burning dinner. But I’ve come to realize that “watch the fire” was about stewardship.

It was about honoring the time, work, and resources that went into each meal or family gathering. It was about respecting the ingredients and the farmers who produced them. It meant ensuring that the event or experience could continue without mishap or disruption. “Watch the fire” was about educating, exciting, and empowering us to be the best cooks we could be for our family and friends. None of us knew they were raising a chef!

It is out of this sentiment that I have created The Eating Chambers. Each week you can expect education through recipes and by bringing awareness to different local food businesses. I will excite you through personal insights as well as insights from other culinary and hospitality professionals. Most importantly, my heart is to empower you. I will be regularly reviewing local food and hospitality businesses as well as informing you of all that is going on in the food scene in and around Fayette County.

I am so excited to embark on this adventure with all of you! If you like what you’ve read so far, I invite you to check out The Eating Chambers Channel on YouTube. I would also love for you to visit me at the Peachtree City Farmers Market every Saturday.

Make sure to check back next week! I’ll be sharing the breakfast and lunch spot that I absolutely cannot get enough of right now!