In the most recent episode of “Top Chef,” cheftestants had to cook something from a recipe book written by Carson Gulley for the quickfire challenge.
None of the contestants knew who Carson Gulley was, but we do. He was the head chef for UW-Madison for 27 years, as well as a Civil Rights pioneer.
- Born in Arkansas in 1897, he was one of 10 children, a son of sharecroppers.
- He came to Madison in 1926 and began cooking for the students.
- His recipe book, Seasoning Secrets, was published in 1949. Recipes include Molded Fish Salad, Hot Sauce for Weiners, and Baked Raccoon.
- In 1953, Gulley and his wife, Beatrice, hosted a TV show called “What’s Cooking” on WMTV, becoming Madison’s first Black TV personalities.
- He died in 1962 at the age of 65 and is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery.
On campus, the Carson Gulley Center is now a community space for UW-Madison students. You can visit Carson’s Market or try making his beloved fudge-bottom pie.
