Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Whitaker has teamed up with AspireTV for a brand new cooking series, Downright Delicious with Yo-Yo. AspireTV is a network that celebrates and reflects Black culture and urban lifestyle. The show will debut with a special episode airing on Tuesday, March 7th at 8 p.m. ET, followed by a full season airing this summer.
In the series, Yo-Yo will share her love for cooking by whipping up some of her favorite dishes, cocktails, desserts, and more, all while showcasing her infectious personality. Yo-Yo is known for being a true hostess who loves making delicious meals for her guests, and her recipes for this season include brioche lobster rolls, salmon and broccolini lobster pasta, and coconut-braised oxtails with red beans and rice.
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“I am excited to have a cooking show,” says Yo-Yo. “The kitchen is my happy place, where I connect with my family and friends! It brings me great joy to hop in the kitchen and whip up delicious meals packed with flavor, and now my fans and the audience get to hang out with me!”
Despite being skilled in the kitchen, Yo-Yo wants to make sure that her audience knows she will remain relatable as she whips up her meals. “I’m not a fancy chef…I’m Yo-Yo from around the way, who can throw down in the kitchen. No big fancy chef stuff!” she says. “But I promise you everything I make is downright delicious, and you will always have a good time.”
Angela Cannon, senior vice president of multicultural networks and strategy for AspireTV, says, “Downright Delicious with Yo-Yo is a fresh take on cooking shows as you’ve never seen before.”
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The series is also part of Publicis Media’s APX Content Ventures Inclusion Investment Fund, which helps its partners develop over 20 programs spotlighting diverse voices and storylines.
“To have a rap icon like Yo-Yo on aspire is heaven-sent. Yo-Yo brings the energy, the beauty, the music, and of course, the amazing food,” says Cannon. “I am very proud to say this fun, new series is led by strong Black females in front of and behind the camera, including the incomparable Yo-Yo, the dynamic duo of Rochelle Brown and Sonia Armstead from Powerhouse Productions, and the executives here at aspireTV. There is no question we are being very intentional by premiering the first episode during Women’s History Month. We’re thrilled to bring our viewers Downright Delicious with Yo-Yo this June as we continue to expand our food lifestyle programming vertical.”