Meet Vera

Vera Peanuts Presentation 1

Vera Stewart is a Southern cooking Host, Entrepreneur, Caterer, Mail order aficionado, Cookbook author and Mentor.

When Vera Stewart received her Home Economics Education degree in 1974 from the University of Georgia, she was full of ideas, goals, and the determination to see them through. She took her love of teaching to the classroom, spending 4 years enriching high school students with culinary knowledge and the skills to be successful adults. Motherhood brought Vera out of the classroom and into the home, where her catering business was born. The event that put her business on the map was the inaugural luncheon for Governor Joe Frank Harris in 1983, and in 1984, the VeryVera brand was crafted. To continue the company’s growth, she diversified into a multifaceted catering and mail-order business with national sales.

Vera’s love for teaching opened up another opportunity for diversification when she started a summer cooking school. VeryVera Cooking Camp, which sells out yearly, completed its 20th year in Summer 2023. Since 2012, Vera has deepened the relationship with her fan base through The VeryVera Show, a cooking and lifestyle show with national sponsors Sub-Zero Wolf and Cove and The Fresh Market. Each week, tens of thousands of fans tune in to watch her put a twist on classic Southern recipes and introduce new ways to entertain. The VeryVera Show is dearly loved for Vera’s take on Southern cuisine, giveaways, and well-known culinary figures from the South and beyond, including Tyler Florence, Nathalie Dupree, Virginia Willis, The Lee Brothers, and Rebecca Lang.

In April 2018, Vera released The VeryVera Cookbook: Recipes from my Table, which contains recipes for every product she ever sold via mail order and in her café. In April 2023, Vera released her second cookbook, Occasions, which contains tried and true recipes from her many years of catering. The cookbook is organized by season to help everyone become an amazing entertainer. The VeryVera Cookbooks have gained media attention from Taste of the South, Relish, and Local Palate magazines, Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James blog, and many other online outlets.

Throughout all eras of her career, Vera has found her true passion in mentoring young people. As an homage to those who helped shape the person she is, Vera takes pride in seeing her employees flourish under her guidance. Since 1997, Vera has given college scholarships to high school students on her staff that exhibit a strong work ethic and determination.

Vera is easily recognized by her winning smile, contagious enthusiasm, and visible passion for her work. Vera’s home is in Augusta with her husband, Andy, a retired attorney, and her growing family.

“No matter what you do, do it in Good Taste

— Vera Stewart

Vera the Speaker

For 40 years, Vera Stewart has been the example of female entrepreneurship in the Augusta, GA area. Vera made her start in catering, operated a café and bakery, and mail-ordered cakes and casseroles all over the country. She was offered her own Cooking and Lifestyle show in 2011 after winning 'Throwdown with Bobby Flay.' Her unique perspective and captivating personality make her a highly sought-after motivational speaker.

Women in Workforce speaking - signing after
Vera making Fried Green Tomatoes

Vera the TV Host

The VeryVera Show, is in its 12th Season and in 42 metropolitan markets, showcases Vera’s natural teaching ability with prompts that remind us to use our manners and modern suggestions to add a new twist to your grandmother’s favorite recipes.

Vera’s Testimonials

Something for All

Give a great gift or get a little something for yourself. You can be rest assured anything you pick up from Vera’s store is going to be in excellent taste.

Something for All

Give a great gift or get a little something for yourself. You can be rest assured anything you pick up from Vera’s store is going to be in excellent taste.