*AspireTV is taking viewers on the road, and this time the destination is Savannah, Georgia. The new season of “City Eats: Savannah” premiered on September 4 and continues weekly on Thursdays, with Chef G. Garvin at the helm. Known for shows such as “G. Garvin Live!” and “Hustle Sizzle & Smoke,” Garvin shifts gears, stepping into Savannah’s neighborhoods, kitchens, and dining rooms to highlight both its upscale restaurants and its hidden gems.
For Garvin, this season is deeply personal. The series is about more than the dishes themselves—it’s about the stories, families, and traditions behind them. “I’ve long thought that Savannah was under underrepresented. In the food space, I had heard of some really great locations there and some really good food and people. So, it was something that was close to my heart.”
Childhood memories of visiting Savannah, paired with the city’s absence from the television food landscape, convinced him it was time to shine a spotlight on the region. The backdrop could not be more fitting. “Just the fact that there are so many great folks there who love food, who love hospitality, who cook well,” Garvin explained. “I think that exposing that in a positive way is really good.”
That balance between food and people is at the core of the show. “You just talk to people, it ain’t complicated. If you’re in the elevator, you say hello, how are you? How’s your day going? What do you do for a living? You can get into an easy conversation. And it’s the same, you go into somebody’s kitchen, it’s like going into somebody’s house.” By letting conversations flow naturally, Garvin believes the dishes and the people both shines.
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Throughout the season, viewers can expect everything from elegant plates to neighborhood classics. “I say hood spots. Hood spots are the backbone of neighborhood restaurants. I think they should be called hood spots. Because it is the spot that everybody in the hood is going to go to and support. And it’s a safe space for little kids running up the street to get their barbecue.”
Garvin views the series as a platform for those who may not otherwise have one. “For me, it becomes less about the show, but more about the people and allowing them to be comfortable and tell their story and let people see their restaurants because they need that promotion. They don’t have a million-dollar marketing budget. So, for me, it really is making sure I can deliver God’s message through food.”
His partnership with aspireTV has been central to bringing “City Eats” to life. “I mean, they get it,” Chef G said of the network. “They know what my missions are, what my goals are. I don’t do anything for money. I’m driven by my ability to support the culture. I’m an African American man who has seen the world all through food. I want to continue to do that sharing through food and travel. They get it. It’s been a great partnership, a great relationship. We work very well together, and they allow me to continue to do what it is I do.”
For those inspired to taste Savannah themselves, Garvin offers practical advice. “Get a hotel that’s central to a lot of places. Walk. See the city. Get something that you can move around in comfortable shoes and talk to the locals. Don’t just look for the highlight spots. Look for the spots that might not fit the bill with the street side. But know who’s in there cooking. That’s what I say. Know before you go.”
Tune in to “City Eats: Savannah” Thursdays at 8:30 pm ET on aspireTV.
Watch our full conversation with Chef G below.
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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