Caprice & Ella 714 | North Carolina Brunswick Stew, Ohio Corn Chowder, Fajitas, and Vegetarian Lasagna… Oh, My!

In this episode of "Caprice & Ella," culinary delights and heartwarming family moments take center stage. Join Ava, Breeanna, Tabitha, Ashli, Leeland, Jessica, Sierra, Lyssa, Caprice, and Ella, as they navigate through the simple yet profound joys of cooking, sharing meals, and reminiscing about cherished memories.

The episode kicks off with Ava at the Southgate Plaza Kroger on Pettit Avenue in Fort Wayne, shopping for ingredients for Breeanna's North Carolina Brunswick Stew. Accompanied by Tabitha, Ava searches for vegetarian chicken and tofu while Michael Jackson's "Bad" is playing creating a lively background at Kroger. This scene is filled with nostalgia as Ava recalls previous shoots at the same location two years earlier in Breaking Boiling Point. After gathering all the ingredients, Ava confirms with Tabitha that they have everything needed for the stew.

Next, Ava heads to Kettler Hall on the Purdue Fort Wayne campus to fulfill a wager made with her daughter, Tabitha. She reheats the North Carolina Brunswick Stew, which she prepared in a crockpot during a Colts game they lost to the Buffalo Bills the day before. Ava reflects on her experience making the stew, noting how the second time turned out perfectly with okra, unlike the previous year with butternut squash. She shares the story of the stew's connection to Breeanna's high school and Breeanna's rekindling of the recipe from a Facebook post by Barbara Gibbs of WTVD ABC 11 a year earlier. Ava's reflections turn personal as she remembers her twin daughters, Tiffani and Sheryl, who have passed away, adding depth and emotional resonance to the scene since the episode was recorded on November 11, 2024 (Tiffani and Sheryl would be 25).

Afterwards, Ava arrives home earlier than expected, thanks to an early class dismissal by Professor Debrah Huffman. Caprice and Ella humorously express their gratitude. Ava catches up with Caprice, who is engrossed in the "21Alive News at 4" forecast predicting snow. They discuss the new meteorologist, Michael Moranelli, and the weather, adding a touch of daily life and community connection to the episode. Ava then starts preparing a mix of fajitas and vegetarian lasagna for dinner, setting the stage for a cozy family meal.

As Ava cooks dinner, a segment on "21Alive News at 5" announces the demolition of the old Azar's Big Boy building, an iconic Fort Wayne restaurant, to make way for a gas station. Ava and her family express their sadness over losing this local landmark, sharing nostalgic memories of the restaurant. Caprice and Ella regret never having seen the restaurant, and Ava reminisces about her single visit to Azar's Big Boy shortly after moving to Fort Wayne in 2018. This discussion underscores the themes of change and the impact on the community.

The episode wraps up with the closing credits parodying those from the 1984-1993 NBC soap opera "Santa Barbara." This episode of "Caprice & Ella" beautifully weaves together the joys of cooking, the warmth of family interactions, and the bittersweet reflections on community changes. Through Ava's culinary adventures and heartfelt memories, viewers are reminded of the importance of traditions and the ever-evolving nature of life.