Nov. 6, 2026

Alton Brown spent an evening in Sioux Falls this week offering foodie fans a blend of food, science, humor and music.

First, however, he stopped at Plum’s Cooking Co. on East Eighth Street to browse the kitchen store’s shelves.

Brown, a multi-hyphenate whose talents include television personality, food show presenter, author and YouTuber, visited with the three employees who were present.

But Lizzie Stewart, Plum’s managing owner, had ducked home to change for Brown’s Wednesday night event at the Washington Pavilion, and missed him. The staff texted her that Brown was in the store, but he had sound checks to do at the Pavilion. By the time Stewart returned to her store, Brown was gone.

“I drove fast through the town, but I missed him,” Stewart said. “I missed him by two minutes. They tried to stall him. … They said he was just very lovely, down to earth.”

This was Brown’s second show in Sioux Falls, last appearing in 2015. Washington Pavilion staff had reached out to Plum’s to see if the store would be interested in acting as a sponsor for his return appearance.

“That was right up our alley,” Stewart said.

The store also hosted a day-later after-party for ticket-holders to Brown’s appearance at the Pavilion. There were cheese and wine tastings, other samples and cooking demonstrations.

Plum’s Cooking Co., which will mark 40 years in 2027, is a kitchen store that also offers cooking classes — usually five a week — and other events. In addition to “cookware, gadgets and gizmos,” it also sells wine and cheese.

Brown hosted the show “Good Eats,” which eventually moved to the Food Network for 14 seasons. It later was relaunched in two versions. He has hosted other shows and written more than a dozen cookbooks.

Brown lives in Marietta, Georgia. He told the Plum’s staff there was nothing like it in Atlanta.

“He was very happy with the store and wished he could spend more time,” Stewart said.

Although Stewart didn’t meet Brown in person, she thoroughly enjoyed his presentation at the Pavilion. Brown had promised “new demonstrations, music and slightly scaled-down mayhem” in his latest tour.

“It was so fun,” she said. “At times it was like, this is a comedy show.”