574/8/2021
Ready to Love season 4 returned to Houston for round 2 with a couple of familiar Houston faces. Host Thomas “Nephew Tommy” Miles returned for the 4th year as host but not with a “couple” of surprises. His wife Jacquline Miles joined him for the premier and Twitter went wild, hoping that she will stay on to give a woman’s perspective. Also, the audience got a surprise coming out of the gate with Kristopher “KG Smooth” Green’s return to the cast. I couldn’t help but wonder were those the two surprises Nephew Tommy told me in my interview with him. If you feel like it seems I just spoke with him, you are not alone. I told him the same thing, however, a lot can hap- pen in 5 months. So let me update you.
Of course, we chatted about Ready to Love, I mean how can you do a Ready to Love Houston and not show the city love?! When I asked if we will see my glorious city, the city that birthed Thomas Miles, he told me that’s the rea- son why he opted to return to Houston. One because “they gave Atlanta two so Houston has to have two” also because he did want to show the city that shaped him. Ready to Love, in all its glory, sort of took a back seat however and not on purpose. Of course, I asked Tommy for an exclusive like always and he mentioned that there would be two big surprises on the show but that he was also working on something special.
“I am a country boy,” he said. “Houston, Texas, 44 Acres Homes, Gulf Bank, Eisenhower High School” We laughed and shared a moment as I, along with our current Mayor Sylvester Turner, also come from the same neigh- borhood. He then went on to tell me that he has a product coming out called Just Good Gritz! My mouth hit the floor! How? Why? When I asked. He began to talk about how he loves to cook and how he would always prepare amazing-
ly flavored fried turkeys for his family. Part of the flavor came from a spice he used in his recipe from a friend named Michael. One year he ran out of time to prepare the turkey for thanksgiving but knew that Michael also prepared turkeys. Long story short, Michael told Tommy his secret recipe of spices used, they began to cook together and Just Good Gritz was born.
Of course, I had to ask since ev- ery blue moon the salt or sugar on grits debate revives on Instagram. Tommy said that there would be something for everyone. The first round will be savory but he also has a sweet and sassy flavor that will roll out as well. A very popular recipe will be on the box; shrimp and grits. Tommy said just follow the simple steps with your shrimp and let the grits be the star of the plate. Just Good Gritz is set to launch on www.justgoodgritz. com in May 2021.
Getting back to Ready to Love, I remembered that June makes 20 years of marriage to his beautiful better half. Jackie and Tommy met at Texas A&M and have 3 beautiful children. The two completely vaccinated couple will cel- ebrate in Cabo with close (vaccinated) friends this year. Although Ready to Love filmed in a very open Houston, Tommy confirmed that the show made sure cast members, producers, workers, and everyone associated took all nec- essary precautions to safe guard their health.
Make sure you tune in every Friday 9/8 Central on the OWN Net- work to watch Ready to Love.
To watch our interview, sub- scribe to Houston Style Magazine’s YouTube page: