Contrary to some recent media reports, the closure of Momma Cherri's Soul Food Shack had nothing to do with lack of support from Gordon Ramsay. I've never said anything about Gordon. I'm not stupid. I wouldn't be where I am without his Kitchen Nightmares programme. I've become a household name all over the world. I had an email from Beijing the other day.

It was the economic climate that did for the restaurant. We went into administration two years ago because things were tight. Then my daughter bought the company and was running it under licence. But just as we were starting to see things pick up, the recession hit hard. People just stopped coming during the week (although we were still very busy at the weekends).

After Kitchen Nightmares, we were incredibly popular. I was turning away 80 people a day. It got to the stage where even the waiting list was too long. With the benefit of hindsight we shouldn't have moved to bigger premises. But Gordon made the same mistake as me. He's expanded too big and too quickly and it hasn't worked. Yes, it's on a totally different scale but it's the same principle. Did Gordon call me when the restaurant closed? No, he didn't.

You have to take Kitchen Nightmares for what it is. But if you go on a programme like that, be sure to go on a business course as well, or at least bring someone on board who understands business, because you can have the best food in the world but if you don't have enough customers coming through your doors or if you don't understand the nature of VAT or PAYE, you will struggle. They were just initials to me but they're the things that can shut you down.

It's been a really tough time for me and for everyone. Love's, another Brighton restaurant that was on the show, has also closed. Even Gordon's had a few problems. But I haven't given up. I'm selling my food at farmers' markets and catering at a Brighton club night, Soul Survivors. And I'm writing my second cookbook along with trying to sell my range of sauces into supermarkets. American soul food is still here. I'm still here. Watch this space.