Tamron Hall says her 5-year-old son Moses loves cooking together and reveals his favorite dish (exclusive)

Time in the kitchen is precious for Tamron Hall and her son, Moses.

When speaking to PEOPLE at the opening Food and Wine Classic in Charleston on September 27th, the Tamron Salon talk show host opened up about the bond she and her 5-year-old son share.

“He loves to cook. I think he would consider himself a chef, at least that’s what he says at home. ‘Mom, I’m a chef!’” she says.

Hall released her first cookbook, A confident cook with friend and James Beard Award winner Lish Steiling on September 3. The book, says Hall, is a collection of recipes and stories to help beginning or nervous cooks find their way around the kitchen.

“There’s a photo in the cookbook that shows a real moment of us downstairs playing ping pong. We are all at the table with some of the snacks we have and the recipes from the book, but this is a real family moment for us”, he says.

Hall says that while some five-year-olds have a “go the chicken finger” mentality, she sees a different approach to Moses food. “My son has the most sophisticated palate,” she says.

“Her favorite dish in the cookbook is bucatini,” says Hall of her pasta with pomodoro and burrata recipe. “But I think after our bucatini in the book, he loves chicken curry and dumplings.”

She drew inspiration from her cookbook — and one of Moses’ favorite dinners — when deciding which recipes to prepare during her cooking seminar with Sterling during the Food and Wine Classic Events in Charleston: On the menu: branzino and a special lemon blueberry galette.

“Believe it or not, he’s not even a sweet kid,” says Hall. “He likes a little [kick of] flavor. I don’t know where he got that from because I love sweets and so does his father [husband Steven Greener]. But anything that’s tasty he dives into.”

In August, Hall made fans laugh by revealing a funny food story involving Moses.

In an Instagram video, the veteran journalist revealed the unexpected delivery she received courtesy of her son. “A few minutes ago I was on a work call and I got a knock on the door, and it was my grocery delivery for this week,” the author said in the video, adding that she’s “about to start crying.”

“I looked at my purchases: my son snuck into the app – he’s 5 years old – my son ordered 75 yellow onions, totaling almost 90 dollars,” she revealed.

“What should I do with 75 yellow onions?” Hall asked his followers as he reached into the large bag full of onions. She then hilariously threw the bag of onions onto the floor and exclaimed, “That’s a whole bag of onions!”

Later that day, Hall shared an update on the situation she dubbed “Oniongate” — and her clever solution. In a second Instagram Reel, the Emmy winner documented that she and Moses were in the car on the way to the local food pantry.

“Seventy-five onions, we’re going to donate them to the food pantry,” Hall shared.

“Come on!” Moses applauded.

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While in Food and Wine Classic, Hall – the former co-host of Today third hour — also shared with PEOPLE her reactions to the news that Hoda Kotb is leaving her current role on the long-running morning show.

“I understand that. I make. I understand that a lot,” says Hall, 54. “Being a mother – being a slightly older mother, you want to give your child and your family as much time and love as possible.”

On September 26, Kotb announced he would be leaving Today to spend more time with his family, but will remain in his current roles at NBC until early 2025.

“I think it’s a beautiful decision and it wasn’t an easy one to make, but I’m proud of it,” says Hall.