Meet Tajahi Cooke | Chef Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tajahi Cooke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tajahi, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
My upbringing was rough and challenging at times, but beautiful when you look through the cracks. Growing up as a young boy from Kingston, Jamaica, I was exposed to so much at a young age that many would have thought was wrong, overexposure, but between being hardened and loved on by beautiful individuals throughout my life, it helped me to see both sides of the world. Understanding each other, and actually spending the time to get to know the person next to you can change the next decision that one makes, negative or positive. The investment that we put into each other, food, money, time, it matters. So, choosing the route as a custodian of food has only helped me to connect more with my neighbors. In Jamaica we have a saying, “out of many, we are one”. This is a saying I choose to live my life by, to stride by with each step. If we were to come to the mindset that out of many the whole world is one, imagine where we would be.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What I’ve learned about the title “chef” is that it’s just the same as a cook. The difference is, it is multiplied by a hundred. Once you take on the title of chef you don’t just take on the responsibility of yourself, but also the weight of others. The cooks that work for you, on whether or not they succeed in the career path they’ve chosen. You’ve taken on the restaurant and the success of that restaurant. This weight is not an easy load, but what it has taught me is that I am more than what I am capable of. The title of chef has shown me and helped me to see the dreams and to reach for the goals I have set for myself. The title of chef is truly important to me because you have to invest yourself in the ingredient, in all of the ingredient. Get to know it, its ins and outs. To understand the quality and texture, just to figure it out. An ingredient is just like us humans. We all have our own impact on society, just like an ingredient has its own impact on a dish. The title of chef has now helped me to face my fears, to build my family’s name, and build on what my family has left for us to build off of. My grandmother’s name is now forever etched in stone. For me that is probably one of the best gifts I could have given her. Being a chef, being an owner, being a leader within the community with a voice that shouts, because being quiet doesn’t get you anywhere. Just like an ingredient, I’m trying to make my impact on society and the world, in a positive and beautiful way.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Colorado has become personal for my wife and me. We hold it close because it is also her birthplace. I personally hold it close because it is where I found myself. In the beginning, my journey to Colorado was focused on music, rugby and food. Now, that’s narrowed down to food and community. Any friend of mine, whose truly a friend of mine, when they come to Colorado, I would show them Colorado. I would introduce them friends of mine who are farmers, bartenders, dishwashers, cooks, who help our community flourish. I would introduce them to the best brewers around town – both friends and new ones along the way – because I always believe in having a new conversation every day. One of my favorite beers to drink, is Lefthand Milkstout, and of course we would have to visit their location in Longmont. . One of my favorite meals to have on a cold, hot, windy, day – doesn’t matter – is pho over at Pho Duy, located off of Federal Blvd. My favorite is the large combination, that I can never finish. But I always make the attempt! When I first came to America, the first thing I ate were tacos, so one of my favorite places to go is La Calle Taqueria y Carnitas for an amazing variety of authentic tacos and goat soup! My wife and I have been frequenting this location for years and it keeps getting better. I ask them for their recipes and they just laugh, so I drink their soup with pride and I keep going back because I feel that I am welcome. They are amazing people with beautiful smiles and an amazing language that I don’t understand, and on top of it, their food is just damn delicious. They will also experience the most beautiful views on Mother Earth, high up in the mountain tops, traveling along riverbeds that leads to beautiful lakes tucked away in hidden gems like Alamosa, where you can see the snow melt and puddle into beautiful rivers that travel along the base of the sand dune mountains. that are overseen by gorgeous aspen trees that tower above us all. The experience in Colorado, I believe will be second to none. This is one of the reasons I have moved here. This is one of the reasons I have made roots here. As for my friend on this trip, he or she will end up full, and in a coma state, wanting to cancel their flight and attempt to move into our beautiful one-bedroom apartment and sleep on our couch. In which we will have to say no. We will tell them we love them and they can always come back. When we get a house, we can talk about room and board and how they can pay rent, because Coloraod is a beautiful state and I’m always willing to share.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Going back to being a kid in Jamaica, growing up on an island that is impacted by hurricane winds up to 200-300 mph, seeing roofs ripped off homes, banana trees blowing in the wind like a piece of paper. When you see individuals walking down your street with 50 lb-bags of rice, chickens in cages, eggs, blankets, shoes, and just a warm hug, you never forget. This is what the Salvation Army stands for, for me. They were there when us Jamaicans needed them, and they’ve always been there in the shadows helping, with their bell ringing in front of a store. Whether it is 10 cents or $10, to just do good, is amazing. This is something we all can do. A page we can take out of their book, a way we can live our lives. Striving to do the most good is all that matters. Thank you, Salvation Army, for showing me that.

Website: www.msbettysgrandson.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msbettysgrandson/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tajahi-cooke-697a01100/

Twitter: @MsBettysCooking

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MsBettysCooking

Other: For information on our upcoming Valentine’s Day event – https://www.firesideatfive.com/upcoming-firesides/island-love

Image Credits
Jeff Fierberg and Conner Holmes