Tajahi Cooke
Partner in Crime Danielle Cooke
Sous Chef Riyan McNeal
Visionary. Storyteller. Servant of the People.
Chef Tajahi Cooke is a man whose presence carries the weight of legacy and the warmth of generations. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and now rooted in Denver, Colorado, he is a culinary force guided by purpose, driven by service, and grounded in heritage.
Together with his wife and lifelong partner, Danielle Cooke, he co-founded Ms. Betty’s Cooking—a culinary company inspired by his grandmother and built on the unshakable foundation of family, love, and faith. Danielle is not only a co-founder, but the steady hand behind the vision—leading alongside Chef Cooke in both life and mission.
Known by many as “the people’s chef,” Cooke’s food is more than technique—it is tradition, memory, and revolution on a plate. Through their work, the Cookes have used food as a language to unite communities, tell untold stories, and nourish the body and soul.
Together, they created Madsgiving, an annual initiative that has served over 75,000 home-cooked meals to Colorado families on Thanksgiving Day. Their shared belief in dignity and equity has made the project a statewide movement of compassion, resilience, and love.
Chef Cooke has been honored with the Star Chef Award, the Denver7 Everyday Hero Award, and national recognition on Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay. He serves on the board of the Colorado Restaurant Foundation and stands as an ambassador for CHOW and World Central Kitchen.
This is Chef Tajahi Cooke’s debut at the Taste of Vail. Every dish he shares is rooted in his lineage, his culture, and the sacred bond between husband and wife—who together have made food not just a profession, but a calling.