What Is COOK-UP?

A “COOK-UP” is a one-pot rice dish in West Indian culture. A dish that represents the cook’s desire to make the best use of what is available, to improvise by transforming ingredients, often leftovers, into a new and satisfying meal.

It is also a term that evokes powerful memories of getting together with friends over good food and festive music. Sometimes, a cook-up comes together spontaneously. People bring dishes to share. Someone starts the music. Other times, planning begins days beforehand.

But, it is always an invitation to fortify old bonds and spark new ones, to express appreciation for food and it’s extraordinary ability to bring people together, to honor history and traditions, and to relish the feeling of belonging and community.

A cook-up is a feast that offers nourishment for the appetite, as well as for the heart, and mind.
This tradition is the inspiration behind, and the heart of, of our work at COOK-UP.

OUR STORY

In early 2018, Trishauna and I were working in the local nonprofit space serving the newcomer community. Through our work, and in our conversations with individuals receiving services, we learned that our community offered a wealth of services for individuals who were looking to gain employment. However, we were also learning from clients that there was a gap in services for newcomers who wanted to pursue entrepreneurship. Many of these individuals had the skills, and the drive, to explore entrepreneurship but faced unique barriers that made it difficult to pursue their goal. Sometimes, those barriers meant that pursuing entrepreneurship was not an option for them.

Founders of COOK-UP: Delna and Trishauna

At the time, Trishauna had written a proposal for project funding that would enable refugee women to launch their food business. The proposal was awarded funding and, over the next year, she led a team to work with 10 aspiring food entrepreneurs. The project received overwhelming support from community stakeholders – it was incredible to see how the community rallied around a shared vision of supporting individuals to explore their entrepreneurial journeys, and discover new flavors at the same time!

Through this project, new business ideas were conceived, and entrepreneurs who previously felt disconnected from the wider community made new connections with industry experts and partners. It quickly became clear that this was not only about building a business; it was also about nourishing a sense of belonging and civic engagement. In the 15 years that Trish and I have worked in the non-profit space, this was one of the most transformative projects we had been a part of. But, as it often happens with externally funded initiatives, the project funding was discontinued when the year ended. The disappointment that we felt at the time was also the seed that grew into what is, today, COOK-UP.

- Delna Buhariwalla, Co-Founder & Executive Director

FUNDING PARTNERS

The COOK-UP is supported by the Government of Canada’s Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative and the Tropicana Community Services.