Vertical: A New Kind of Culinary Influencer

The Link between The Home Cook and the Professional Chef

A vertical by The Cook Wears Coco / Britt Moore

At the age of 8 years old, I loved nothing more than watching Julia Child and Jacques Pepin cook up a storm on TV. They were the pioneers of teaching everyday people how to cook like professionals, and their influence led me to start cooking myself at an early age. Their approach was simple but elegant, and sometimes complicated but inspiring. I was completely fascinated. I owe them a great deal for igniting my love of cooking.

When I was younger, I also dreamed of being a fashion stylist for publications like Vogue or W Magazine. I loved the way that fashion could evoke a feeling with just the right curation of elements…much like a composed dish. So, I pursued a career in fashion styling and photo production. As I worked in that industry, my love for cooking never faded. In fact, it grew. Eventually, I realized that I could combine my two passions by becoming a new kind of culinary influencer. One that creates beautiful and thoughtful dishes while remaining stylized, cloaked in a bit of elegance. I set out to capture the imaginations of the home cook who adores the world of haute cuisine and who can also appreciate a gorgeous editorial in a fashion magazine - or the significance of a Chanel jacket. As a result, The Cook Wears Coco was born.

My unique take on home cooking caught the attention of Food Network producers in the US. In the last year I was casted as one of the eight best home cooks of America to compete on a show centered around the French cuisine idol, Julia Child. The most amazing validation that helped solidify my career. A full circle moment that I took as a sign to keep on my path. I made it to the top four and was eliminated right before the finale. After the show, I was re-inspired all over again to further my vision for the art of home cooking.

The culinary landscape has changed dramatically over the years. With the rise of social media, home cooks have access to more recipes and cooking techniques than ever before. While most food bloggers and influencers are professional chefs or have attended culinary school, I am just a home cook. I have no credentials, only a curious palate, my eye for aesthetics, and the confidence to get in the kitchen and experiment. I'm aiming to bridge the gap between home cooks like myself and professional chefs by providing beautiful, easy-to-follow recipes with distinct flavor profiles through my Instagram account and developing brand. I do this by simplifying recipes to make the idea of “fine dining at home” more approachable, bringing haute cuisine nuances within reach.

With my unexpected background and a fresh approach to culinary enthusiasm and home cooking, I can only hope to serve as a source of inspiration for the everyday home cook who may have never had the chance to attend culinary school.

Follow @TheCookWearsCoco to get a front-row seat of this budding journey and to learn how simple it can be to make restaurant-quality food right at home.

By The Cook Wears Coco / Britt Moore.

My passion for food and the culinary world grew further when I departed my home state of Georgia to explore big cities in the US and Europe. During my time in San Francisco, the real food capital of America, I experienced a new world of eating and cooking. The city by the bay introduced me to the finest of every cuisine it had to offer. I spent all this time eating, experimenting, and absorbing knowledge while pursuing my other great love: The world of fashion.

I think creating a fashion image or a look is very similar to developing a new dish or approaching an old recipe. What aspect of this dish will catch the diner's attention? Where is the unusual element going to come from? What flavor profiles can I use effectively and simply so that they'll be memorable. And lastly, is it too much? Like editing a style or creating an image, having too many flavor profiles and finishing touches appear gaudy. I've seen dishes with so much going on that look impressive technically, but aren’t the most cohesive. A former mentor once taught me that creative direction is most effective when a concept is conveyed with few clear components and an element of surprise. This is true in fashion, photography, and other art forms. The most beautiful looks in fashion usually have simple yet striking silhouettes. Just like an outfit, classic simplicity done well is oftentimes the most memorable. With an eye for style and creative direction know-how, this is how I approach cooking and my branding. According to Diana Vreeland “The eye has to travel” and I can follow that up by saying “so does the palate”.