Meet Travis Cooks | A Houston Private Chef

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

Hi Travis, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Initially “how will I ever get anyone to start purchasing food from me”

Luckily at that time of starting the idea of my business, I was still married. My ex wife had a presence in the city already for having a bakeries. We had one in Katy/fulshear. Then we had one 59 and shepherd área. “Dulce cakes and sweets” back then now just DULCE. She no longer practices her business but was in Houston cake scene for about 10 years. With that being said I would piggy back if you will, I’d sell a catering package for the people who already came in and ordered their cake with her etc. It’s how I got my feet wet initially starting out with the catering side of the business and have transitioned to where I am today. A full time private chef for athletes and clients/families in our great city

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Houston is a very big foodie city. There is beyond competition when it comes to food! I will say what did set me apart when I was only doing meal preps. I started them right when they came hot as the trend around 2017-2018. Friend of mine said man why don’t you start doing meal prepping. I was against at first cause it was blah to me to be honest. Truth be told I ran seven days a week for like a little over a year and It’s because of the taste of my meals, I’ve taken countless clients from all the big name meal prep company’s. From ex accountants that worked for ones the bellied up. Had hundreds with feedback saying your food is way better than everyone who has a store. It’s because of that I got my first pro bowler/NFL champs, countless ranked body builders in Houston and through Austin etc, collegiate athletes, mlb players , professionals of all walks of life to your every consumer and kids as well.

Challenges for my business was near death actually. 2019 took 10.5 months of my life with my health, me loosing it all because of course time waits for no man and you can’t expect clients to wait either.

Went a different route the end of that year and was hired in management for a big chain of restaurants…then 2020 came with Covid ….they let me go. So I took that as a sign. Dusted off myself again and believe it not. I got back in the game and I thrived during Covid because everyone needed and only would do contactless deliveries. So I was the meal prep guy again. I’ve stayed in my business ever since and will never stop

For clarity I started my business in 2015

Got sick 2019

Mid 2020 started back with it

Fast forward till now as I now am doing what I’ve always wanted to get into but it’s harder than people think.

Private chef full time ..you only get those kinds of clients when you know people, build rapport and get into that circle

Lessons I’ve learned along the way is never give up ever …no matter if nobody thinks you can because you failed multiple times. Sometimes loosing it all, gains you everything in the end. Believe in your product. Be so confident even if not a single person has ever seen or met you. Believe me they’ll remember who you are when you leave.

That it takes a whole lot of faith even when you don’t even see at times. If your dream is real to you is the only thing that matters!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Honestly all the newer dope classy speak easy exclusive bars that are opening more and more

Can’t go wrong with and food selections we have something for everyone now on any side of the city and surrounding areas

But B&B Butchers and steak house happens to be my favorite so would go there

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Both of my grandmothers who I watched at a young age cook in their kitchens or my parents home growing up and always remembering telling myself “I can do that, I can make that”

To my uncle Bob, I owe so much to him for what is such a big part of my business, I can grill anything on a pit and learned how to boil all our southern seafood favorites and have been recognized for my crawfish as well in the city because of him. It’s his tricks of trade that have made many clients come back over and over

Lastly I’m grown enough to say my ex wife because without the platform that we had at the time of me trying to start something of my own. I’m not sure if I’d be here exactly pursuing one of my dreams. It definitely played a role of exposing me quicker to people to try my food to even see if I had what it took. Blessed to say after all these years it stuck!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/co.tcfoods/

Other: https://fash.com/pros/profile Fash – It’s a booking site for private parties as well