Chef Tobias Cooks

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Chef Tobias Cooks Award-winning chef, Cali girl with Louisiana love, serving up crazy spice!

Herlife Magzine 2016, Taste Awards 2022, PBS Food 2022, Google Cafe Awards 2016, Radio Show Host 2018, SJCV Business Award 2017, Foodservice Award 2024 more, but ran out of space🥰

🍠🍂 Hi everyone!!! Fall Flavors with Chef Tobias Cooks! Let’s Talk Sweet Potatoes & Yams! October is here, and you know w...
10/19/2026

🍠🍂 Hi everyone!!! Fall Flavors with Chef Tobias Cooks! Let’s Talk Sweet Potatoes & Yams!

October is here, and you know what that means! Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner, and it’s time to start thinking about all those wonderful holiday dishes that bring our families together!

Today, let’s talk about one of my favorites: SWEET POTATOES & YAMS!

If you grew up in a Southern household, especially in the Black American community, you already know sweet potatoes have a special place at the holiday table!

From Grandma’s candied yams to homemade sweet potato pie, these dishes have been part of our family traditions for generations.

And let’s be clear, if those candied yams aren’t on the Thanksgiving table, somebody’s going to have something to say about it!

🍠 A Little History & Food Knowledge!

Sweet potatoes originated in tropical America and have been cultivated for thousands of years. Over time, they became an important ingredient in Southern cooking and African American culinary traditions.

And did you know that most of what we call yams in American grocery stores are actually sweet potatoes? True yams are a completely different root vegetable traditionally grown in parts of Africa and Asia.

🍠 A Few Sweet Potato Varieties to Know:

🧡 Garnet: Moist, sweet, and wonderful for candied yams.

🍠 Jewel: Naturally sweet and excellent for roasting and pies.

💜 Purple Sweet Potatoes: Beautiful color and a slightly denser texture.

🤍 Japanese Sweet Potatoes: Sweet, slightly nutty, and delicious roasted.

🍂 Let’s Talk Flavor!

Sweet potatoes pair beautifully with cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, honey, vanilla, ginger, maple syrup, and butter!

And don’t forget savory seasonings like rosemary, thyme, garlic, and smoked paprika.

Chef’s Tip: Roasting sweet potatoes brings out their natural sweetness, so you don’t always need to add a lot of sugar!

Now, Here’s My Question for You!

As we get ready for the holidays, are you Team Candied Yams, Team Sweet Potato Pie, or Team Sweet Potato Casserole? 🍠

Chef Tobias Cooks 🧡🤎💚

🍂🧡 Hey Everyone! A Little Fall Baking Tip….Instead of making one big skillet of cornbread, why not pull out those muffin...
10/14/2026

🍂🧡 Hey Everyone! A Little Fall Baking Tip….

Instead of making one big skillet of cornbread, why not pull out those muffin pans or cupcake pans and make individual cornbread muffins?

They’re the perfect serving size for family gatherings, holiday dinners, work potlucks, or just a little something different at home!

🧡 Today I’m sharing my Pumpkin Buttermilk Cornbread Muffins with Cranberry Topping!

And guess what? No special recipe needed!

Just use your favorite cornbread recipe and add:

🎃 ¼ cup pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling)
🍂 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

That’s it!

For this particular batch, I used my favorite buttermilk cornbread recipe and added those two ingredients. But you can use whatever cornbread recipe you enjoy, including a vegan version!

Bake according to your recipe, keeping in mind that individual muffins will usually bake faster than a full skillet of cornbread.

And here’s where you can get a little creative! Don’t forget the toppings!

You can add whatever you like! For mine, I had some leftover cranberry sauce, so I decided to use it as a topping.

And let me tell you, that little combination of pumpkin cornbread and cranberry sauce makes a wonderful fall treat!

Sometimes cooking is simply about taking what you already have in your kitchen and creating something different.

So the next time you’re making cornbread, don’t forget about those muffin and cupcake pans!

Chef Tobias Cooks 🧡

🍂🎃 Hey, everyone! Happy Fall! 🍁🧡The weather is starting to cool down, and you know what that means! It’s time to pull ou...
10/13/2026

🍂🎃 Hey, everyone! Happy Fall! 🍁🧡

The weather is starting to cool down, and you know what that means! It’s time to pull out those pots and pans and start cooking up some good old-fashioned comfort food!

Well, look what I found while going through some of my old culinary photographs!

This is a little throwback from about seven years ago, when I was hosting my cooking segments on the radio. For one of my fall episodes, I decided to show my listeners how to take a fresh pumpkin, roast it, and turn it into three completely different dishes!

And no, we’re not making pumpkin pie today! 😂🎃

Over the next few posts, I’ll be sharing those three recipes with you, starting with one of my favorites!

🍲 Pumpkin Vegan Chili with Sweet & Spicy Tomato Stew!

Now, I know what some of you are thinking. Pumpkin in chili? YES!

This is such a delicious spin on traditional chili! It’s hearty, flavorful, full of vegetables, and perfect for those cooler fall evenings.

The original recipe is completely plant-based, but here’s the beauty of cooking: You can make it your own!

If you prefer ground turkey, beef, chicken, or another protein, go right ahead and add it! You can also toss in some of your favorite vegetables.

The roasted pumpkin adds a wonderful texture and a little natural sweetness that balances beautifully with the spices and tomatoes.

And that’s what I love about cooking! Taking simple, fresh ingredients and creating something delicious that the whole family can enjoy.

I’ve included the recipe so you can give it a try in your own kitchen!

And here’s my little challenge for you:

If you make this pumpkin chili, take a picture and share it with me! I’d love to see your version.

And stay tuned because I have two more pumpkin recipes coming your way from this same radio cooking segment!

🍂 Good food, good people, and a little fall comfort from my kitchen to yours!

Chef Tobias Cooks 🧡🎃

Hello, everyone! From My Kitchen to Yours! Thank you all so much for the love and the messages in my inbox about my home...
10/10/2026

Hello, everyone! From My Kitchen to Yours!

Thank you all so much for the love and the messages in my inbox about my homemade French baguette!

I’ve received a few requests for the recipes, including one from my cousin asking about the dips and my homemade carrot and onion coleslaw!

So, I went ahead and updated my original post to include the recipes for the Avocado Lime Dip, Fresh Tomato Topping, and Carrot & Onion Coleslaw! 🥑🍅🥕

I hope you enjoy making these as much as I enjoyed preparing them!

And if you decide to give any of these recipes a try, please send me a picture or share it in the comments! I’d love to see what you’re cooking in your kitchen!

Thank you again for all your continued love and support!

Chef Tobias Cooks 💖

 October is finally here🍁🍃 fall season and that means bread 🥖 baking is in full effect. My favorite bread to bake is th...
10/06/2026

 October is finally here🍁🍃 fall season and that means bread 🥖 baking is in full effect. My favorite bread to bake is the “French baguette” that was the first bread that I was introduced to in culinary school. Picture below, I paired it with “avocado lime dip”, “fresh sweet tomato chutney” and of course, my favorite a “carrot onion slaw”. My favorite French baguette recipe, I’ll put it in the comments. Happy Bread Baking

🥕 DON’T WALK PAST IT! 🌱How many fruits and vegetables do we walk past in the grocery store simply because we don’t know ...
08/25/2026

🥕 DON’T WALK PAST IT! 🌱

How many fruits and vegetables do we walk past in the grocery store simply because we don’t know what to do with them?

Beets, jicama, chayote, nopales, bitter melon, fennel, plantains, bok choy—and so many more deserve a second look.

This week, challenge yourself to pick one unfamiliar ingredient, take it home, and try something new.

You never know what might become a new favorite. 💚

One unfamiliar ingredient at a time.

🛒 FLIP IT OVER!The front of the package catches your attention—but the back gives you the information you need.Before it...
08/25/2026

🛒 FLIP IT OVER!

The front of the package catches your attention—but the back gives you the information you need.

Before it goes in your cart, take a few seconds to read the ingredient list, check the Nutrition Facts, and compare your options.

And don’t forget to explore your local farmers, vendors, and small food businesses when you can. 🌱 Supporting local can introduce you to some great products while supporting the people in your own community.

Read it. Compare it. Choose what works for you.

🌱 Plant-based doesn’t have to mean boring!Walnuts, beans, lentils, mushrooms and other everyday ingredients can create i...
08/25/2026

🌱 Plant-based doesn’t have to mean boring!

Walnuts, beans, lentils, mushrooms and other everyday ingredients can create incredible texture, flavor and versatility in place of meat.

Sometimes the best results come from combining ingredients—like walnuts + beans + mushrooms with a little nutritional yeast for savory flavor.

Save this guide and experiment in your own kitchen!

🥚 No eggs? No problem!Eggs play different roles in cooking and baking—from binding and moisture to structure and texture...
08/25/2026

🥚 No eggs? No problem!

Eggs play different roles in cooking and baking—from binding and moisture to structure and texture. The trick is knowing which substitute works for the job.

Save this guide for the next time you need an egg alternative in the kitchen. 🌱

Cook smarter. Learn your ingredients.

After 20 years in the culinary industry, I’ve discovered that my true purpose isn’t just cooking—it’s teaching.There’s n...
07/08/2026

After 20 years in the culinary industry, I’ve discovered that my true purpose isn’t just cooking—it’s teaching.

There’s nothing more rewarding than sharing knowledge, building confidence, and helping others grow through food.

This new chapter wasn’t handed to me. It was earned through hard work, faith, and perseverance. I’m grateful that God has led me to this moment.

Now, I get to do what I truly love: teach, inspire, and serve others through culinary education.

❤️ This is exactly where I’m meant to be.

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Berkeley, CA
94701–94710, 94712, 94720

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