Mamas… have you heard? The Straker’s are in town and they are THROWING DOWN!
The Straker's Kitchen (TSK), is a family owned & operated catering business, founded by Enon & Renel Straker, specializing in catering for corporate, private, and charity events. With diverse menu options delivered directly from their catering kitchen to your location - both fresh and visually appealing nourishment are always assured!
TSK pays homage to the culinary heritage of various cultures, drawing inspiration from time-honored recipes and age-old cooking practices. These traditions are the foundation upon which they build, infusing each dish with a sense of authenticity and historical significance.
"What truly sets our cuisine apart, however, is the harmonious blend of these diverse cultural influences. Like a masterful composition, we weave together flavors, aromas, and textures from around the globe, creating a symphony of tastes that transcends borders and boundaries. Each bite is a journey, taking diners on an exploratory adventure where the familiar mingles with the exotic, igniting the senses and broadening culinary horizons." - Renel
Their style is surely a reflection of this culinary philosophy – a seamless integration of refined technique, respected traditions, and a daring embrace of diversity. It is a celebration of the universal language of food... where cultures converge, and every dish tells a story of passion, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to excellence!
The Straker's moved from Grenada, a small island in the southern part of the Caribbean to Denver, Colorado just a few years back. Husband, Enon who has now been a chef for 25 years, first moved to Colorado in 2019 to pursue his dreams. He accepted a job opportunity with Hilton Hotels, which allowed him to further his culinary aspirations. As for Renel, the driving force behind her relocation to Colorado in 2020 was LOVE! With her husband already settled, the longing to be with him became too strong to ignore. She made the decision to quit her job and join him, prioritizing her relationship over everything.
"So, while my husband's move was motivated by professional ambitions and the chance to advance his career in the hotel industry, mine was an act of devotion... a choice to keep our family together and support his pursuit of his dreams. Colorado became our shared home, where his professional journey could continue alongside our life as a couple." - Renel
Ambition, love, and devotion have all played a part in the rising success of The Straker's Kitchen, and they are surely making their way to the top!
Food truck coming soon!
Nourishing Meals for Expecting & Postpartum Mothers!
The Straker's have a community program named The "Nourishmental" project, which is designed to address the critical mental health disparities experienced by black birthing individuals in Colorado. By focusing on such a crucial and often overlooked aspect of postpartum continuity & nutrition, this initiative aims to provide quick healthy and nutritious meals to support the mental & emotional well-being of women during the perinatal period (from the time you become pregnant up to a year after giving birth).
The scholarship meals are available for 6 weeks per family at any given period between their prenatal journey and up to 365 days postpartum. Each meal is prepared the same day as pickup and flash frozen for assured freshness, lasting up to 7 days in the fridge!
“We have always wanted to give back and help in any way we can. In my capacity as a mother of two, my personal experiences during both pregnancies have illuminated the critical mental health needs of this particular population. At the time, I was unable to provide myself with nutritious meals that could have significantly improved both my mental well-being and cognitive functioning." - Renel
As a family of Grenadian origin, both Enon & Renel were fully aware of their historical heritage - which is rich in highly nutritional food, herbs, and familial support. HOWEVER... when they gave birth, they were isolated from family in a whole new country without the familiar environment, food, or support that they once knew. As a result, Renel was the first person they actually knew of who suffered from a long and challenging mental health disorder - resulting from hormonal and nutritional imbalance after giving birth.
Although she was encouraged by family to turn to simple dietary solutions that were true to their culture, she doubted their effectiveness and was too overwhelmed to apply the knowledge. Not only was access to healthy food limited due to its high cost, but the demands of juggling everyday life—balancing work, marital responsibilities, and attending to her firstborn, ALL made it challenging to dedicate the time & energy into preparing nourishing meals (which most mothers can relate to).
The scarcity of readily available, healthy & nutritious meals soon heightened Renel's realization of her distinct mental health needs in order to improve her condition. Eventually, she received the support in which she needed, and began to regain strength and the capacity to heal from the damage that was caused. Connecting with others who had the similar experience of immigration, isolation and inaccessibility to food and family traditions, also led her to recognize how vitally connected the nutrition-wellness foundation really is to our lives.
"I believe that our family is uniquely positioned to contribute, as a connection, from modern diasporic food, traditions and culture - to our family’s Grenadian culture, with strong cultural ties to food and wellness traditions that have withstood colonization, in Grenada... Hence our reason to start this program.” - Renel
With hearts of gold, the Straker's have been a HUGE blessing to many African American mother's in Colorado... including myself. After recently speaking with Renel, it was clear as day that helping others in this capacity is her direction. Although Renel's driving force to follow Enon was love and devotion, supporting him in pursuing his dreams... along her journey she has found love in helping other mamas thrive. It is truly an honor to witness such a beautiful deed and I am so happy they are able to combine their dreams into one!
The Straker’s will soon be transitioning this program into a nonprofit organization, taking a step back from catering full time and making “Nourishmental” their main focus! They are also working towards changing the eligibility, which will allow women from every background the opportunity to benefit from such a vital piece in the puzzle of our mental & emotional well-being!
This program currently offers a weekly distribution of free meals for up to 6 weeks for those who are eligible. In order to qualify, you must be African American AND an expecting mother OR postpartum AND able to pickup at 14200 E. Alameda Ave. Aurora, CO 80012.
This project is currently supported by funding from the Colorado Access Black Birthing Mental Health Community Investment Program and The Straker's Kitchen.
If you know anyone who can benefit from this program, please send them their way!
Email: info@strakerskitchen.com
Phone: 720-808-0709
Website: www.strakerskitchen.com
✨🌻Nah•ma•stay•healthy🌻✨
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