Scot Louie presents his long-awaited cookbook, “Tastemaker: Cooking with Spice, Style, & Soul,” guiding you through creating the best Jamaican cuisine. The celebrity fashion stylist, chef, and author has finally released his highly anticipated cookbook. In this book, he delves into the traditional Jamaican cuisine that many adore but may not have mastered. With a rich background in the fashion and culinary industries, Scot has combined his taste for luxury with creating beautiful and delicious dishes in his new offering. This cookbook promises to guide you through making the best Jamaican cuisine.
Personal
Tell us about Scot Louie: where you are from or grew up, and how you came into the spotlight.
I’m born and raised in Brooklyn. I like to say I was co-raised in Los Angeles—I moved there alone at 19 and really blossomed my styling career there. I believe I began gaining recognition and traction around 18 when I started working with Lil Kim. I spent a lot of time on Twitter tweeting with #TeamLilKim and of course my time spent with Ryan Destiny as her stylist really brought a lot of eyes.
Did you always aspire to be a celebrated public figure?
It’s funny, I always wanted to be celebrated as a stylist similar to a Rachel Zoe, but life really had other plans for me to be celebrated as Scot Louie, the multi hyphenate.
Fashion Styling
Tell us about your styling process.
My styling process is very collaborative. I like to approach working with clients as a partnership. We are building an image portfolio here.
You style many people in the public eye; do you consider yourself a trendsetter?
I used to say, egotistically, “I set trends and watch them spread.” Today I would say I’m more a purveyor of taste. I have no interest in trends.
Who are some of your favorite celebrities you’ve worked with?
I love all of the celebrities I’ve had the opportunity to work with. However, my standouts are Ryan Destiny, Keke Palmer, Kehlani, Lil Kim, Mya, and Kelly Rowland.
Food/Cooking
We first saw your cooking passions through DinnerPlus in 2018, but when did you discover your passion for food?
I’ve always loved the kitchen, and as my Jamaican people always say, “loved my belly.” Cooking was really what I wanted to pursue. I just had a knack for fashion and styling, and I’m good at it. I dig deeper into why my plans for culinary shifted in my book Tastemaker.
Who or what inspired your cooking career?
Social media has always been a big part of my life. I started posting recipes I’d develop or just things I would cook at home back in 2017, and from there, DinnerPlus took on a life of its own.
Tastemaker: Cooking with Spice, Style, and Soul is coming out in September. What or who inspired you to release the book?
My editor, Kayla Belser. She reached out to me and made this dream a reality. Kayla had been following me from my time styling Kehlani and then when I released one of my viral recipes, “The Soul Bowl” — Kayla emailed me asking if I would ever consider having my own book.
What do you love the most about Jamaican cuisine?
Jamaican food is made with love! Jamaican food is so layered in flavor and rich in culture in every bite.
What kind of recipes can we look forward to seeing in the book?
There’s an array of recipes in Tastemaker. I look at Tastemaker the way I do the DinnerPlus social accounts—as a food board. You’ll find something in Tastemaker for everyone—it’s a food bible. There are great sauces, kitchen essentials, fab dinner options, savory and sweet breakfast options, light bites, and cocktails!
What was your biggest challenge in writing and publishing this cookbook?
The dessert chapter! Desserts really are a labor of love. The dessert chapter pushed me to the limit.
What are some of your favourite recipes in the book?
It’s so hard to play favorites. I am excited for the Soul Bowl chapter.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to be a food content creator, food blogger, or cookbook author?
Always be open to learning. Never stop learning. I consider myself a student of life—having that mentality allows you to expand your experiences and widen your palate.
You have successfully tapped into the world’s biggest lifestyle industries: food and fashion. What’s next for Scot Louie?
I want to be more visible to the public. More on-camera cooking. More on-camera work as a fashion expert and style leader. More cookbooks. Expanding the DinnerPlus brand—some more spices and more products.
Tastemaker: Cooking with Spice, Style, & Soul is available from September 3 at your nearest bookshop.
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