Chef Joya The Award-Winning Vegan Celebrity Chef Dishes on Her Dietary Lifestyle, Cookbooks, Upcoming Endeavors, and More! Written By: Kaila Haith
Adjoa Courtney, professionally known as Chef Joya, is an award-winning celebrity chef with a talent for elevating basic recipes into exquisite vegan cuisines! Recently, Chef Joya went viral when an Instagram post featured a recipe she created in inspiration of Juneteenth, cultivating a delicious vegan dish— Watermelon Fried Chik’n Wangz. For years, certain foods like watermelon and chicken have been used to demoralize the Black community. Culinary historian, Adrian Miller, told The Boston Globe – “I’ve been advocating for African Americans to take the sting out of these things by showing the complicated history of these foods but then showing how African Americans made a significant contribution to making these things that people love.” Chef Joya felt it was important to turn it around and combine the two into a recipe that celebrates the history of the culture, which she certainly did. As a creator and businesswoman, Chef Joya is able to break through the common misconceptions placed on vegan lifestyles. The award-winning chef has four cookbooks (From My Ancestors Table, Brunchin with Chef Joya, It’s Sizzling’ Baby, and It’s Soul Mahmazing! Vol. 1). She has a trio of flavorful seasonings, a successful YouTube channel, Say What! It’s Vegan. The “Queen of Transitioning Meat Eaters” offers cooking classes, vegan consulting, catering, and private dining experiences. Chef Joya is no stranger to the vegan lifestyle. At the age of seven, her family transitioned to being vegan in response to her father’s medical diagnosis. Her family switched to practicing a vegan lifestyle, and while many may view the “diet” as bland or boring — Chef Joya’s mother made sure to make the transition anything but that. Her experiences in the kitchen growing up and support from family and friends paved the way for her professional career. Chef Joya made it her mission to encourage and challenge others to be creative in the kitchen. She focuses on creating Issue #14 2022
similar experiences of traditional food in her vegan cuisines. This has won the hearts and stomachs of many, including the singer and performer Fantasia. The season three, American Idol winner brought Chef Joya in as her personal chef after stumbling across her videos online. Chef Joya offered advice to those who may be interested in the vegan lifestyle but may not know where or how to start. “Know why you’re doing it and keep the why close to you throughout the process,” said Chef Joya. “Find recipes and choose foods that are aligned with your purpose. You’d be surprised how many products you can pull off the shelves that are considered vegan.” Throughout her vegan lifestyle, Chef Joya has been able to control and ultimately eliminate a diagnosis of diabetes through her dietary choices. Being in control of her body through her food is one of the most significant benefits. Chef Joya has proven that eating vegan does not have to be costly, tasteless, or hard in the least bit! However, you do not need to be vegan to enjoy what Chef Joya has to offer. Whether you are transitioning into a vegan lifestyle, needing a fresh take on your old vegan dishes, or simply wanting to try some fantastic food, Chef Joya is the woman for the job!
