Trap Kitchen LA is the brainchild of two former rival Compton gang members turned friends. Malachi Jenkins was a Crip, and Roberto Smith hung with the Bloods. Introduced by a mutual friend, the two discussed life and making changes: namely, leaving the Compton-street life of gangs and drugs, and doing something different.
Instagram Pictures Of Dishes Helped The Business Take Off
Malachi aka “Chef Spanky” enrolled in Le Cordon Blue. When he started cooking for school he posted pictures of his “food art” on Instagram. People started placing orders and asking that meals be delivered to their door.
Friday Seafood Special Is Serious Business
The entrepreneurs work out of Smith’s apartment. They provide affordable specialty fare. For example, their Friday seafood special, known as the “Deadliest Catch,” is half a hollowed out pineapple, filled with a heaping white rice and topped with a sliced lobster tail, king crab legs, sautéed shrimp, and teriyaki sauce.
Smith says,
“We can’t make enough of them fast enough for all of our customers; they go crazy for this dish.”
Jenkins Learned To Cook Out Of Necessity
Jenkins mom worked when he was growing up. He says he learned how to cook out of necessity. His early culinary teachers were his mother and grandmother. Today he enjoys watching TV chefs Anthony Bourdain, Andrew Zimmern, and Guy Fieri.
Delicious Menu Something For Everyone
Trap Kitchen LA goes through 30 to 40 pounds of meat and seafood daily. Only one meal is cooked per day. It changes between fajitas to broiled salmon, braised short ribs, chili, gumbo, or steak.
Celebrity Clients Enjoy Kitchen Trap LA, Too
They have a roster of artists that enjoy their culinary fare including, catered food for a lot of artists Snoop Dogg, The Game, Tyrese, Reverend Run, D’Angelo, Lil’ Derk, and others. They will be catering Kendrick Lamar’s upcoming wedding.
Jenkins And Smith Hail From Compton
Smith and Jenkins are from Compton and know that food can sometimes be hard to come by. Too often, healthy food options in the ‘hood are limited. Any leftover food is given away in the community and they can they also hire guys who need a hand up.
Open just under a year, the two friends have a viable business. They make enough to support their families. Starting over was a great move for the owners of Kitchen Trap LA.
Featured image is by FOX LA , available under a Creative Commons 2.0 license.
