A feature story by WTTW highlights Danielle Tubbs, a 34-year-old Chicagoan of Jamaican and African American descent, who grew up in Miami in a big family rich in culinary traditions.
She was surrounded by the delicious influence of her mother, who hailed from Kingston, Jamaica, and had a talent for combining soul food recipes with traditional Jamaican dishes, like callaloo.
Finding her baking groove in Chicago
It wasn’t until Danielle moved to Chicago in 2011, after earning a sociology degree, that she rediscovered her baking talents.
Initially working in non-profit education, she became the go-to baker for co-workers’ birthdays. This passion soon evolved as she started adapting her baking for various dietary needs, leading to the inception of her company, Tubby’s Taste.
A family tradition
The article sheds light on Danielle’s early memories, noting that they are filled with the aromas of specialty cakes.
Her mom crafted rum cakes with nuts and rum butter, while her Aunt Sybil was known for her black cake, loaded with dried fruits that marinated in rum and wine for years. But it was her grandma’s sweet potato pudding, made with coconut milk, ginger, and Jamaican sweet potatoes, that remained her favorite.
Baking a legacy: Tubby’s Taste
The feature article further mentions that Danielle chose cookies as her medium to infuse with flavors reminiscent of her Jamaican heritage.
Some highlights include the citrus-infused Caribbean Punch, the coconut-based Taste of Paradise, and the gingery Island Spice.
Leaving her day job and other commitments behind in 2018, Tubby’s Taste became her primary focus. Her business got a significant boost after a feature in Veg Out in 2020, leading to over 500 orders.
Today, these beloved cookies can be found at various Chicago markets and select grocery stores.
More about Caribbean chefs from CNW
- City of Miramar to host Taste of the Caribbean Islands this month
- ZANMI: Impacting lives through Caribbean Culture
- Delicious Occasions: Igniting the culinary passion in children
Miami memories and Chicago discoveries
Despite her initial reluctance in the family kitchen, Danielle’s success gives her Miami relatives both amusement and pride.
During a recent outing to Chicago’s Caribbean American Bakery, Danielle reminisced about her childhood favorites like hardough bread, which she used to barter with in school.
The bakery also offered other Jamaican staples, reminding her of similar establishments in Miami and Jamaica.
The bakery culture of Jamaica
To Danielle, bakeries like Caribbean American represent a slice of Jamaica in Chicago.
In Jamaica, locals typically buy their patties and bread from bakeries instead of making them at home.
Her connection to these traditions remains strong, even leading to generous cookie giveaways, like the time she gifted several bags to a Jamaican Uber driver who shared a favorite snack shop.
In a journey from childhood kitchens in Miami to a thriving cookie business in Chicago, Danielle Tubbs has seamlessly blended her Jamaican roots with her American experiences, creating a delicious legacy.
