Meet Jerri Harper | Glorified Cook

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jerri Harper and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jerri, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am from Oak Cliff, TX baby! PTP’s finest! I grew up by T.G. Terry and it was my older brother and I along with our parents. My upbringing definitely shaped who I am and still influences who I’m becoming. My dad had his own business and worked with his hands doing upholstery. He built his shop in the backyard and was doing everybody’s car. My mom worked for the state and it would be times he made more than her doing car interior guts and home furniture—I admired that. He was hood and so hood. I did the degree thing and navigated life with a level of decorum but I’ve always maintained a level of hood to me. That’s why I claim the hood chef, the good chef. Putting in the work, THE FAILURES, and learning from life has led me here.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Right now, I’m in this glorified cook phase. I’m a baby chef. A wannabe on their way. We all say cooking is an art form down to the presentation. I’ve mixed my love and taste of shoes and chews to express myself. I think I went through 3 concepts before I started Chop Shoe-y that’s a play off the Asian dish chop suey. Not to be confused with System of a Down’s Chop Suey! either lol. When I started in 2018, I wasn’t even getting the credit and accolades for my food. Now, my work  celebrates and focuses on me. I’m putting in the work right? I believe I create designer dishes. That was my second concept, Denise’s Designer Dishes. I like to swap out ingredients with lesser known or perhaps uncommon incidents. White pepper, tarragon, black salt, etc. It sounds super basic but sometimes changing one or two ingredients can alter that flavor profile.

Some people go to the military for the discipline, for me it’s cooking. Cooking has definitely allowed me to accept criticism and listen to the higher ups. I was able to connect with some seasoned chefs and witness greatness with Chef Meika Johnson. So I’m building that support system and mentors. Cause it’s not easy.

Just know, I’m cold with these hands. My name is Jerri and I wear dope ass shoes.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have a fledgling business, when would I have the time and money to do this?!?! Just kidding, I have a little over a year and a half sobriety but I’m all for eating. We are going to this little empanada place I found in downtown Dallas. Might drive down to the casino. Get some shopping in but my friends know I’m not doing all that ish. My daughter is going to want to be in tow so just the usual. I’m boring. I compensate with jokes and food. I’m at the point where trips to HEB and the asian market are highlights of my week.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My daughter. I can’t even fake the funk. As parents we always want our children to have the perception their parents probably at least know what they’re doing. She has seen my rough patches and my lows. What worked and didn’t work and how I corrected course and navigated to the other side of it. She’s delicate and tough at the same time. Me on steroids! As much as I’d love to say I’m doing this to stunt and change the game, it’s for my sweetie pie. So shoutout to my daughter Johanna!!!

Website: www.chopshoey.com

Instagram: @chopshoe__y

Twitter: @chopshoe__y

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chopshoeylc

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdfP2UGkpnowNRCxCeE5HuQ

Other: TikTok: @chopshoe__y The YouTube is found under Chop Shoe-y