I Cook Therefore I am. Being a Chef is such an integral part of my identity and my life the mantra Ego Coquo Ergo Sum (I Cook Therefore I am) really speaks to me. Whether I am in the kitchen cooking, or enjoying a meal in someone else’s home or restaurant food and the traditions and stories around what and how we eat are such an important part of life. I see food as an art and so in some ways I see myself as an artist.  I've been sketching designs and logos related to chef culture and decided to take that creative outlet and develop a t-shirt line. My brand  ego coquo ergo sum is Latin and translates into I cook, therefore I am.

The phrase came to me one day and I was inspired to use Latin because it is a root language. Similarly cooking is root language for me.  

The imagery that I use in my designs is inspired by chef culture which is very personal to me.
But I think and hope that it translates to a wide audience that encompasses chefs but also foodies and anyone who is inspired by food and the traditions surrounding it.

You'll see that I use the blue rooster in a few of my designs. The rooster is a symbol of food in many cultures and in particular to me it is synonymous with French culinary tradition which is where my training began.  The rooster has inked the arms of many chefs, notably the late great Paul Bocuse.  I had the privilege of assisting Chef Bocuse during his visit to L.A. for an event that Wolfgang Puck put together every year. It was deeply personal to me when I created the first tribute t-shirt in my line in Bocuse's memory.   

Some of my best childhood memories are of working with my family at my Dad's small Japanese grocery store in Mamaroneck, NY. Since that time I've always enjoyed working with people and sought creative outlets where I could bring my passion for food to a more public forum.  It's no surprise then that a few years ago I took a hiatus from cooking and opened a specialty gourmet gift store in Seattle for foodies before foodies were even labeled as such.  During that time I made some of my closest and longest lasting friendships sharing with people my knowledge and love of food and in turn learning from engaging with them and their passions.  

Just as I am writing this post I am realizing that ego coquo is a culmination of my past experiences and of always striving to find an outlet to share my passion and experience with others. In a way this project is far more personal for me because I am not curating the products of others.  

So, I invite you to join the ego coquo community and I hope that you find in these designs something that speaks to you and that I can continue to create more of the designs that I have in my head and my heart. Please visit the site, join our community on Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube. Always give your feedback, share your experiences, and if you like it buy it!

As a last note I encourage everyone to follow their passion and see where it leads. Sometimes in life people ask "why?" just reply back "why not!"

Cheers,

Chef Seis