Chef LaDonte Cooper was born in Frankfurt, Germany. His maternal family originates from Palermo, Sicily, while his paternal family hails from Oklahoma. His formative years were spent in Brooklyn, NY, where he learned to cook alongside his mother and grandmother.
He decided to follow that passion for food and attended the IndianaUniversity of Pennsylvania (IUP) Academy of Culinary Arts. After graduating, he launched his first business, Heart ‘N Soul (chef service) in 2004. In 2016, Chef LaDonte continued to further season and sharpen his culinary skills by attending the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, CO.
Chef LaDonte is also currently a member of the Underground Kitchen team, providing loaves upon loaves of soul-reviving bread for UGK’s Community First Project food relief operation. His entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to community comes from his grandfather, Alfred Cooper, who was a fruit and vegetable market owner and served his community for over 55 years.