Today we’d like to introduce you to Edible Ed Cunje.
Hi Edible, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Ed and I have a YouTube cooking show! I worked in several kitchens in Los Angeles before having 6 major back surgeries.
I learned to cook from my mom. My parents are immigrants from Guyana, South America and they came to the US in 1983, a couple of months before I was born, My Dad was a Police Lieutenant and my mom was a Law Librarian and they both held their jobs for over 30 years. I have one older brother and we both got our determined drive from our parents. But once in a while, the two of us would fight, as siblings do, and to keep us separated, my mom would sit me on the kitchen counter as she cooked dinner. This punishment quickly turned into curiosity as I wanted to learn everything she was doing. I was amazed that she was able to make something delicious out of raw ingredients and love.
As time passed, I grew and always thought that I wanted to be a basketball star. Being 6’7, how could I not? But during high school, I lost the love for the game due to bullying from my coaches and teammates. But the itch to cook crept back into my life. I started watching my mom again, cooking shows, and reading as many recipes as I could. My goal was to be able to cook whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. To test my new skills, I would go throughout kitchen cabinets and challenge myself to create something with what I had. I would take my creations to school and share it with my friends.
After college, I wanted to take my cooking hobby to the next level, so I decided to go to Culinary School in hopes of becoming a world-class Chef. Culinary School was tough but I was learning so much. During this time, I worked in various kitchens, including Wolfgang Puck’s. But cooking was getting physically tough and after consulting many doctors. it was determined that I required back surgery. Six surgeries later, I was left unable to work professionally. During this time, I was married to my sweetheart and we had our beautiful daughter, Emma. Seeing my daughter grow, gave me the motivation to try my hand at something new. People requested my recipes countless times, so I began my own YouTube cooking channel to showcase my cooking and comedic skills.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has been rough, tough, and bumpy. My channel started great and grew pretty quickly. Brand sponsorships started rolling in too. But after moving to Arizona from California, I was bitten by a brown recluse spider and was in the hospital for over a week, nearly dying. Recovery was exhausting but I took one step at a time and got through it. Unfortunately, I was unable to create content for months during this time and my viewership dropped dramatically. I am still trying to build back an audience because YouTube values consistency and if you’re not consistent, you cannot thrive. It has been hard, working and doing the job of 7 people creating content, not getting a steady paycheck but I am determined to succeed.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love to create. Making food, silly videos, and art is my jam. Teaching others that they CAN do this is my passion. The only thing stopping them from creating is themselves. Jump in the deep end and make something great! I’m all about empowerment and spreading love like butter!
What matters most to you? Why?
Being a good person. I strive daily to be as great as I can be for those around me, my wife, my daughter, and most importantly, for myself. We need, now more than ever, to create a circle of influence filled with love, respect, and common courtesy.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.edibleeds.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edible.ed.cooks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edible.ed.cooks/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/edibleeds
- Other: https://edibleeds.myspreadshop.com/
