Elle D’Rae tells RoyalTee she knew she wanted to work for herself and be an artist, but she did not know what that looked like.
While she was still in high school, she started her own graphic design studio, Rae Visuals, and pursued an entrepreneurship minor in college. Since she was a child, she had a vivid imagination and a love for food. The pieces would be created but wouldn’t come together until 2021, when she had a vivid dream that woke her up at 3 a.m.
“In my dream, I saw a book cover with the words, Color & Cook®, prominently displayed, bold illustrations of food, and fun pops of color sprinkled throughout.” Fast forward, and that dream has become a vibrant reality.
D’Rae took her love of art, travel, and food and transformed it into Color & Cook®, a unique coloring cookbook that blends cooking and creativity. The first official copy came out in 2023. D’Rae partnered with a longtime friend to finalize the first edition. Within that same year, she published a second coloring cookbook titled Color & Cook A to Z Healthy Ingredients.
“I was extremely proud to hold my very first Color & Cook® book,” D’Rae recalled about that time. “However, I was equally proud when I received the official trademark approval for Color & Cook®. Both of these events took years to complete, and I encountered numerous obstacles along the way, but perseverance prevailed.”
The cookbooks are tailored for kids ages 4 to 12 and include over 30 coloring pages and 12 healthy, kid-friendly recipes, ranging from snacks and breakfast to lunch and dinner. Recipes include a sweet potato bowl, buffalo chicken wrap, lemon ricotta pancakes, and baked salmon salad.
Since its inception, D’Rae and her team have published a coloring cookbook once a year. With her mother as her editor and best friend as head chef, Color & Cook® is a family affair. D’Rae says love is the foundation of her company. “My mom is my #1 fan and biggest cheerleader. My friends inspire me and support me.”
She added, “I’m blessed to be able to work with the people I love!”
The future of Color & Cook® looks to be diverse. D’Rae, who is also a yoga instructor, recently collaborated with yoga and holistic influencer Deanna Reed of ReedDeefined Living on a project. She’s also planning to partner with Aubrey Gary, a C-IAYT Yoga Therapist and Calm Body Co. to launch ‘Calm Colors for Kids’. This will be a virtual 60-minute class where kids explore the connection between colors, food, mindfulness, and movement.
Chef Gordon Ramsay is on the list of potential collaborations in the future. D’Rae acknowledges the British celebrity chef in the coloring book. His show, MasterChef Junior, a reality cooking show where kid chefs cooked for a panel of judges, inspired her.
“It was the first show I could remember that featured kids in the kitchen,” says D’Rae. “There are so many ways Chef Ramsay and Color & Cook® can collaborate, and I know we will one day!”
Color & Cook® books are priced at $19.99 and can be purchased on the website and on Amazon. There are also free downloadable coloring pages on the website.
Not only has D’Rae created a fun and tasty way to get kids into the kitchen, but she’s also living her childhood dream: being an artist and working for herself.
“Believe in yourself first and foremost,” she suggests. “Get specific about what you truly love and why. Use those answers and build your brand around it.” She added, “Remember, we all have an inner child and we’re allowed to have fun as adults. Live a life you love and love the life you live!”
