Meet Iyare’ Mack | Founder CEO & Chef of YareCooks

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

Hi Iyare’, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Honestly, I have thought about starting my own business for years. Family and friends were encouraging me to do it as well. I always felt as if I wasn’t ready, and the timing
wasn’t right. I didn’t know where to begin, what the risks were, and how time consuming
it could be. However, I finally decided to step out in faith. I chose to use my God-given
gift and passion to cook. I want to produce quality meals that are delicious, enjoyable,
and are genuinely made with love.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business (Yare Cooks) is still fairly new but is growing daily. I offer private chef options, catering, and meal prepping. In the future, I would love to offer more recipes,
step-by-step videos, and virtual/in-person cooking classes. My upbringing is rich in
Southern-United States and Nigerian culture. My mother is from Birmingham, Alabama
and my father is from Benin City-Edo State, Nigeria. I was born in Atlanta, Georgia and
spent the majority of my childhood living in Stone Mountain/Lithonia, Georgia. Since a
child, I have been exposed to diverse cultures and backgrounds. I have been taught how
to prepare staple Southern and Nigerian cuisine which sets me apart from others. As a
young girl, I remember feeling intrigued while sitting in the kitchen with my mom,
watching, and helping her cook. I cooked my very first dinner with my mom’s
instructions at about 8 or 9 years old. I am proud of my decision to start a business
doing what I love. I am extremely excited to continue learning while nourishing my
business and watching it prosper. I consider my business my baby.

I definitely went through seasons of feeling as though I wasn’t fulfilling my purpose in
life. During my undergraduate studies, I majored in Biology with aspirations of becoming a pediatrician which was my ideal career as a child. After observing and working closely with several
physicians/clinical staff, I decided to pursue my nursing degree instead, which is still a
near-future plan of mine. I have actually been working in healthcare since the age of 16
with various well-known hospitals/clinics and in different roles expanding my skills and
knowledge. I currently work as an advocate for ill patients assisting them with their
needs and guiding them through barriers they may encounter while hospitalized and
after discharge. I have always enjoyed helping and serving those in need. Nevertheless, I
haven’t felt as enthusiastic and happy as I am with my business. I don’t want to “toot my
own horn,” but I am a good cook and feel as though I am still helping others by doing so.
The journey hasn’t been easy, but when I decided to get out of my own way and really
step out in faith, God has been making a way for me. I have been taught many lessons:
being open-minded, remaining eager to learn, willing to take risks, and most importantly,
turning stumbling blocks into steppingstones. It is imperative to remain prayerful,
positive, and to understand that challenges will come. It is how you handle those
challenges that really matters. Yare Cooks is just getting started, but I can’t wait to bless
others with my gift by preparing scrumptious meals made with lots of love.

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 am a professional foodie and absolutely love trying new restaurants. I currently live in Marietta, Georgia and there are so many hidden gems. I would take my best friend to
Marietta Square which features different restaurants, bars, ice cream shops, art
boutiques, and much more. There is a food hall that also has a variety of different
restaurants (Seafood, Italian, Creole, Soul Food, and etc.) inside to choose from as well
which reminds me of Ponce City Market in Atlanta, Georgia. Our first restaurant stop
would be to Thaicoon and Sushi Bar which is a restaurant offering mouthwatering, Thai
and Japanese cuisine. My absolute favorite dish is their Panang Curry with Chicken and
spring rolls as an appetizer. We would check out BlaqHaus in Marietta Square as well
which is a black-owned restaurant/bar serving delicious eats, drinks, and hookah with
dope music. Brunch is a must have living in Atlanta. Breakfast at Barneys is the perfect,
black-owned restaurant to brunch and sip on Mimosas. The décor and overall vibes are
everything. Maybe end the night at Mandolin Kitchen-Sandy Springs or Sivas-Kennesaw
with more hookah and cocktails. You can’t visit without getting cute and going to
experience breathtaking views of the city from a rooftop bar though. We would have to
visit St. Juleps – Buckhead, High Note-Midtown, Ponce City Market/9 Mile Station-Atlanta,
and Draw Bar at Bellyard Hotel-Interlock on Howell Mill. My go-to sports bar is
BucketShop Café in Buckhead which offers awesome American-food, drinks, and tons of
televisions for sports. We would go get pampered at Treat Your Feet-Buckhead for a 60-
90 min foot/body massage. Lastly, we would end the trip at Morton’s Steakhouse-
Downtown Atlanta with their Cajun Ribeye, Lobster Mac and Cheese, Asparagus, and a
few cocktails. Atlanta and surrounding areas have so many restaurants, bars, and fun
places to hang out. These are just a few of my favorites.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, I want to thank God for blessing me with the gift and directing my path. My family and friends are my support system. They’re always rooting for me and
constantly have my back. I want to personally thank my husband, parents, sisters, in-
laws, and other close family and friends for encouraging me and always seeing my
potential. Their love, honesty, and great ideas have made a major impact on me
throughout this journey. They have believed in my business since day one and have
been my favorite taste testers. If no one else likes, shares, or comments on my business
post via social media, I know they will every single time.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yare.cooks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YareCooks-107631564996304/

Other: Email: yare.cooks@gmail.com