From Music to the Kitchen:
The Story of Chef Charlise Rookwood & The Vegan Soulicious Café
Chef Charlise Rookwood’s journey from the music industry to the culinary world is a story of loss, transformation, and purpose.
Born to Mauritian and Jamaican parents in East London, Charlise grew up surrounded by the rich flavors of island cooking and the rhythm of music. Her father, a fashion designer, dancer and entrepreneur, instilled in her the belief that food, like music, was an expression of love and culture.
Charlise spent two decades in the music industry, signed to Universal Music Publishing as one of their top-line songwriters. She collaborated with iconic artists such as Chaka Khan, Anastacia, and Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child, as well as the world-famous jazz-funk band Incognito — not only as a songwriter but also as a backing vocalist.
After her successful career in music, Charlise’s life took a turn following the loss of her father to stomach cancer and the later deaths of three of his siblings from diet-related illnesses. This profound loss ignited her passion for plant-based cooking and led her to embrace a vegan lifestyle—inspiring her to educate others on food’s healing power and its link to how we live.
Determined to honor her father’s legacy, Charlise created Vegan Soulicious to elevate beloved traditional foods into sustainable, nutritious meals that nurture both our souls and our futures. In her eyes, health isn’t a luxury; it’s a right, and through her work, she strives to impact communities by offering flavorful food that not only nourishes the soul but also empowers people to thrive with healthier and revitalized lives.
Every aspect of Chef Charlise's story has played a role in sparking the journey that led to the creation of Vegan Soulicious Café—a space where community, culture, and health unite. Inspired by her Jamaican and Mauritian heritage, honoring her father’s legacy means showing people that they can savor healthy meals just as joyfully as classic comforts. Vegan Soulicious is more than just a restaurant—it’s a space where food tells a story, enriches community, and creates a legacy that honors the past while building a better future for the generations to come.
Vegan Soulicious Café
A Business Rooted in Memory, Meaning, and Momentum
A Long-Standing Way of LIFE
In the Western world, plant-based food is often seen as a compromise, something people choose when trying to be "good." But on the islands of Mauritius and Jamaica, plant-based eating has never been about restriction—it's been about nature’s abundance.
In Jamaica, the Ital movement, deeply rooted in Rastafarian philosophy, embraces vibrant, natural foods like callaloo, ackee, jerk seasoning, and tropical fruits, proving that eating well can be full of flavor and pleasure. Similarly, Mauritius blends African, Indian, Creole, and Chinese influences, creating bold, plant-based dishes such as Rougaille, Dal Puri, and Gateaux Piment.
Our restaurant isn't introducing plant-based food as a modern trend; we're reintroducing it in its original, time-honored, and flavorful glory.
Turning Loss into triumph
Businesses that thrive often start with a deeply personal reason to exist.
For our founder, Chef Charlise, Vegan Soulicious Café isn’t just about food—it’s about rewriting the narrative of what it means to eat well. After losing her father and three of his siblings to cancer, Charlise didn’t just ask what they ate—she asked why.
How had their diets failed them? Somewhere along the way, modern food culture lost its roots. She realized that the meals her ancestors prepared—full of flavor, color, spice, and natural ingredients—weren’t just delicious, they were nutritionally powerful, deeply satisfying, and emotionally resonant.
Vegan Soulicious Café is a testament to that realization—a commitment to reincorporating the rich history of sustaining meals. This is a form of storytelling through food. And people don’t just buy food—they buy stories, nostalgia, and meaning.
A Restaurant That’s Really a Movement
We don’t just create incredible food—we embody a movement. We turn health into indulgence with bold, addictive flavors that are both delicious and good for you.
By honoring heritage and the global diaspora, we prove that cultural dishes can be accessible and plant-based food has always been far from boring or bland. Our commitment to food justice, sustainability, and wellness education builds deep connections with our customers, transforming them into lifelong fans.
We’re not just serving a meal; we’re re-identifying plant-based eating as a soulful indulgence, solidifying that this is the future of food.
WHY this matters to Investors
At the core, people don’t believe in businesses—their beliefs are fortified by momentum, psychology, and inevitability. Vegan Soulicious Café isn’t just another plant-based restaurant; it’s the one that truly understands human nature.
People don’t crave “healthy food”; they crave delicious food that happens to be good for them. They don’t make “ethically correct” choices out of obligation—they invest in brands that make them feel good about their values. And most importantly, they don’t remember what they ate, but how it made them feel.
This understanding makes VS Café a high-growth, high-loyalty brand that taps into deep emotional drivers. For investors, this isn’t about funding a restaurant—it’s about backing a cultural food revolution.