Meet Serena.
She founded Rena Cooked It in her first year at the University of Nottingham. It started with one tray of Rasta Pasta and a group chat.
Serena Founder, Rena Cooked It
How it started.
It started in her mum's kitchen.
Serena grew up watching her mum cook, always with warmth and care. Her mum did catering, so feeding people was part of home life from the start. Serena was the only girl in the house, and her dad encouraged her to find her own way in the kitchen too.
By sixth form she was cooking for everyone around her. She brought containers of food in to share with friends and got everyone round to eat together. She wasn't trying to impress anyone. She liked what a shared plate did for people: it brought them closer.
One tray of Rasta Pasta.
Two or three months into her first year, Serena took an honest look at what she had to offer. The answer had been in front of her the whole time. She loved cooking and she loved feeding people. She'd just been putting off the responsibility of turning it into something real.
So she stopped putting it off. She made a tray of Rasta Pasta and posted it in her accommodation group chat.
That's how long the first tray lasted. It sold out, so she made another.
Then another tray. Then another.
The orders kept coming, so she kept cooking. Eventually she started the Instagram page, and that's when she decided this was worth taking seriously.
See where it went on @renacookedit
Food is how we show love.
That idea goes back to those containers in sixth form, and it's still the heart of Rena Cooked It. Every plate is rooted in culture, seasoned with care and served for the glory of God. From intimate dinner parties to 200-guest events, the mission is the same: spread joy through food.
"I didn't start this to just make money. I have a genuine passion for serving people, feeding their bellies, feeding their souls, and spreading love and joy through food."
"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 10:31
Why clients keep coming back.
Culture on every plate
Afro Caribbean food cooked the way it's cooked at home. Everything is made from scratch, and we don't cut corners.
Faith-led excellence
We believe good work is an act of worship. So we care about the details, including the ones nobody else will notice.
People first, always
Our team is attentive, professional and properly invested in your event. How your guests feel matters to us as much as the food.
5-star certified
We hold the highest food hygiene rating the Food Standards Agency gives. Standards matter, so we keep them high.
The people who show up for you.
There's no fixed roster. Every event gets a hand-picked team, in uniform and ready, bringing the same energy and care each time.
Join the team
Want to be part of this?
If you've got heart, hustle and a love of good food, we'd like to hear from you.