Jacobs Restaurant and Catering
THE CHEFS
Tanesha Trippett - Founder/Owner/Head Chef
From a glance, Tanesha Trippett may seem like just the average chef, but there is so much more than what meets the eye. Trippet’s culinary excellence has been spotlighted by Forbes magazine, Philadelphia Eagles, Budwiser, NBC, PHL17, FOX29 and Disney/Pixar. She is a 2014 culinary graduate of the Art Institute of Philadelphia and a member of the prestigious global group of women in hospitality called Les Dames D’Escoffier.
Her expertise and dedication have earned her contracts with prestigious organizations such as the Fairmount Park Conservancy, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
She was born and raised in the West Oak Lane section of Philadelphia, however, her family is from Savannah, GA. where she often traveled during summers with her mother. It was during these visits that Tanesha became inspired by watching the incredible women in her family cook — the Jacobs women. Her grandmother, great-aunt, and uncles were all great cooks.“So I grew up experiencing authentic Southern 'comfort foods,' from deep-frying outdoors to steaming fresh seafood, as well as smoky, grilled foods.”
Trippett worked for financial services companies for 15 years before cutting bait with the world of finance to enter culinary school at the Art Institute of Philadelphia in 2014.
Truly a family and community-minded business woman, Trippett is helped by her children, Isaiah, Brianna, and a long line of family and friends.
Ricardo Rodriguez - Head Chef
Pro Chef from CIA (Culinary Institute of America), Executive Sous Chef at Ritz Carlton, Executive Chef in Manhattan at Meals on Wheels, Chef de Cuisine at Feast Your Eyes Catering. Executive Sous chef for the Cadillac Grill at the Wells Fargo Center. He formally trained under Daniel Boulud.
THE RESTAURANT
Jacobs Restaurant and Catering was born out of an ongoing legacy. In 2017, Tanesha opened Brotherly Grub Food to add mobility to her catering services, selling Southern-inspired Philly foods like smoked brisket and cauliflower cheesesteaks. In November 2019, Tanesha opened Brotherly Grub Brunch Cafe on Germantown Avenue in the Mt Airy Section of Philadelphia. In October 2020, Brotherly Grub Brunch Cafe was nominated as the best black-owned brunch cafe in Philadelphia and was spotlighted by Bud Light, NBC10, and Philadelphia Eagles. And in March of 2024, Brotherly Grub Cafe relocated to 7152 Ogontz Ave, formally changing its name to Jacobs Restaurant and Catering.
The inspiration for the restaurant’s name and cuisine comes from the women in Tripett’s life, the Jacobs women. “The women in my family have always offered top-notch southern hospitality. They've made delicious home-cooked meals and desserts that were made with love, time, and care. These women would sell platters and desserts to the men that worked in the fields and on ships while they were at work. These women were unable to cook professionally due to the racial and sexist divide in the South. I want to take their core values and do what they could not. What better place to offer than 'The City of Brotherly Love'?”
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Considered by many to be the “northern gates of Philadelphia”, West Oak Lane tells the story of Black excellence, thriving Black entrepreneurship and weaving, diasporic cultural roots. At the center of the neighborhood's commercial district is the 7100 block of Ogontz Avenue, now home to Jacobs Restaurant and Catering. From 2003 to 2012 the community hosted a popular jazz festival with many well-known acts, including Chaka Khan and Chrisette Michele. West Oak Lane continues to stand as a neighborhood pillar for community and cultural impact within the greater Philadelphia area.