by Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Left: Tarrus checks the meal to ensure everything is done just right. Right: Tarrus presents his meal in calabashes. - Ian Allen photos

Cooking with reggae singer Tarrus Riley is a colourful and healthy choice as The STAR joined the entertainer in his friend's kitchen on Queensway Road in Kingston. A picky eater, Tarrus doesn't eat any form of meat, nor does he like rice or fish. Tofu is Tarrus' food of choice. He prepared fried tofu with cabbage and served it with a side of vegetables, pear, plantain and juice.

"Cooking, is a ting weh mi like, mi cook all di time. Big and serious, especially since mi nuh eat certian ting, like fish, mi nuh eat fish since 1999. Mi seh mi a go strict vegetarian," Tarrus commented, as he collected everything to get started.

Walking the STAR team through the process, Tarrus cut up the tofu first, fried it with garlic and chopped up some onions, pepper, cabbage, carrots, tomato, broccoli, thyme and put them all in the pot.

As he stirred the contents of the pot, he explained, "Mek sure yuh put di instructions wash your hands. Our food is clean, no bones, no blood, no eyes ... clean."

One of the secrets to his cooking, he explained, is seasoning. While most people think tofu is tasteless, Tarrus explained that it is the seasoning that gives all food taste.

According to Riley, he cooks all the time and eats a variety of tofu everyday. As the spices filled the air, one of Riley's friend's entered the kitchen commenting, "Singer yuh food deh smell nice though!" To this Riley, commented, "as usual". As Riley steamed the food, he prepared the salad and his friend, Wrath, fried the ripe plantain.

With his meal finished, he served out portions into the waiting calabashes and asked, "How it look? Good enough for The STAR! It have all the colours, red, green and gold." A line of persons eagerly awaited the food, which was royal in taste and texture, a job well done.

Riley, who is proud of his cooking abilities, explains the intricacies of cooking tofu to 'The STAR'.