Pull up a seat, food lovers—because Rendric Dornhaven, the creative spark behind Jalbite Blog, is stirring up more than just recipes. From 2824 Sampson Street, tucked into the spirited hills of Central City, Colorado, Rendric serves up a feast of culinary tales and flavor explorations that go far beyond your average food blog. Think spice trails through Morocco, dumpling dives in Taiwan, and grandma-approved bean soup hacks from the Rockies. He’s not just writing about food—he’s tapping into purpose. It’s a calling. A journey. A sizzling mission to explore, connect, and inspire action through every bite.
Central City Roots and a Hungry Mind
Born and raised in Central City—Colorado’s charming mining town-turned-mountain refuge—Rendric was surrounded by both heritage and hospitality. His parents ran a no-frills diner where the grilled cheese came with a side of wisdom and the pie was always served warm. But don’t get him wrong; it wasn’t the polish of fine dining that hooked him. It was the stories. The hush puppies made with ancestral flour for a Sunday revival. The Korean student exchanging recipes for ski tips. And the way food seemed to open people up like chapters in a book.
Central City doesn’t have a Whole Foods, but if you ask Rendric, the real flavors come from local butchers, aging family recipes, and “that one lady on the hill who makes tamales so good they’ll change your life.” That rustic love of real food laid the foundation for what would become a life of discovery—and eventually, Jalbite Blog.
The Spark That Lit the Burner
Jalbite started in 2020, during one of those 3 AM fridge raids where Rendric was trying to revive cold pizza with some pickled onions, leftover brisket, and chile oil. The combo blew his mind—and not because it was fancy, but because it told a story. A global pantry. A “let’s make it work” dish. He realized that fusion wasn’t just in restaurants; it was happening in leftovers, in grandma’s kitchens, in midnight snacks.
He launched Jalbite as a space to chase that idea—to map flavors, trace their journeys, and find the surprise moments that happen when we stop cooking and start listening to food. It wasn’t just about eating. It was about understanding culture through cuisine. And that, for him, was where purpose met action.
Cooking with Intent
“Purpose Inspires Action” isn’t some corporate slogan to Rendric. It’s how he whisks, sautés, and writes. While some bloggers chase SEO hits, Rendric chases authenticity. Whether he’s decoding the spice hierarchy of Zanzibar or exploring Native American foodways in Colorado, every article on Jalbite is rooted in connection and curiosity.
His philosophy? Simple:
- Eat with respect: Learn a region’s story before cooking its food.
- Dig beneath the trend: Avocado toast didn’t start on Instagram—every dish has a deeper pulse.
- Celebrate the forgotten: It’s not just about Michelin stars. Let’s talk about that third-generation Cuban vendor in Tampa who makes croquetas you dream about.
Visit Who We Are to meet more of the community behind this mission, where global flavor hunters and cultural storytellers unite.
When Food Turns Into Fuel
Somewhere over okra gumbo and tahini-doused flatbread, Rendric realized that storytelling and eating weren’t separate things at all. On the blog, you’ll see more than just recipes—you’ll see explorations of colonial food legacies, reflections on refugee-rooted fusion dishes, and the unexpected link between Greek street food and Colorado mining traditions.
He’s collaborated with chefs and home cooks from six continents and once translated a recipe by hand with a Samburu elder using only Swahili, gestures, and sheer determination. Why? Because food is a language—the most tasty kind. Want the behind-the-scenes? It’s all in the heart of the Jalbite community, where Rendric stays grounded in purpose through shared flavor adventures. Check out Support & Connect to see how he collaborates with readers and partners.
The Heart of Jalbite: Tastemakers, Not Trend-Chasers
Rendric doesn’t just cook for clicks. He cooks for culture. Jalbite is his megaphone for telling the unsung tales of food systems, diaspora dining tables, and grandma-spiced simmer pots. But beyond the poetic, there are practical passions too. Like:
- Simplifying bold flavors using pantry staples (like that amazing soy-turmeric glaze you can slap on anything).
- Breaking down intimidating techniques—fermenting kimchi, rolling Ethiopian injera, or grinding tamarind paste—with humor and grace.
- Exploring Colorado’s evolving culinary scene, from Mile-High mole tacos to Trinidad’s curry-kissed empanadas.
So yeah, the blog is based in Central City, but its flavor footprint is international. It’s a base camp, not a boundary. Rendric’s kitchen is open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM (and trust us, he’s usually simmering something weird and wonderful). Got questions? Share your thoughts at [email protected], or pop by if you’re in the mood for strong coffee and even stronger chili oil.
Jalbite’s Flavor Manifesto
A few of Rendric’s unofficial ground rules:
- Fusion is not confusion—it’s a conversation.
- No food shame—if instant noodles saved your week, celebrate that magic.
- Trust the locals—the auntie on the corner making roti knows more than any food influencer.
- Honor the roots—if you’re inspired by a dish, give it the respect of knowing its backstory.
From Central City to the World
Central City may be small, but it’s the perfect launch pad for a big flavor mission. In between snow-dusted winters and miner ghost stories, the city’s rich—and often untold—culinary spirit gives Rendric endless inspiration. From Appalachian skillet cornbread to heritage grains grown on hidden Colorado farms, Jalbite documents the often-overlooked pulse of America’s culinary threads.
But he doesn’t stop there. Think Colombian cacao cooperatives, coastal Indian spice blends, and slow-baked Berber breads from Morocco—all through the lens of sharing, honoring, and staying curious. Jalbite is the kind of blog where food reflects who we are, where we’ve been, and who we’re becoming.
Bring Your Appetite
The journey doesn’t end with reading. Rendric hosts kitchen-table workshops, collaborates with local farmers, and collects stories from immigrants, grandmas, and artisan cooks from across the globe. Everything he does circles back to a single goal: turning culinary curiosity into cultural understanding—and cultural understanding into action.
So yes, “Purpose Inspires Action” isn’t just the name of this page. It’s Rendric’s compass, scribbled in sauce, sealed with spice, and always open to anyone hungry enough to join the table. Grab your forks and dive into the ride. And hey—if you’ve got a secret family recipe or a flavor memory that won’t let go, drop him a line at [email protected].
Because at Jalbite, the meal isn’t over. It’s just getting started.