While a lot of restaurants have changed their menus during the pandemic, adjusted formats or switched up service, few have completely altered their mission and found a new purpose. At downtown Denver’s Dairy Block, the space that previously operated as Bruto has done just that. After sitting unused for months, owner Kelly Whitaker recently reopened the restaurant as an “advocacy kitchen,” where chefs can utilize the public platform to cook and converse with diners, who are able to share in their passion and message. Leading up to the November election, that message has become increasingly more focused. Taj Cooke is the first chef to take over Bruto’s kitchen and dining space, where he’s preparing Jamaican Ital (pronounced eye-tal) dinners, or vegan Rastafarian food.