Chef Okkoy was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica in 1987. Okkoy was raised by his mother, Joan, who taught him how to cook when he was 8 years old. In 2004, Okkoy began working in the kitchens of internationally acclaimed resorts in Jamaica. After a decade spent developing his passion for cooking and honing his culinary skills, Okkoy traveled to the United States where he worked at Madden's Resort on Gull Lake in central Minnesota for four years before coming to the Twin Cities. Once here, he worked in fine dining at the St Paul Hotel and also spent time working with a local Caribbean restaurant.