who is
Jimmy Coops?
If you were to tell Jimmy Coops 34 years ago that he would own the best damn burger bar in Taupo, he would have definitely believed you.
As a young lad he always had a real penchant for burgers. His first word was “double-cheese-no-gherkins” (I kid you not), and when other kids moved on to Weet-Bix and Coco-Pops for breakfast, Jimmy was different. He was all about the burgers and meat.
That devotion is why he turned his back on the pipedream of All Black stardom and set off on a great journey of self-discovery in search of the perfect burger.
On this epic journey, also known as an O.E, two momentous things occurred. One, he grew a moustache. And two, he landed at a diner in New Orleans where he worked under the tutelage of renowned Grill Chef Señor Jorge Foreman.
Soon the mustachioed Jimmy earned a reputation as a legendary grill master, discerning craft beer drinker and all-round good bugger. To this day, Jimmy believes the source of his culinary prowess resides in the moustache and so hasn’t shaved his upper lip since 1991.
Fast forward a few decades and Jimmy Coops is back in his homeland. Moustache and burger skills intact. And legend has it, he possesses the ability to make the perfect burger. But is Taupo ready for it? Are you?