Bringing African food to the American table

I have always loved cooking. When I was young, you would find me at my grandmom’s side, learning from her and helping in the kitchen. Now, as an adult, whenever I am preparing a meal, I still visualize the steps she took. I see the way she stirred a stew and tasted a spoonful. Her face would twist into an expression that told me it still wasn’t quite right. Then she would carefully add a seasoning. This stirring, tasting, and seasoning would continue until the dish met my grandmom’s approval. 

While I will always remain dedicated to my roots in Africa, I have made America my home. Meals need to be prepared in a timely way to fit our fast-paced schedules and the ingredients should be easy to find. In addition to making recipes that are suitable for the Western world, I’ve added a dash of my own creativity and zest to each dish that I serve on the table—just as my grandmom used to do.