Chef Kukua Yomekpe reached out to 14850 Dining this week with the great news that after years of pop-ups and farmers market stalls, he's opening a brick-and-mortar location for his African food business, Asempe Kitchen. . Chef Kukua got the keys to his new Presbay Court location on Wednesday.
Asempe Kitchen's menu includes African stews such as Nkatsi Nkwan (peanut stew), Nkrumah Foye (okra stew) and Egusi (spinach stew), served with accompaniments such as okra and fried plantains. Masu. Additionally, the spicy and earthy Asempe Moko Hot Sauce is also for the brave. Chef Kukua is happy to talk about the evolution of traditional recipes, where fish and meat were common, to plant-based recipes.
Asempe Kitchen attended Monday night's event at Pressbay Alley in 2022. 14850 file photos.
It's the newest eatery in the space where One Ring Donuts, The Gallery, Northfork Restaurant and Noble Bird have opened in recent years, and where DP Dough was for a while. Located down an alley in Press Bay Court, this is where Haunt served his food. It continued to host live music for many years before moving to the waterfront.
Chef Kukua will receive the keys from John Guttridge of Urban Core LLC. Photo provided.
Chef Kukua just returned from the second annual Black Women in Food Summit in Washington, D.C., and said, “I am so excited to stand alongside so many talented and inspiring Black women who are shaping the culinary world. I am honored,” he said in a Facebook post about the event. on friday. “From chefs and food writers to activists and entrepreneurs, the energy here is just inspiring!”
Egusi, spinach stew and fried plantains from Asempe Kitchen. 14850 File photo.
Chef Kukua told 14850 Dining that he plans to open Asempe Kitchen in a new location at 114 West Green Street in downtown Ithaca in the coming weeks.
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