kitchen

Introducing the world to African cooking Lerato Umah-Shaylor publication with HQ Africana is packed with traditional and innovative African recipes. Lerato a cook, a presenter, a food writer is a leading advocate a star of African cuisine. Her vision has always been to promote a healthy-eating life based on African food and as an entrepreneur she has hosted many supper clubs and cooking classes. Inspired from her time in the kitchen with her parents, traditional cooking is the basis of her ideas and passion into foods of her life.

Running a restaurant business is challenging, business rates, employment costs eat into profits and the general market in areas such as London is saturated. So why would you want to start a business in this sector? Well West Africa Cooks believes that even if these facts are true there is an opportunity. There is a demand for African heritage, culture and food. Talented individuals are now catering for this. Read on and then find out what is the secret to successfully launching a restaurant business.

Today's dining experience is no longer just about having great food and drink. It's all about creating unique experiences that the modern day foodie can rave about to their followers and friends by documenting on social media accounts like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. It's all about differentiation. The modern day chefs and cooks of the generation now have to be aware of this new reality and give their foodie public what they want.

"The continent of Africa has such a diverse food offering" say Zoe Adjonyoh who at the forefront of shaking things up in the UK foodie scene has now published a cook book called Zoe's Ghana Kitchen.

Real opportunities exist for African entrepreneurs in the food industry, but turning ideas into businesses is hard work requiring detailed planning, motivation and a long term vision. On Sunday 2nd October 2016 I visited the OniDodo autumn Supper Club to see what turning a vision into business venture is all about. Here is the story of the evening and the questions and answer with Dare who is one to pave the way for the next generation.

Exactly a year ago, I had a vision to 'Bring Nigerian Street Food To A Global Market' and proudly launched Tee's Food Corner at the 'African Food and Drink Takeover at Africa Utopia, Southbank. It was such an amazing feeling to have so many people from all different cultures and walks of life enjoying some of our delicious street food that I grew up eating. This year, due to popular demand, we are adding the beloved Jollof Rice and other equally delicious meals to our menu alongside our street food offerings.

You have sent your emails out, you have a lovely flyer, the date is booked and your menu is set. It is three weeks till your event date and you have only sold a few tickets. You ask yourself. What am I going to do? Why are my African supperclub tickets not selling?

So the questions we are going to ask are where are your

How did it all start?
It started the night after I waited two hours for jerk chicken that was meant to be ready in “another fifteen minutes” at a garden party at the end of last year summer and in so doing missed the act I went there to see, Femi Kuti!
On getting home I went online and took steps that led to the implementation of an idea that I had been thinking about for over a year. This was the genesis of Tee’s Food Corner with the vision of “bringing Nigerian food to a global audience”.

Imagine cooking all day every day, this being a chore not a pleasure well in Africa most people still cook on open fires from early in the morning and it is festivals for the chief or other important guests (special occasions like weddings or religious festivals) which include an extensive variety of food. Cooking in general is very simple for the poor while cooks for the rich can be extravagant.

Gathering your loved ones around the kitchen table is one of life's great pleasures. Family kitchens are the hub of the home for the African middle-class as tradition see mothers take to make the most use of this room. As in America and Europe cooking is increasingly perceived as creative and a fun social activity instead of work. We now love our cooking, baking and dinner parties. Now you have made a home for yourselves it's time to make spending time in the kitchen a pleasure not a chore with the best appliances.