Welcome! Akwaaba!
Asempe means “Curiosity” in Fante which is Chef Kuukua's maternal grandmother's tongue. Asempe Kitchen uses food to encourage dialogue and curiosity about each other. We use Culinary Experiences, Cooking Classes, and Food Demonstrations, catering and pop-ups to begin important conversations about how best to create a just world.
We specialize in providing the very best gluten, soy, and dairy-free, primarily plant-based vegan West African food. We use 7 natural ingredients or less in the majority of our dishes. We cook in olive oil instead of the traditional palm oil. Our dishes are mildly spicy but we bring the spice to you in case you love having a spicier version of our dishes.
Asempe Kitchen as a concept was born in January 2012. Our owner and founder served a meal to a group of visiting scholars at Mills College in Oakland, CA, and while doing so was asked if she owned a restaurant. The seed was planted but it wasn't until October of 2016 when Chef Kuukua decided to take the plunge and launch her business. She launched in Ohio and later moved it to Central New York.
We currently operate in Ithaca, New York, but will travel to other areas within 2 hours of Ithaca to serve clients for a fee. You can book us for any size event with up to 100 people. We specialize in pop-ups, cooking demos and classes for up to 50 people, both children and adults.
Contact us at 315-546-4545 or by email at chefkuukua@asempekitchen.com.
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Thank you for your interest and support, and for coming along on this culinary adventure.
Spread the word! Spread the love of good food!
