An Important Message From Chef Kuukua
Dear Asempe Ebusua,
After a lot of reflection, we’re sharing an important update: Asempe Kitchen in Ithaca will be closing its current restaurant operations.
While this is a bittersweet decision, we want to lead with gratitude. We are deeply thankful for the opportunity to bring Asempe Kitchen to life in Ithaca—to share West African flavors, introduce plant-forward traditions, and create a space where food, culture, and community could meet. This experience has been meaningful beyond words. For everyone who welcomed us, supported us, nominated us for the plethora of awards and recognitions we got, and showed up with curiosity and love, we are forever grateful.
The reality is that a continued lack of foot traffic, paired with the challenges of the current economic climate—rising costs and changing spending patterns—has made it impossible to sustain day-to-day operations in this location. Even so, we are choosing to hold this moment with appreciation for what we have built together, and pride in what Asempe Kitchen has meant to so many of you.
To everyone who dined with us, told a friend, took a chance and tried something new for the first time, booked us for catering or a celebration, attended a cooking class, shared kind words, posted about us, or simply kept coming back: Yεdaase pii! Nyεyiwala dɔŋŋ! Akpε na wo kakaaka! Thank You Very Much!
You gave this dream life! Ithaca, you made space for us, and we will never forget that.
This is not all together a goodbye. Asempe Kitchen will continue in the area—just in new ways. Our cooking classes will continue, and we are still listed as an Airbnb Experience; share widely with your visiting friends and family. Please continue to reach out to us for catering as well—we would love to keep being part of your celebrations, meetings, gatherings, and special moments. And stay tuned for upcoming pop-ups, whether at IFM or at other community spaces.
Here are the next important details to know:
Our last day of service will be Sunday February 1, 2026. We will go out in traditional Asempe style with our final Afrobeats in our Press Bay space from 11am-3pm that day. We will also be celebrating my last year in this decade. Who can guess what decade this is?
Tickets are $20 or $25 at the door for a combo meal purchased ahead via venmo (@asempe kitchen). Sobolo drink as well as other drinks via Open Spaces Cider extra. We do hope to see you there.
We will also have an auction on Sunday, February 8th, 2026from 12pm-4pm. Please come and pick out that Asempe memento you've been eyeing. We would like to be able to send our full time staff members off with a bit of a financial cushion.
Although we are not exactly sure of our next few moves, we are working with Shared Kitchen Ithaca to work out a possible partnership, and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) for holding cooking classes. There might be a cooking class or a Culinary Extravaganza on Sundays in March. The first one will have a special guest all the way from Ghana; come see who!
Email Chef Kuukua below to find out more information.
From the bottom of our hearts: thank you for being part of this culinary adventure. We’re grateful for every moment—and we look forward to feeding you again soon in new and imaginative ways, outside the four walls of what was Asempe Kitchen.
With gratitude, adventure, and spice,
Chef Kuukua Dzigbordi Yomekpe & the Asempe Kitchen Team
How You Can Help Us Make A Smooth Transition
Donate if you are able to our gofundme page:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-asempes-next-chapter
Share THIS campaign widely with your community
Leave a message of love, gratitude, or remembrance by
(text:315-546-45454 or email: chefkuukua@asempekitchen.com)
Show up for lunch or dinner in the next two weeks:
January 22nd-26th & 29th-February 1st
Buy merch (aprons, spices, hot sauce)
Sign up for Cooking Classes