We did it! Another great year of conversations with amazing trendsetters in food, drink and travel.

We're wrapping up for the year and will return on Wednesday, January 1 with a new episode featuring Az Anderson of Rize Up Bakery in San Francisco.

Be sure to catch up on past episode and you can watch all episodes on our YouTube Channel for The Global Food and Drink Initiative, the producer of Diaspora Food Stories.

To support our work with a tax-deductible donation, go to to globalforgood.org.

Thank you and see you in 2025!

Senegalese chef Oumar Diouf's culinary journey has taken him from his home country in West Africa, to Argentina, Brazil to the United States.

Currently living in the Bay Area, Oumar is sharing how food became a way to connect with people and different food cultures. He has owned restaurants in both Argentina and the U.S. and continues to stay connected to his Senegalese roots no matter where he is, blending flavors and ingredients.

He plans to share more about his journey in his upcoming book due out in 2025.

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Related Article from Cuisine Noir

Oumar Diouf’s The Damel Scores With Afro-Brazilian Cuisine

Diaspora Food Stories is produced by The Global Food and Drink Initiative, a 501c3 nonprofit. Together with your generous donation we can continue to preserve the oral history and culture of Black food and drink stories both in English and other languages spoken throughout the African diaspora. To donate, visit globalforgood.org.

Website: Diaspora Food Stories

Episode Sponsors

Tea's Me

Hayti

We're reconnecting with Soul of America founder Thomas Dorsey for a special update since the company launched its Black travel guides 30 years ago.

Thomas is back to gives share what the last 30 years have been like and most importantly, what's next.

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Diaspora Food Stories is produced by The Global Food and Drink Initiative, a 501c3 nonprofit. Together with your generous donation we can continue to preserve the oral history and culture of Black food and drink stories both in English and other languages spoken throughout the African diaspora. To donate, visit globalforgood.org.

Website: Diaspora Food Stories

Episode Sponsors

Tea's Me

Hayti

If there is anything you want to learn about the Caribbean island of Haiti, our next guest is the perfect person to get to know.

Nadege Fleurimond, a Haitian-born culinary innovator, author and now restaurateur, is redefining Haitian cuisine through her acclaimed establishment, BunNan, located in Brooklyn’s vibrant Flatbush Caton Market with a second location opening soon.

Her culinary journey includes appearances on Food Network’s “Chopped” and accolades from publications such as Epicurious and Food & Wine.

In this episode, Nadege is talking all things Haiti, including teasers about her annual trip to the island each January that gives those joining her a chance to experience Haitian culture firsthand.

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Diaspora Food Stories is produced by The Global Food and Drink Initiative, a 501c3 nonprofit. Together with your generous donation we can continue to preserve the oral history and culture of Black food and drink stories both in English and other languages spoken throughout the African diaspora. To donate, visit globalforgood.org.

Website: Diaspora Food Stories

Episode Sponsors

Tea's Me

Hayti

Adjo Honsou is celebrating her victory as the winner of “The Great American Recipe,” season 3.

The home cook and scientist turned food entrepreneur proudly represented her native country of Togo on the national show with recipes that authentically shared her culinary DNA on a plate challenge after challenge.

Now the St. Louis owner of Fufu N Sauce is embracing the next chapter of how her journey that includes continuing to use food as a way to bring community together through her food truck and hopefully a brick n mortar location in the future as well as using the science behind it to empower students.

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Diaspora Food Stories is produced by The Global Food and Drink Initiative, a 501c3 nonprofit. Together with your generous donation we can continue to preserve the oral history and culture of Black food and drink stories both in English and other languages spoken throughout the African diaspora. To donate, visit globalforgood.org.

Website: Diaspora Food Stories

Episode Sponsors

Tea's Me

Hayti

If you know a little bit about Berkeley, California, one will agree that it is provides the perfect backdrop for an annual event called The Bizerkely Food Festival that is the largest vegan food festival showcasing the best in plant-based cuisine, art and apparel.

Founder and plant-based lifestyle advocate Erika Hazel launched the first one in 2020 with scavenger hunt version that got vegan food enthusiasts out to support small vegan businesses during an especially challenging time.

Fast forward to today and more than 5000 attendees attended in person this September to enjoy and support both local and national businesses dedicated to plant-based and healthy living.

Erika is sharing her personal journey and what's next in her work to promote plant-based living.

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Diaspora Food Stories is produced by The Global Food and Drink Initiative, a 501c3 nonprofit. Together with your generous donation we can continue to preserve the oral history and culture of Black food and drink stories both in English and other languages spoken throughout the African diaspora. To donate, visit globalforgood.org.

Website: Diaspora Food Stories

Episode Sponsors

Tea's Me

Hayti

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Kudakwashe Makoni, aka Chef Kuda, raised in the kitchen by his grandmother who he says spoiled him. At 19, his family moved the U.S. settling in Texas where he went to school and began to pursue a career in industries other than food.

But it wasn’t long before food came calling and after going to culinary school and moving back to Zimbabwe to continue honing his skills and techniques in African cuisine, The Black Chef as he is known was born.

Now living in Ghana with pursuits around the world, Chef Kuda details his journey from cooking in his homeland of Zimbabwe to now making sure the world knows the essence of and enjoys Zimbabwean cuisine.

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Diaspora Food Stories is produced by The Global Food and Drink Initiative, a 501c3 nonprofit. Together with your generous donation we can continue to preserve the oral history and culture of Black food and drink stories both in English and other languages spoken throughout the African diaspora. To donate, visit globalforgood.org.

Website: Diaspora Food Stories

Episode Sponsors

Tea's Me

Hayti

Steps away from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe is a beautity boutique hotel built from the vision of Dr. Matifadza Nyazema or Dr. Mati, former journalist and hospitality veteran.

She built Mbano Manor Hotel from the ground up over the couse of three years between 2016 and 2019, opening her doors in February 2020 right before the world shut down for the COVID pandemic.

But just as beautiful as the 18-room property with a one presidential suite is the story of vision, faith and determination to create a legacy agains all odds.

We are sharing her story over three episodes so get ready to be amazed and inspired, knowing that if you put your mind to something and really work to make it happen, it will.

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Diaspora Food Stories is produced by The Global Food and Drink Initiative, a 501c3 nonprofit. Together with your generous donation we can continue to preserve the oral history and culture of Black food and drink stories both in English and other languages spoken throughout the African diaspora. To donate, visit globalforgood.org.

Episode Sponsors

Tea's Me

Hayti