Mama Africa - Smell It, Taste It, Love It

Jun 16

The world is full of beautiful locations, delicious food, and histories that shape entire cultures. While we can all dream of visiting exotic locations, money and time are very real restraints. Which is a bummer. How do we experience new places and different lifestyles if we can’t afford to do so? That’s where food comes in.

Cathy Tshilombo-Lokemba was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and was surrounded by the spices and flavors of the country. But her path was a winding one, and she ended up traveling and living all over the world. With stops in Europe, New York City, Dallas, Phoenix, Cathy, known to many as Mama Africa, planted roots in Toole, Utah. While many wouldn’t consider Utah a mecca of diversity, Mama Africa only saw an opportunity. A chance to bring Africa to Utahns, and help share her culture and her food.

What started out as a goal to make her mother proud evolved into a mission: to show people how real, delicious African food tasted. Like many food entrepreneurs in Utah, Mama Africa first began sharing her cooking at the local farmer's markets, where the smell of her food caught many a nose’s attention. Mama Africa’s food caught on like wildfire, and her hot and savory spices became a constant source of mouth-watering.

Join us as we sit down with Mama Africa and walk through her amazing and inspiring story. Full of laughter, wit, and talent, Mama Africa’s food and the story truly make for a one-of-a-kind experience. And with her new restaurant and market located at 3460 S Redwood Road Ste. 5A, Africa is closer than ever.

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This episode of The Utah Foodie was hosted by Chase Murdock and produced by Ryan Samanka. Visit our episode archive on Ventricle Presents, and stay connected with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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