What 10 years as a Nigerian Founder Taught Chef Nkesi Enyioha of HSE Gourmet About Authenticity
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Show notes
10 years ago, Chef Nkesi Enyioha launched HSE Gourmet, a rare Nigerian-owned, woman-built restaurant serving gourmet comfort food inspired by her travels, from aromatic pho to a hearty beef pot pie.
What started as a private catering service became a cafe, then almost by accident, a full restaurant, and today, HSE is a homegrown staple of Lagos' dining scene.
In this episode, Adaorah Oduah talks with Chef Nkesi about a decade of building on her own terms: why she's stopped chasing "authenticity" for authenticity's sake (jollof rice debates included), how a plate of Orh Luak on a Singapore street corner reshaped how she thinks about Nigerian flavors, and the lessons she picked up co-leading Ohuru and Sabor.
In this episode:
• The accidental beginnings of HSE Gourmet
• Why "authentic" is the wrong question to ask about West African food
• How a Singaporean oyster omelette influenced her own cooking
• Building a women-centered business and staying resilient
• What 10 years as a founder, across HSE Gourmet, Sabor and once upon a time Ohuru, really taught her
Watch the full episode on YouTube to hear the story behind HSE Gourmet and the evolution of one of Lagos' most interesting culinary entrepreneurs
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