Today I speak with Zoe Adjonyoh, who is a pioneer in bringing West African flavors to a wider audience. She’s the author of the acclaimed cookbook, Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen and is the founder of the spice company by the same name. Zoe describes her background as half Irish and half Ghanaian, and how she used food to connect her to her Ghanaian roots as well as to her father. Zoe describes some of the iconic dishes and flavors of Ghanaian cuisine and explains how Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen, which started as a pop-up restaurant, went hand-in-hand with her spiritual awakening, when she uncovered and embraced her authenticity and autonomy. We also talk about the downfalls of the hospitality industry, and we get into sustainability, consciousness, and more.
A note about today’s audio. Zoe and I had a very “mercury in retrograde” experience when recording this episode in August, and you’ll notice that her sound occasionally dims out. I therefore recommend wearing headphones or ear buds when listening if you can, which will help (although I relistened in my car and could still understand her audio).
Links and resources mentioned in the episode:
* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/
* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore/
* Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen: https://www.zoesghanakitchen.com/
* Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen cookbook: https://amzn.to/45kgqYA
* Podcast episode with Liz Carlisle (Regenerative Farming, Climate Change, Racism, Food & Pleasure): https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/regenerative-farming-climate-change#details
* Karen Washington: https://www.karenthefarmer.com/about
* Soul Fire Farm: https://www.soulfirefarm.org/
