Fatmata Binta, celebrity chef: "Dine on a Mat" pop-up leads to awards, cultural education

[Smithy]

This article tells a great story about a Fulani woman, Fatmata Binta, whose culinary ambitions led to a pop-up restaurant she named "Dine on a Mat" and then to recognition and awards in Europe. Now she is using her fame to share more about Fulani culture via food, and she wants to use her award money to help communities in other ways as well. "Dine on a Mat" comes from her people's eating traditions. 

 

Quote

...she explained how sitting on the floor and sharing a meal from a single dish builds strong community bonds....

and

Beyond the cuisine, Binta’s Dine on a Mat allowed her to re-create, just for a few hours, the sense of community she experienced as a young girl in Guinea. 

 

The photos are wonderful, too.

 

In Ghana, a celebrity chef spotlights Fulani culture 

 

The article is on the website of the Institute of Current World Affairs.

[liuzhou]

Great story indeed! Thanks for linking.

[Smithy]

Binta demonstrates and discusses some of her cookery in this "Food Meets Science" video from Amsterdam, about a year ago.