Thrilled with my catering order from Kuukua at Asempe Kitchen! The food was incredible, the delivery was on time, Kuukua was so helpful in advising on the menu, and she was patient and accommodating when my head count got bigger less than 48 hours before the event. I ordered for 18 people, for a weekend event at The Ohio State University. Everyone loved the food, from the foodies to the non-adventurous eaters who'd never had Ghanaian food to vegan and gluten-free guests. I ordered a chicken curry, red-red (a hearty dish with black-eyed peas), saffron rice, egusi (a yummy spinach dish that was vegan but tasted like a better version of American creamed spinach), a blend of carrots / cabbage / other root vegetables, fried plantains, and a vegan rice pudding. The vegans and gluten-free eaters did an actual happy dance when they saw that a) Kuukua had listed all ingredients for each dish on the catering lids and b) other than the chicken curry, most of the food was vegan and gluten free. You could tell that everything was made from scratch, with love and attention. My guests loved all the dishes, but the chicken curry, egusi, and saffron rice were the biggest crowd pleasers. Everybody, including the meat eaters, cleaned their plates and went back for seconds. It was also affordable, very comparable in price to catering from local Indian and Chinese restaurants. In case you couldn't tell, I couldn't be happier. I've already recommended Asempe to my day-job company for a future event, and I look forward to visiting Kuukua at her pop-up at The Hills Market Downtown. read more

Went here a couple weeks ago with a friend who was a Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana. The food (we got Egusi and Nkatsi Froyi), service and atmosphere were terrific! We had a wonderful time and will definitely be back soon. read more

Asempe is incredible: the ambiance, the food, the people ::chef's kiss:: You'll enjoy an introduction to Ghanaian cooking and culture, featuring fabulous entrees like nkatsi -- ground nut stew served over steaming saffron rice and accompanied by a side of fried plantains. Wash it down with a glass of sobolo or tea. Chef is inspired and inspiring, especially for a cooking class. Asempe is a shining star and key part of the Ithaca food scene. MUST. NOT. BE. MISSED. read more

My friends and I came here at the end of our semester and it was an amazing experience! We all tried the fufu, and sobolo. I personally ordered the red red and I saved it for the next day just to remember my phenomenal experience. My friends and I want to come back during the spring semester and to also take the cooking class! The customer service was excellent and the owner was so happy for us to try her food. 100/10 stars! read more

Okay, if you haven't had this food, make it your priority. I have not done catering, but I've had the food at Hills Market downtown on Wednesday's. I crave the rice, and lamb stew, but the red red is also delicious. Don't skip out on the homemade hot sauce which you can put on everything. Finish it with a roll that's soft and sweet. I can only hope they expand to a restaurant so I can get this food whenever I want!! read more

Asempe Kitchen - Caterers Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Wednesdays at the Hills Market Downtown are now bearable, thanks to the wonderfully talented Chef Kuukua. If you like rice, sauce and flavor, you will LOVE Asempe Kitchen. The meals are far more complex than that, but if you're afraid of new food like i sometimes am, don't be! Don't know what to get? its cool, Kuukua will pick something for you and it'll be DELICIOUS. During my first visit, she took the time to explain the dishes and asked me my name. she's not forgotten it since. Whenever i visit Asempe for lunch, Kuukua takes the time to explain her dishes and makes me believe she cooked all this food for me. i highly recommend trying them at Platform brewing on Mondays (for now) and Wednesdays for lunch at the Hills. Ask for the plantains and tell her Rian (Ryan) sent you! read more

Asempe's plantains are to die for!! Oh my gosh. I love them. African food was very new to me, but I felt more adventurous because of 1.) her explanations and 2.) tempering the hot spice for me since I'm a wimp. Wonderful food, great storyteller, and chef! You will not be disappointed! read more

Enjoying Asempe Kitchen for lunch the other day was the first time I had ever had Ghanaian food and I loved it!! The spices were so unique, rich and flavorful that I couldn't stop eating! The heat was a pleasant warming in my mouth, but not too much, and they can turn it up if you'd prefer. I highly recommend the Nkatsi Nkwan (basically a Peanut Curry with Lamb), the Tatale (which is a Plantain fritter/pancake) and Egusi (sort of like a creamed spinach with melon seeds, but so much tastier!) I learned that "Asempe" means "Curiosity" in Ghanaian and I am definitely curious to try more! Go to Asempe Kitchen's next pop-up at The Hills Market Downtown and you won't be disappointed! read more

Kuukua provides a fantastic meal with great service! We had her cater an event for 100 and everything went really well. She provided good communication leading up to the event, and the food was delivered piping hot and delicious! read more

Asempe Kitchen catered a lunch for our leadership training for a group of over 25 refugee and immigrant community leaders from many different countries. Everyone loved it! There was a flavor and taste of home in it for all - whether from West Africa, East African, the Himalayas or the Middle East! All prepared with such care and love! And Chef Kuukua was so great to work. If I lived in Columbus, Asempe Kitchen would be my go to place for all my meetings and events! read more

I had a private cooking lesson from Kuukua on how to make a traditional Ghanaian meal, pepper soup with goat and fufu. My teacher was very good at breaking down the steps and encouraged the lesson to be hands on. While I enjoyed this process, I cannot leave out the feasting part. More than yummy! Hands down, slap the table, suck the bone, lick the bowl dry good. The fufu and sweet potato had a great texture that added to the soup. While she said that traditionally the soup would have been smoother because it would have been ground by hand, I enjoyed the thicker, yet still smooth consistency. It was perfectly spicy, (mild according to her) very flavorful from the goat and the goat was cooked to tender. Fall off the bone tender. This is all wonderful, but her specialty hot sauce, "curious spice" in English got me all curious about putting it on everything. It has spiced up my life, my pizza, salads, marinaded my tofu and this weekend it will go on my burgers and hot dogs. Advice to spice lovers bring buckets to fill up with this red gold. read more

Love this food. Chef K knows her stuff. Every dish she makes is fun, flavorful and delicious.

Kuukua is great at what she does. The food is amazing. I love the spinach and the bread she makes. I feel like I'm supposed to be eating it all the time, like it's in my genes. read more

Kuukua makes some of the most delicious food I've ever had! If you haven't been lucky enough to try Ghanaian food, then it's your lucky day, because K. will give you that chance, and man oh man, you should take her up on it. Her food's delicious! You won't be disappointed. read more

Kuukua was awesome/kind enough to invite me to one of her events where I got a chance to try her food for the first time. It was great! This is the 3rd time eating her food and never disappoints. The Banku and Waakye is must try. read more

I had experienced Kuukua's food a few times, so when it was time for us to hire a caterer for an event for 50+ people, she was the first person on our list. She was extremely professional and I had an excellent time working with her. From the first taste of the evening, people were asking to meet the chef. You won't be disappointed if you hire Asempe In The Kitchen. I recommend trying the Kelewele (spicy plantains), the Nkruma Froyi (Okra Stew), and my favorite, the steamed sweet potatoes. And if you're lucky, she might let you take a bottle of her signature hot sauce -- Asempe Moko, but be warned, it's not for lightweights -- this stuff is HOT HOT HOT!!! Great on fish and in stews and soups!!! read more

I ordered catering from Asempe Kitchen for a lunch for 25 people. Everyone raved about the food and folks are already asking me when I'll be ordering it again. I was initially drawn to the fact that it was a small, local, woman, and minority-owned business, and was additionally delighted that the food accommodates a host of dietary restrictions--vegan, gluten-free, halal... you name it, Kuukua is able to identify all the ingredients in what she cooks and is sensitive to clients' preferences and needs. Communication was prompt, food was delivered on time and exactly as described. A great no hassle option, with the added bonus of being something new for many, and something truly delicious for all. read more

Working with Kuukua is as great as eating her food. Her ability to create delicious bites on time and on budget was greatly appreciated. I highly recommend her and Asempe Kitchen for any catering or personal chef needs. read more

Asepme was kind enough to provide an appetizer for one of my networking events and not only was it a hit with the guests but everyone wanted some to take home . Alas there was very little left. Wonderful spinach appetizer. read more

I had the pleasure of experiencing Kuukua's food at a dinner party at a local winery, and while I went in knowing peanut soup has a good reputation, I was delighted at just how good it is. Especially with the homemade, smokey hot sauce that Kuukua makes! I left that night having already put in a catering order for more! We also had the spinach and lamb stew with sweet potatoes, which was also really good- very filling and a flavor profile I had not tasted prior to that night. The rolls are delicious- the bread is light with a slightly spiced flavor (perhaps cinnamon?). Kuukua is also very easy to work with on catering- she followed up with me right away to confirm that I wanted peanut soup, and throughout the week until it was ready. Pickup was easy, and the other employees working at Hill's market also were a pleasure. I would recommend her to anyone looking to expand their horizons a little, or to anyone looking for some amazing peanut soup! read more