One of the challenges that Senegambian catering business Keur Fatou has faced is one they say they could have expected. “Just trying to explain to people what kind of food it is,” said Harriet Gomez. “People have preconceived notions when it comes to food that is outside of their comfort zone.” Gomez runs Keur Fatou along with four other co-owners: brothers Assan and Malick Joof, and Papa and Babacar Kone. 

To address that challenge they’ve gotten creative. At events, one or two of them will greet people in front of the booth to answer questions about the cuisine and provide samples. “I’m normally the frontline, letting people know about the food,” said Assan Joof. Once people have the opportunity to try it, he said, we get very good feedback. 

Mafe is one of the dishes that people are most hesitant to try, but it’s also one of the most popular once they do. “People always ask us for the recipe,” said Babacar Kone. The peanut butter sauce served with white rice will be on the menu at Taste the Future this year. 

Assan, Malick, Papa and Babacar each have full-time jobs or go to school full-time, but the support from each other keeps them going. Once they get to an event, Gomez said, “You just want to keep it going and going because you’re just so pumped to see all these people happy and your team just working.”

“It’s more about support, honesty, love,” said Kone. 

And about food. “We’re giving out tastes of West Africa. Tastes of Senegambia. We grew up eating these things,” said Joof. “To bring that taste, for them to have the chance to experience it, I think that’s something special.”