Dining
BY JOVANNA AGUILAR
Grilled tilapia with vegetables ($25) can be paired with Nigerian imported beer.
Olatee and Temitayo Thanni-Wright showcase their Nigerian imported beer and grilled tilapia.
PHOTOS BY JOVANNA AGUILARCOMMUNITY IMPACT
Olatee African Cafe serves African cuisine in Spring
Olatee Thanni-Wright and Temitayo Thanni- Wright, husband and wife, launched Olatee African Cafe on Nov. 19, 2022, to showcase African history and introduce African cuisine to the area. The restaurant was a result of their grocery store Olatee African Mart’s expansion as well as Temi- tayo Thanni-Wright’s passion for cooking. “It’s been our longtime dream, and so we got this space for it after the [previous occupant] Chinese restaurant closed down,” Olatee Than- ni-Wright said. How it happened In 2020, the couple acquired the grocery store Olatee African Mart with a grocery store selection in the front and a to-go restaurant in the back. Due to customers’ demand for their African cui- sine, the couple decided to expand their business, separating the grocery store and restaurant with a new space located within the same shopping center. The new space oers African cuisine in a sit- down restaurant where customers can place their orders at the counter lled with its daily prepped menu items. The restaurant also oers a unique space with art on the walls representing African history and a lounge area where guests can enjoy a full bar and Nigerian beers. The details Olatee African Cafe provides authentic African cuisine with recipes developed by the couple.
Although their recipes are not passed down through generations, the couple believes in developing their own recipes by following their intuition and African style of cooking. The restaurant’s African spices are imported directly from Nigeria, Olatee Thanni-Wright said. Its menu items include a wide variety of African dishes, including jollof rice made with long-grain rice, tomatoes, chilies, onions, spices and vegeta- bles as well as fried rice, fried plantain and egusi soup. Egusi soup includes ground melon seed, cow skin, beef meat, beef oals and craysh. Customers also have the option to sample the restaurant’s menu items before ordering, Olatee Thanni-Wright said. Keep in mind Aside from Olatee African Cafe’s dine-in option, the restaurant oers catering for outside events, including large parties such as weddings. Olatee Thanni-Wright said they are used to catering for parties of 450 to 600 people. “We oer authentic food, we cook from the heart, and we are passionate about what we do,” Olatee Thanni-Wright said. Olatee Thanni-Wright said the cafe does more than serve food, as it also shares information. “We wanted to share our country’s stories with historic people on the wall and our countries’ issues,” she said. “The restaurant provides a new way to give out information.”
Jollof rice with chicken ($13.52) is made with long- grain rice, tomatoes, chilies, onions and spices.
Olatee African Cafe was brought to the Spring area to showcase African history and cuisine.
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409 Sawdust Road, Spring www.olateeafricancafe.com
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