26 Nov Award-winning pop-up Chuku’s opens first restaurant next year
Award-winning pop-up, Chuku’s will open in Seven Sisters, Tottenham in February 2020, following successful crowdfunding earlier this year. Ifeyinwa (Forbes’ leading businesswomen in Europe; Elle’s star female entrepreneurs under 30) and Emeka Frederick started their unique cultural brand, Chuku’s in 2016. The brother-sister duo behind the world’s first Nigerian tapas pop-up will open their bricks and mortar site after being crowned winners at this year’s Young British Foodie awards.
The siblings are on a mission to celebrate the beauty of Nigeria – giving people in the UK an opportunity to experience the richness of its culture and promoting the traditional Nigerian value of community spirit. The permanent restaurant will follow the same style of their pop-ups, serving sharing plates of Nigerian dishes against a backdrop of rhythmic afrobeats, contemporary art and street photography, to give a taste of Lagos, Nigeria’s cultural capital. This cultural immersive dining experience has been coined by its founders the “chop, chat, chill”. Whilst all dishes are centred on authentic Nigerian flavours, they have put a special twist on some, such as their Jollof Quinoa; a healthy spin on the traditional jollof rice and Plantain Waffles, their signature gluten-free and vegan dessert.
In addition to their signatures, the Chuku’s opening menu will see an arrival of a set of new dishes, including recipes from Northern Nigeria; home to the Hausa-Fulani tribe, whose culinary traditions often little is known about outside of the country. The drinks offering will also include a range of Chuku’s alcoholic innovations, including Zobo Sangria, a hibiscus-infused Sangria mix and a Palm Wine cocktail.
As a pop-up Chuku’s has already gained a reputation as an industry pioneer and this year won a Young British Foodie Award in the Food Sharing category. The entrepreneurial sibling duo have also been named one of the top 20 Most Exciting Entrepreneurs in 2019 by the Great British Entrepreneur Awards who also shortlisted them as one of the 15 Most Exciting Food and Drink Entrepreneurs in the UK in 2018.
The announcement of a permanent site opening has long been awaited by the Chuku’s community which has grown to over 10,000-strong. Earlier this year they raised 120% of their crowdfunding target and the duo are excited to lift the prominence of Nigerian cuisine and expand their community in Tottenham, a destination they feel has a true sense of spirit of togetherness.
