Inspiring Conversations with Ramatou of Delights by Mina Crepes By Mina The Lefty Chef LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ramatou.

Hi Ramatou, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Ramatou Fofana, but most people know me as Chef Ram – The Lefty Chef. My journey began long before I ever stepped into a professional kitchen. Cooking was more than a skill I learned; it was a language of love, resilience, and identity. Growing up, I found myself drawn to the flavors, colors, and stories that food carried. It became my way of expressing who I was, where I came from, and what I dreamed to become.

Being a left-handed chef has always been part of my uniqueness. It taught me to navigate the kitchen differently, to see angles and techniques others might overlook. What started as a quirk became my signature—my left hand leading with creativity, precision, and heart. I turned what made me different into what makes me distinctive.

Over the years, I’ve blended African roots with French finesse, creating a culinary identity that celebrates both heritage and innovation. My dishes tell stories—of family, of tradition, of the courage to dream beyond borders. From rustic home recipes to Michelin-inspired plating, I’ve poured my soul into every creation, transforming each plate into art.

But my journey isn’t just about food. It’s about empowerment, culture, and purpose. Through my work, I want to inspire others—especially young women and aspiring chefs—to embrace their individuality and turn challenges into strengths. I’ve learned that greatness doesn’t come from following the rules; it comes from rewriting them in your own flavor.

Today, as The Lefty Chef, I continue to expand my creative world through food, fashion, and design, building a brand that’s bold, authentic, and deeply connected to my story. Whether I’m in the kitchen, on set, or leading new ventures, I carry one message with me:
Believe in your difference—it’s your power.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey as The Lefty Chef has been filled with obstacles that shaped me into the woman I am today. Behind the passion, the creativity, and the success, there were moments of struggle, sacrifice, and silent battles that few ever saw.

When I stepped into the culinary world, I carried not only my dreams but also the weight of my identity — a left-handed African woman chasing her place in a global kitchen. It wasn’t easy. In an industry often dominated by men and defined by hierarchy, I had to prove my worth every single day. I faced skepticism, judgment, and even discrimination. But I learned to let my craft speak for me — every dish, every flavor, every detail was my way of saying, I belong here.

Being left-handed in a right-handed kitchen came with its own unique challenges. Tools, stations, even the flow of the workspace weren’t designed for me. I had to teach myself how to adapt, how to move differently, how to turn my so-called “disadvantage” into art. What once made me feel out of place became the very thing that set me apart. My left hand became my identity, my rhythm, my creative signature.

But one of my greatest challenges came long before I earned the title of Chef. It came from being an African immigrant — leaving behind everything familiar to chase a dream in a new world. I arrived with hope, ambition, and culture deeply rooted in my soul, but I also faced the harsh reality of starting over. I had to learn a new system, a new pace, and sometimes even a new way to be seen. There were moments when I felt invisible — misunderstood, underestimated, or boxed into stereotypes. Yet I refused to let where I came from be seen as a weakness. Instead, I made it my strength.

My African heritage became the heart of my creativity — the spice that no school could teach, the story no recipe could write. I began blending the bold flavors of my roots with the refinement of world-class cuisine, proving that culture and innovation could coexist beautifully on a single plate.

There were financial struggles, cultural adjustments, and times of deep loneliness. But every obstacle — from being a woman in a male-dominated field, to being left-handed in a right-handed world, to being an immigrant chasing a dream — built resilience in me.

Today, when people call me The Lefty Chef, they see the confidence, the artistry, and the success. But behind that title is a woman who crossed oceans, broke barriers, and turned every challenge into purpose.

I am proud to be an African immigrant, a woman, and a lefty chef — three things that once made me feel like an outsider, but now define the power of my story. Because I’ve learned that the obstacles we face don’t break us — they refine us, like fire refines gold.
When people see me today — confident, calm, and composed in my kitchen — they see the result.
But they don’t always see the journey.
They don’t see the obstacles that carved me into The Lefty Chef.

I was born with my story written differently — in my left hand.
In a world built for the right-handed, I had to find my own rhythm. I remember the looks, the corrections, the subtle reminders that I didn’t quite fit the mold.
But the more they told me to change, the more I embraced what made me different.
My left hand became my identity, my power, my signature in the kitchen.

Still, that wasn’t my only battle.
As a woman in the culinary world, I had to fight to be seen, to be heard, to be respected.
There were moments when I walked into rooms where I was the only woman, the only African, the only left-handed chef — and every eye seemed to question my place there.
But I didn’t let their doubts define me. I let my food speak louder than words.

And then, there was the deeper struggle — the one that shaped everything.
Leaving home.
Leaving the warmth of my roots, the sound of my language, the comfort of familiarity — to chase a dream in a foreign land.
Being an African immigrant taught me the true meaning of courage. I arrived with nothing but ambition, faith, and the fire to prove that my culture, my accent, my skin, and my story all belonged at the table.

There were days when I felt invisible.
Days when my dreams felt too heavy for my reality.
I’ve worked jobs that broke my body but built my character.
I’ve faced rejection, doubt, and silence.
But through it all, I never stopped believing.

Every tear, every sleepless night, every challenge — they became ingredients in the recipe of who I am.
And now, when I stand in my kitchen, I don’t just cook — I tell stories.
Stories of strength, of identity, of a woman who refused to be defined by circumstance.

I am Ramatou Fofana.
I am The Lefty Chef.
An African woman.
An immigrant.
A dreamer.
A creator who turned every obstacle into art.

Because I’ve learned that the things that make us different — are the very things that make us unforgettable.

We’ve been impressed with Delights by Mina Crepes By Mina The Lefty Chef LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
For more than twenty years, I’ve poured my soul into the art of cooking — from managing restaurants to curating experiences that awaken all the senses.
My work is a reflection of my journey — a journey that blends fusion cuisine, molecular gastronomy, and fine dining with the authenticity of my African roots and the refinement of global culinary artistry.
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To me, food is not just food — it’s emotion, science, and storytelling.
It’s where tradition meets innovation, and where the familiar transforms into something extraordinary.

At The Lefty Chef LLC, I create and execute a wide range of dishes — from intricate desserts and delicate pastries to modern, flavor-forward plates that merge continents and cultures.
Every menu I design is an invitation: to taste, to feel, and to experience.

Before founding my own company, I sharpened my craft at Delights by Mina, where I developed deep expertise in intercultural cuisine, precision plating, and the beauty of detail.
It was there that I learned to combine structure with soul — to balance technique with passion.

My earlier years at Crepes by Mina and Fit’R shaped my discipline, my leadership, and my love for perfection.
Those kitchens taught me not only how to bake, but how to build — how to create order, flavor, and harmony under pressure.

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Pastry Arts from The Culinary Institute of Borcelle in New York,
and a Master’s Degree in Marketing and Management from IDRAC in Paris, France.
I’m also trained in Cake Decorating, Molecular Techniques, and Food Safety, blending creativity with science at every level of my work.

Then I indulged into food sports and competition and ended as a finalist, top 7, at the world food championships 2024, in the rice category.

Beyond the kitchen, I am a mother of three, and a nurturer of many.
I’ve opened my heart to mentoring, inspiring others to find courage in their difference —
to see that what sets them apart is what gives them purpose as long as they remain humble and laser focused.

I am an African woman, an immigrant, and a chef who believes food can change perception, connection, and culture.
Every plate I serve tells a story — of roots and resilience, of elegance and innovation, of how far I’ve come.

I am Ramatou Fofana — The Lefty Chef.
A creator of flavors.
A storyteller through cuisine.
A woman who turned her left hand into her legacy.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
My story isn’t mine alone.
I stand on the shoulders of those who believed in me — and furthermore, those who did not. We need all of that.
However I always focus on family and friends, and more particularly I am grateful for those who prayed for me, mentors who challenged me, partners who pushed me, and friends who reminded me to keep going when the nights were long.
Every person who shared their time, their wisdom, or simply a word of encouragement — they became part of my recipe for success.

To my mentors and partners who opened doors,
to my children who gave me strength,
to the people who saw the chef in me before the world did —
thank you.
You helped turn my passion into purpose, and my purpose into legacy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theleftychef.com
• Instagram: Theleftycheffe
• Youtube: Theleftycheffe