Today we’d like to introduce you to Akua Atakora.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Akua. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Hello everyone! My name is Akua Atakora and I am the founder of ChefKu Kuisines. In May 2020, I graduated from the University of West Georgia with a Master’s Degree in Sociology. Soon after graduating, I officially opened ChefKu Kuisines for business! ChefKu Kuisines is a home-based business that specializes in cooking and serving authentic African cuisines! Although I was born in Toronto, Canada, both of my parents originate from Ghana.
The kitchen has always been my moms happy place. I remember feeling so inspired because my mom would always cook without any recipes or tutorials. My mom’s dedication to the kitchen, was where I truly grew a passion and love for cooking. After graduating high school, I attempted to enroll in some culinary courses, but due to unforeseen circumstances I decided to pursue culinary school at a later time.
Each time I had a party, or my friends had an event I would always cook a few of my dishes. My friends would always suggest that I sell my food because they loved it. In November 2019, I felt my conscience telling me to start a cooking business, but I was so afraid because I had never started a business before. I constantly questioned myself. “Where was I going to get all the equipment for orders?” “How was I going to reach out to more customers?” “What if people didn’t buy the food as much as I wanted?”. In January 2020, I wrote in my diary/ journal “Begin food business after graduation in May”. Near the end of the school semester, I signed up for over 15 webinars and did extensive research about how to begin a business. The webinars and research provided me with the foundation I needed to get started. In May 2020, I created an IG food page (@chefkukuisines) to show my followers some of my popular dishes. In June 2020, I officially began to take and fulfill customer orders.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Like many small business owners, I have faced many challenges that I never thought about prior to starting my business. For example, when I first started fulfilling orders, I had a really hard time getting all the food ready and delivered to the customers on time. As time passed, I started to use a more efficient system that helped me get to the customers a lot faster. Each time I faced a challenge, I would pray that God would give me the strength to keep going. I knew that if I kept going, I could inspire others to never lose faith. Overall, I am extremely grateful that I never gave up because in just three short months, I have received over 100 customer orders! In fact, some of my customers have driven a whole hour to pick orders up. I am truly at a loss of words because this is a huge achievement for me. I am beyond blessed and I thank God every day for making my dreams come true.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
One of the main reasons I decided to open ChefKu Kuisines, was because I remember when I first moved to Georgia and always had a difficult time trying to find authentic Ghanaian food. The most recommended restaurant was an hour away, and it wasn’t convenient for me to go there often. I also couldn’t find an authentic Ghanaian restaurant that delivered. Most of the African restaurants did not deliver to locations outside of their area, and if they did the fees were extremely high. As a result, I felt opening ChefKu Kuisines in Atlanta would attract more potential customers and delivery fees would be more affordable for customers. Another thing that sets me apart from others is my pricing. I noticed that each time I would buy African food I would spend at least $20 for a small plate. I made a promise to myself, that all of my pricing would be fair and affordable for all customers. Not only is my food extremely affordable, I also make sure that each customers plate is always packed with food! My customers consistently tell me that their plate lasted them 2-3 days because of the large portion of food.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I always enjoyed cooking, reading, and writing! I grew up in Toronto primarily with my mom, older brother Kofi, and older sister Ophelia. I was extremely shy as a kid, but as I got older my confidence grew. Throughout elementary and high school, I was always a kinesthetic/hands-on learner. I could retain information better when I was physically completing tasks. When my mom would cook, I would always ask to help. Even if she needed me to peel ginger or dice onions, I didn’t mind. Getting that hands-on experience made me extremely happy. I remember when I would rush home just so I could make a grilled cheese sandwich or hashbrowns. I loved the experience of cooking on my own.
My mom deeply enforced the Ghanaian culture and tradition in our household throughout my childhood. Sometimes she would only speak the Ghanaian language to us, so we could understand it very well. By the age 2, I was fluently speaking the Ghanaian language (twi) and mainly eating Ghanaian food at home. My mom grew up in Ghana, where she learned to cook from her mother. She would help my grandma make African pastries and sell them at the market.
As time went by, my mom began to teach me more advanced dishes. The first official meal I learned to make was homemade spaghetti stew. That is why my spaghetti plate (Ku’s Spaghetti with Meat Sauce) is my signature dish! I realized that cooking was my gift, when I would watch my mom make a dish and recreate the same exact meal. Overall, my mom has been a major influence in why I decided to start a food business.
Contact Info:
- Address: Atlanta, GA
- Website: https://chefkukuisines.online/
- Phone: 470-458-1088
- Email: chefkukuisines@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefkukuisines/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefkukuisines/
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