Springfield, IL, boasts a diverse culinary scene, and among its gems are restaurants offering authentic African cuisine. These establishments not only provide a taste of traditional dishes but also contribute to the cultural richness of the city.
One such place is Travelers Kitchen, located at 1732 S. MacArthur Blvd. This West African cuisine restaurant has been a part of Springfield’s lively restaurant scene for over a year as one of the sole providers of traditional West African food. Business owner Ansumana Darboe said he wanted to provide the Springfield community a taste of food he grew up with in Gambia.
“There was a gap in the food market in terms of variety,” Darboe said. “That’s a gap we filled up. Starting a business like this takes a lot of marketing and educating customers about what this is. You could just say you have fish and chicken - that’s easy to do. … But I put up a sign that says African cuisine because I want people to ask, ‘what is African cuisine?’”
According to Darboe, many people who come through the doors don’t know everything about West African cuisine and are curious to try a type of food they’ve never had before. “Springfield is a food city,” Darboe said. “African food, particularly from West Africa is not represented in the food scene at all. We wanted to bring that variety so the city and the residents of the city can have an experience that tastes like Africa.”
Every shift starts with prepping chicken with plenty of seasoning for Chef “Yee” Yaya Sanney. He picks up a handful of lemon pepper, fresh herbs and adds them to jollof rice, a tomato-based rice dish traditionally served in Africa. But you can get a taste of Africa at the Travelers Kitchen, 1732 S. MacArthur Blvd., in Springfield.
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The Menu and Cultural Experience
The menu is vast. Chef Yee, who is a family member from Gambia, prepares chicken Yassa, a flavorful tomato and lemon dish that pairs with fufu, Afra, benachin and more.
“A lot of people for the experience come here and sit here and see these African artifacts as part of the experience,” Darboe said. “There’s African music playing in the background and it’s part of the experience.”
Here's a glimpse of some popular dishes you might find:
| Dish Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Jollof Rice | A tomato-based rice dish traditionally served in Africa. |
| Chicken Yassa | A flavorful tomato and lemon dish. |
| Fufu | A staple food often paired with flavorful sauces. |
| Afra | A traditional West African dish. |
| Benachin | Another popular West African rice dish. |
Community and Representation
Darboe from Gambia to Springfield in 2012 to pursue his master's in public administration from the University of Springfield. Darboe said he hopes with time and education, more members of the community will come to know typical dishes from Africa and find out if their favorite food is still out there to find.
Darboe’s kitchen joins several other businesses like Jamaican-style Jerk Shop Go on 5th that are owned by people of color in the city, finding gaps in cultural representation and filling them.
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“I had a man come in last week after taking an ancestry test and found out his family was West African, so the family came into the restaurant purposefully to connect with his (his heritage),” Darboe said. “He said he ate West African food, and it gets him closer to his ancestors.”
Travelers Kitchen took part of the Black Business Month created by Black Lives Matter Springfield. The directory lists businesses owned and run by Black entrepreneurs in the city with addresses and more information.
Darboe says being part of the directory was just the start and plans to join the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and Black Chamber of Commerce.
West African Cuisine | FULL EPISODE | Signature Dish
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