Sharing my story through food
Welcome to Furahi: A taste of home. I'm Esther Ngemba, and I started this business to share the food I grew up with, tell my story, and bring people together.
For me, a taste of home begins with my family in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
It is my mother cooking outside, my father working in our garden, and fishermen returning from the lake with fresh fish. Those memories still shape the way I cook and what I want to share with you.
Why I chose the name Furahi
Furahi means “be happy” in Swahili. I chose this name because, when I think of happiness, I think of food bringing people together.
I think of sharing a meal, seeing someone enjoy what I've cooked, and having time to sit together and talk.That is the kind of happy place I want Furahi to be: somewhere people feel welcome and can enjoy good food together.
“A taste of home” is my way of sharing the food and memories I grew up with, while making room for us to create new memories together.
The home I remember
Behind our house in Congo, we had a farm where my father grew plantains, cassava, and other vegetables. In front of our house was a large lake. I loved spending time in the garden with him and watching the fishermen head out onto the water in the mornings.Later in the day, they would come back with fish, and we would get fresh fish from them. When it rained, my father would catch crabs in the waterway leading to the lake. We would cook them outside in a big pot.I loved watching my mother cook outside. We used fresh ingredients, and I could see where so much of our food came from. These are some of my favorite memories of Congo: peaceful moments with my family that I still think about in the kitchen today.
How Furahi began
My family and I later fled war, and I became a refugee. That experience is part of my story, but it is not the whole story of the home we left behind.After someone heard me speak about our experience and why refugees should be welcomed, they invited me to teach a cooking class while sharing my story.
That invitation became the beginning of Furahi: A taste of home. Cooking gave me a way to introduce people to Congo through something personal. I could share a family recipe and talk about the people who taught it to me.
I could also make space for conversations about displacement, social injustice, and what it means to welcome someone who has had to leave home.
What I share through food
At Furahi, I cook recipes I learned from my family and create new dishes inspired by Congolese culture. I want to introduce you to our food while honoring the people and traditions I learned from.
Fresh ingredients are part of that story. My father's garden and the fish we bought from the fishermen taught me to appreciate where our food came from. Watching my mother cook taught me to care about how we prepare it.
Today, we prepare our meals from scratch with fresh ingredients, then freeze them for you to enjoy at home. We also squeeze our juices from fresh produce and bring that same care to the food we prepare for gatherings.
I want to honor what I learned from my parents, with respect for our food and the people, land, and waters it comes from.Whether we meet through a cooking class, a catered gathering, or a dinner experience, I hope you leave having enjoyed the food and learned something about the home behind it.
Caring for the people back home
Sharing my story matters to me. So does supporting people in Congo.I started the Furahi Foundation because I wanted to do more than talk about the injustices women face.
Our work has included scholarships to help students attend school, grants to help women start or grow businesses, and help paying women's healthcare bills.The women we support have their own skills, ideas, and plans for their futures.
I want our work to help them pursue those plans.
You are Welcome at the Table
Furahi is how I stay connected to my home while building community here. I'm grateful for the chance to share a meal, a memory, and a little of where I come from with you.— Esther Ngemba
