Each dinner will focus on a different topic about Congo. As we share the food, I'll share stories that help you get to know our people, culture, and everyday life. There will be room for questions and conversation, too.

Even the table will be part of the story. Each evening will feature different placemat and napkin designs chosen to reflect its topic. The food, stories, and table setting will help us explore that evening's theme together.

Each dinner will support one of the Furahi Foundation's initiatives in Congo. We'll share which initiative the evening supports, why it matters, and how the dinner contributes.

I started the foundation because I wanted to do more than tell my story. I wanted to support people back home, too. These dinners bring those two hopes together.

I started Furahi because I wanted to share my story through food. Some of my favorite memories of Congo are of watching my mother cook outside, spending time in my father's garden, and seeing fishermen return from the lake with fresh fish.

These dinners are another way to honor that home and the people who taught me. I hope you leave having enjoyed the food, learned something new about Congo, and spent a little time getting to know the people around you.