NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A New Orleans chef could soon be the next winner of the James Beard Award.
Nominated in the category of “Emerging Chef,” Serigne Mbaye learned his way around a recipe from his mom.
Today, Chef Serigne is cooking in the kitchen of his very own restaurant called Dakar. It’s named for the capital of Senegal in West Africa where Serigne Mbaye grew up.
He graduated at the top of his culinary class and took his talent around the world before fine-tuning his fine art, finally in New Orleans.
He came here after an invitation from some New Orleans folks he met on a plane.
Chef Serigne serves a black-eyed pea soup he calls The Last Meal. That’s because black-eyed peas were often the Last Supper for slaves before they were forced to leave Africa.
It’s just one dish on his menu with a mission.
In Senegal, the name Serigne means “leader.”
Serigne Mbaye is the chef who’s here to lead your taste buds toward something that nurtures your soul.
The winners of the James Beard Award will be announced this summer.
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