On Monday, May 19th, the Hav & Mar team will welcome renowned chef and author Alexander Smalls and co-founder of Dine Diaspora and Black Women in Food, Nina Oduro, for a special celebration of their new book, The Contemporary African Kitchen–a vibrant collection of 120 recipes and essays from 33 chefs, cooks, and writers shaping Africa’s food movement.
The book features beautifully photographed dishes, personal stories, and cultural insights. From Chicken Yassa to Cocoyam Dumplings, this essential cookbook celebrates the shared ingredients, spices, and traditions of the African continent, offering home cooks an inviting and richly layered culinary journey.
To honor those who have contributed to the cookbook, Hav & Mar’s Executive Chef Fariyal Abdullahi has created a special five-course tasting menu inspired by the stories, flavors, and cultural influences shared within its pages. Drawing on her own culinary heritage and the vibrant, globally-inspired approach that defines Hav & Mar, Chef Fariyal will pay tribute to the diverse voices and recipes featured in the book–each course a celebration of identity, creativity, and the power of food to bring people together.
About Chef Alexander Smalls
Alexander Smalls is a James Beard Award–winning chef, author, and Grammy and Tony–winning opera singer. He was the visionary behind Harlem’s iconic restaurants The Cecil–NYC’s first Afro-Asian-American restaurant, named Esquire’s “Best New Restaurant in America”–and Minton’s, a supper club revival of the legendary BeBop-era jazz haunt. His acclaimed cookbooks include Between Harlem and Heaven and Meals, Music, and Muses, blending Southern Revival cuisine with cultural storytelling. Smalls has appeared on Top Chef, The Chew, Today, and Food Network. A celebrated figure in both culinary and cultural spheres, he continues to explore the African diaspora through food, music, and storytelling.
About Nina Oduro
Nina Oduro is an entrepreneur, cultural curator, and culinary ambassador dedicated to building a more equitable food system centered on the African diaspora. As CEO and Co-founder of Dine Diaspora, she leads strategy and creative direction through inclusive marketing and events. She is also the co-author of The Contemporary African Kitchen (Oct 2024), with chef Alexander Smalls. Nina co-founded Black Women in Food (BWIF) to advance Black women in the food and hospitality industry, providing global support through funding, networks, and recognition. Her equity-driven work spans three continents and partners including the James Beard Foundation, Facebook, and Microsoft. Named a Changemaker by Washington City Paper and honored as a Top 30 Under 30 by Future of Ghana, Nina’s work has been featured in Food & Wine, Sweet July, and Washingtonian.
