Hello,
Today I am very pleased to have Ngwafu Tansie taking over. Ngwafu is a chef who lives in Manchester and grew up in Cameroon. Her plant-based food is often is influenced by her Cameroonian roots. From vegan cookies to Okra soup and Cameroonian Pap (corn porridge) to Cacio e pepe, Ngwafu's vegan food takes us places.
It's a thrill and an honour to have her story and the things which move her in today's newsletter. I've lots to learn about the food of Cameroon and West African food so I'm so grateful for some of the cookbooks Ngwafu has pointed us towards as well as some of the sustainable food businesses that are also close to my heart.
Thanks for sharing all of this with us Ngwafu.
I'm off to order some of your Puff Puff's.
Until next week,
Anna x
From Ngwafu Tansie
When it comes to my relationship with food and cookery, I’m never quite sure where to begin. Being a native Cameroonian who moved to England aged 5, the exposure to different cultures left me fascinated by how we express ourselves through food. My mum has always been a talented cook, hosting parties, BBQs and making every dinnertime special with delicious West African food. I was always eager and ready to help in the kitchen, and as my curiosity grew, I convinced my mum to try new things. British, Chinese, and Italian dishes had piqued my interest, and the possibilities in the melting pot of the UK seemed endless.
I later became vegetarian, then vegan while studying food technology at university, and seeing the benefits a vegan lifestyle can have on our planet. While my curiosity for the next big thing in food is still going strong, I always found myself coming back to two things: West African food and sustainability. I learnt to conquer Puff Puff, a sweet West African dough ball, known for its downright deliciousness. I sought the advice of my mum and aunties on the West African dishes I grew up with, so many of which were “accidentally-vegan”, and, after some encouragement from my (almost) equally food-obsessed partner, I started my own food business. From running a vegan West African takeaway out of our kitchen during the pandemic - cut to 2024 and my time is split between catering events and popping up in the North West, shipping our Puff Puff UK wide, sharing seasonal recipes online, and working with community charities and food education initiatives across Greater Manchester.
A big thank you to Anna and the team for giving me the opportunity to share my story, and to you for reading. Happy clicking!
From Ngwafu Tansie
Our Puff Puff – a taste of West Africa delivered to your door.
Fonio is an ancient super-grain that has been grown in West Africa for 5,000 years, similar to couscous and quinoa.
Wildfarmed Flour – B-Corp certified, regenerative flour.
Silo – London’s (and the world’s) first Zero-Waste restaurant.
Higher Ground – Manchester bistro with a firm focus on seasonal, vegetable forward dishes.
Platt Fields Market Garden – Wonderful CIC-run café and market garden in Greater Manchester. They don’t take bookings, but you can find opening times on their website
Hubbub’s Guide to Eating Seasonally in the UK – Not only is it more sustainable, seasonal eating makes for peak deliciousness! Check out this handy guide to see what’s in season each month.
The Noma Guide to Fermentation - I’m all about preserving food wherever possible, so often turn to fermentation, and love learning new techniques.
Eat with Afia – A fellow West African vegan who shares great recipes on YouTube and her website.
The Food Chain Podcast - I love learning all about food culture, trends, and other people’s perspective of food’s place within their lives. A great wholesome listen.
The Climate Question Podcast – A podcast about the day-to-day effects of climate change and how we can do our bit to adapt to necessary changes.
Vegan Nigerian Kitchen by Tomi Makanjuola – One of my favourite West African cook books.
Free Plants for Everyone by David the Good – A guide to growing your own fruit, veg, plants and flowers, without the costly trips to the garden centre. A must for home growers like me.
Our recipes – One last plug for luck.