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Tucked away in a nondescript strip mall in Brampton, Kejjis looks like any other suburban restaurant from the outside. But step inside and you’ll be transported to Nigeria thanks to its array of delicious West African foods, from jollof rice served with fish, chicken or other to chin chin, a crunchy, deep-fried pastry that you’ll want to eat by the handful.
Under-the-radar but serving up delicious eats, it’s exactly the type of restaurant that Eden Hagos, food writer and founder of Black Foodie – a media platform and creative agency that spotlights African, Caribbean and Southern cuisine – wants more people to know about. That’s why she’s highlighting Kejjis, and other Black-owned restaurants, through a new partnership with the Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA).
After experiencing racism while dining out with friends, Eden Hagos started Black Foodie in 2015 to learn more about Black food culture and support Black-owned businesses. Since then, she has transformed the small online community into a media company with a community of over 250,000 partners and supporters.
Teaming up with the CTA on its Great Taste of Ontario campaign made perfect sense. The campaign publishes regional passports highlighting local businesses, some of which are curated by local experts; Eden and her team are curating one such passport focused on Black-owned food and drink businesses.
“It was awesome to be able to learn from the Culinary Tourism Alliance because they have such a huge network and such a great focus on supporting local,” Hagos says.
The passport showcases some of Hagos’s favourite Black-owned restaurants in Ontario, many of them located in smaller towns and cities throughout the province.
In addition to Kejjis, she’s included spots like Bar Sazerac in Hamilton, Four All Ice Cream Scoop Shop in Waterloo and Angie’s Place Canadian Caribbean Eatery in Stayner.
The Black Foodie passport doesn’t just showcase appetizing food options, it also celebrates Black restaurant owners, who often face barriers to their success.
Labour shortages are a known problem in the hospitality industry right now, but Black business owners face additional challenges. Many struggle to find qualified labour, as their methods of cooking are rarely taught in Canadian culinary schools and immigration restrictions make it difficult to bring in qualified cooks from abroad.
That’s why Hagos is so passionate about supporting Black-owned food businesses. “They represent more than just good food,” she explains. “They are also an important source of jobs for new immigrants that allow them to stay connected to their culture in a new country.”
The passport is a stepping stone to discovering the plethora of Black-owned businesses in Ontario. “What makes [Ontario] such an amazing place to be is the fact that we have this diversity. But in order to sustain it, we need to have businesses that thrive.”
Advertising feature produced by Globe Content Studio. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.