by Chef Onyi of The Kitchen Finesser.

I was scrolling through Instagram and an ad popped up for a pop-up restaurant. I took a look at the menu and it looked very good. They got me hooked when I saw the main course included Jollof rice. I wanted to find out who was the chef behind this menu. That's when I found Chef Onyi.

Raised in San Diego, Chef Onyinyechukwu Akpa, a first-generation Nigerian-American, was surrounded by many different cultures that influenced her cooking. With a love for travel, she started as a server and lived in many cities like Washington, DC, Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Los Angeles to "absorb the flavors". After dropping out of culinary school, in 2017 she started The Kitchen Finesser and in 2020 she landed in the great city of Houston, Tx. As we all know Houston is one of the most culturally diverse places in the United States. When it comes to food, we got it all!

The pop-up restaurant, located at The Flat Houston, was such a beautiful outdoor space. The Kitchen Finesser team included Chef Ray and Chef Webster. They were such a joy to talk and hang out with during dinner.

Our dinner started with the Cajun Suppli, which reminded me of a fried boudin ball, but the flavors were put together so well. Tapping into my Cajun roots and boudin being a staple in our community, this dish set the tone for where the meal was going. Chef Onyi made the boudin rice from scratch took the dish to the next level.

Next, we were presented with the Shrimp Ceviche. This dish and the next had San Diego written all over them. The Shrimp Ceviche was on top of a flash-fried plantain cup. I enjoyed the texture of the plantain cup with the refreshing taste of the shrimp ceviche. The avocado cream sauce was perfect!

Our next dish was the La Street Salad. Mango, Watermelon, and sweet pineapple over a bed of arugula in a sweet and tangy tajin-lime vinaigrette. This dish made you visualize a cup of fresh fruit with Tajin and a Mangonada from a Mexican Fruit Cart! All of those things I love.

For the main course, we had Everything Suya. This dish took us home with the spicy and nutty flavor of the suya. If you have been reading with me for a while, you know how I feel about jollof rice. It is my favorite! Chef Onyi's Jollof rice made me so happy. I remember growing up and my Aunt Cici would have coolers full of rice for every occasion. This dish took me back in time and it told me a lot about the passion Chef Onyi has in her cooking.

This pop-up restaurant with Chef Onyi was not only an experience but it was storytelling. I was able to travel from California to Nigeria to Houston all in one meal. This meal really blessed our souls and it was an honor to try a meal that elevated the senses. She has a God-given skill that didn't need to be taught. Passion runs through her food. Please support Chef Onyi and The Kitchen Finesser by following her on Instagram @justonyi and @thekitchenfinesser, where you will find the available menus including the Thanksgiving menu. You will not regret allowing her to cater your next meal!