Chef Ablawa Zounon Featured at AfriThrive’s Taste of Africa: An AfriThrive Food Experience
Rockville, MD – AfriThrive is honored to welcome Chef Ablawa Zounon, Culinary Instruction Manager at DC Central Kitchen, to the first-ever Taste of Africa: An AfriThrive Food Experience.
Chef Ablawa’s story is one of resilience, passion, and purpose. Born in Côte d’Ivoire and raised in Benin and Ghana, she migrated to the United States in 2007 and proudly became a U.S. citizen in 2023. Her journey with DC Central Kitchen began as a student in their Culinary Job Training program, where she excelled and was named MVP. Since then, she has risen from production cook to instructor and mentor, training dozens of students in culinary skills and food safety. Along the way, she has earned top honors including the Triple Bottom Line Award and the Marianne Ali North Star Award.
For the AfriThrive community, Chef Ablawa is already a familiar favorite. Her cooking demonstrations at our Food as Medicine Donor Farm Tour have drawn enthusiastic crowds eager to learn, taste, and be inspired. At Taste of Africa, audiences can once again experience her ability to weave culture, flavor, and health into every dish.
“Cooking is my passion. Sharing that knowledge is my purpose,” says Chef Ablawa.
Her journey from student to mentor mirrors AfriThrive’s own mission: to create healthier, more sustainable communities through access to nutritious, culturally relevant food, connection to heritage, and opportunities for growth.
Join Us at Taste of Africa
Taste of Africa: An AfriThrive Food Experience is more than a culinary event. It is a celebration of culture, community, and the power of food to heal and connect. Guests will enjoy dishes inspired by African traditions, dynamic cooking demonstrations, and stories that highlight the impact of AfriThrive’s work.
For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.afrithrive.org/tasteofafrica.
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