"My time here was supposed to be temporary, but New Orleans quickly became a city that I associate myself with, that reminds me of home,"
"The food, the music, the hospitality, it just reminds me so much of Senegal. The people here embrace you quickly."
"I like cooking food that brings me joy, that connects people, that creates a dialog between me and a guest,"
"We're really supporting small mom and pop spots-places run by people like myself who took a risk opening a restaurant that adds to the city. Places that are doing their own thing, that are owner-operated, where the owner is still there doing the cooking."
Chef Serigne Mbaye, raised in Dakar, spent a decade in New Orleans and opened Dakar three years ago. Dakar presents a tasting menu that highlights Gulf seafood paired with modern Senegalese flavors and won the James Beard Best New Restaurant award in 2024. Mbaye cooked at institutions like Commander's Palace and emphasizes cooking that brings joy and connects people. Mbaye champions small, owner-operated, chef-driven restaurants that take risks and add to the city. Favorite local spots include places known for po'boys, Haitian-Cajun spice, and fresh Gulf fish butchered on-site.
Read at Conde Nast Traveler
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]