My name is Abena Anim-Somuah and I live life in pursuit of the next meal. I believe that food has the power to shape hearts and change minds. I was born in Ghana and was raised for the most part in Canada. I am an avid gastronome with my head deep in a book or in a rabbit hole learning about interesting topics. I love talking about fashion, food, architecture, or even the latest pop gosss.
I am the Founder and CEO of The Eden Place, a community that is all about gathering people intentionally through food. We've hosted a myriad of events that allow people to feel comfortable in spaces that foster community and an appreciation for food. Additionally, I am the host of The Future of Food is You, a podcast talking to emerging talents in the world of food, drink, and hospitality. I recently won a James Beard award as an Emerging Voice in Food Broadcast Media.
In terms of my dreams and aspirations, I really want to create a third space that is centered around food and community. Think of it like your grandma's house meets a txotko, the traditional Basque eating club. I also want to work on books and TV shows that are centered on food as they intersect with womanhood, travel, and community.
HOW DO YOU EMBRACE DIVERSITY AND/OR UNCONVENTIONALITY?
I think my entire life has been unconventional and I've always been someone who has chosen to do something different. I was one of the few people in my high school class to move to New York City, one of the first people in my college class to move to a big city, and one of the few people within my circles to start a company. I think I have used my experiences being unconventional to create safe spaces for people to share their stories and feel comfortable. I feel like my current stint in being unconventional resulted in my second company, The Eden Place, where we hosted dinners at restaurants around the United States to foster people feeling less lonely and supporting restaurants who want to gather people intentionally.
HOW DO YOU EXPRESS YOURSELF CREATIVELY?
I love to cook and take care of my people by hosting dinner parties and sharing meals, I play tennis, go for long runs, and spend time deep in thought reading. I think doing these things helps me become a better writer and dream up cool ways that food can be a vessel to foster community.
HOW DO YOU THINK YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY? WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOU ARE AN EXPERT IN AND COULD GIVE ADVICE TO THE COMMUNITY ON?
By channelling my inner camp counselor, I want to support the community with all my gifts. Whether it is helping curate menus or food for our events, hosting or organizing meetups for people who want to engage in moving their body, or hosting book clubs that empower us to think differently about the world, I want to ensure that good vibes and deep conversation are always center stage. I also think that showing up to events on a consistent basis is a great way to show support. Communities thrive when people show up and fully engage with the mission and spirit of that particular community.
SHARE A VERY VALUABLE INSIGHT YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE WORLD: