The Great American Recipe Winner Adjo Honsou
Photo credit: FUFU n’ Sauce
Adjo Honsou proudly represented her home country of Togo and the West African dishes she grew up eating on “The Great American Recipe,” and is now celebrating as the winner of season 3.
“Before I left St. Louis for Nashville, I said to myself, I’ve always been authentically African, authentically myself in everything that I do. It doesn’t necessarily go with the grain, but I have never been one to go with the grain anyway. And so, I told myself, ‘Hey, we’re going to go there, we’re going to do it proudly and it doesn’t matter if they like it or don’t like it as long as I feel like I’m representing Togo and any Togolese person that is going to watch this show on TV,” she shares in the episode.
It was a message that started it all from a casting agent who slid into her Instagram DM. Not quite sure what to think, she followed through prepared at any minute to walk away at the hint of a scam. But it was truly legit and after passing the screening and qualification process, Adjo would officially join the contestant cast for season 3.
LISTEN: Artist and Writer Tunde Wey
Adjo Honsou Wants Fufu For Everyone
Wanting to build community in her city of St. Louis, Adjo started a gathering called FUFU n’ Chat in 2021 that first introduced friends and others to the foods she grew up eating in Togo. The gathering quickly grew and so did people’s appreciation and demand for Adjo’s food.
A scientist by profession, when a friend encouraged Adjo to offer her food beyond the gatherings, she eventually began to seriously look into how to make it work, and in May of 2022, FUFU n’ Sauce was born, offering food truck and catering services that include attending some of St. Louis’ largest festivals.
This summer, Fufu foodies (as she calls them) and culinary enthusiasts watched her take fufu and other traditional West African dishes to the big screen, letting the country know that African cuisine is very much a part of the American food story.
Catch up on Adjo’s season now online and then visit her online at FUFU n’ Sauce and follow her journey on Instagram.
