Zuleeats Founder Zule Ankamah
Photo credit: Zuleeats
Zule Ankamah grew up in Ghana remembering the taste and smells of her grandmothers’ cooking. When the pandemic hit in 2020 and she focused on her catering side hustle and little did she know it would be the beginning of her family business Zuleeats.
“My maternal grandmother baked bread. That is where I got my addiction to bread from,” Zule shares, laughing during the episode. In addition to bread, Zule’s grandmother would also make Ghanaian meat pies that would later in life be the centerpiece of her entrepreneur journey.
Zule’s paternal grandmother first introduced her to the spice, dawadawa, also known as the African locust bean. “I love, love, love dawadawa and I love to cook with it and to get it here [in Windsor] is when someone is coming from back home.”
She followed love, leaving Ghana for Canada and settled in Windsor. The mother of four worked for Caesars Windsor and also catered for individuals and small events on the side when she got laid off during pandemic. After the encouragement of her oldest daughter, the side hustle became the main thing and the beginning of her namesake business Zuleeats.
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The Secret to a Great Ghanaian Meat Pie
With her family behind her, Zule was ready to share her love of cooking with others, starting with the meat pies she now made as an adult. “Meat pies are very relatable to so many different cultures,” she says. “That became our niche and that is what we were known for.”
Selling out each week at the local farmer’s market was the turning point when Zule decided to leave the casino and follow her passion for cooking and together with her family, they have built the experience customers have come to love at Zuleeats located at 2760 Howard Avenue.
What makes Zuleeats Ghanaian meat pies so irresistible? “Everything is made from scratch, with me by hand. Nothing is automated. And because I know meat pies need butter, I always go, ‘Okay, how am I going to balance it out,’ so it is with the feeling. So we use good seasoning like cumin, turmeric, paprika; all the good seasonings so I feel good that it is all not butter.”
Zuleeats makes Ghanaian meat pies with chicken and beef as well as a vegetarian and vegan version. Zule also listened to customers and created spicy versions which she says are the top sellers.
It is truly a family affair and one that Zule is thankful for and wouldn’t have another way. Enjoy listening to the full episode and if you’re in Windsor or planning to be in town, be sure to stop by. To get to know more about Zule and her kids, follow their fun daily adventures on Instagram.
Select Zuleeats products are also available in select local stores and shipping is available within Canada.
Watch the teaser below and the full conversation on YouTube.
