Historical February–March 2009 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
A belated but hearty welcome to Nubia Cafe.
The ethnic restaurant located at 5860 Delmar in the Delmar Design District opened last April and serves authentic West African and Caribbean Cuisine. Nubia Cafe is owned by Hon. Henry E. Iwenofu, who is also a councilman in Normandy in North County. Iwenofu’s family has ties to Nigeria and to Jamaica so the restaurant offers dishes from both West African and Caribbean cuisine. “I wanted to give people a taste of two areas,” said Iwenofu. Food is prepared under the direction of Iwenofu’s mother Christiana, “the cook in the family.” Iwenofu noted that the fare at his restaurant demonstrates the ethnic African ties between the two distinct geographic regions.
In both cuisines, most of the food is boiled according to Iwenofu. “There are less fried products.” What is the different between these two culinary traditions? “Mainly it’s the seasoning,” stated Iwenofu. Among the restaurant’s bestsellers are Jamaican-style jerk chicken and egusi stew, a Nigerian specialty made with chicken, beef or goat meat, nniji (pounded yam) and melon seeds in a tomato sauce served with steamed rice. Adventurous eaters can try a variety of authentic dishes by ordering the Nubia Sampler, which includes chicken wings, plantain fries, suya (a West African-style kebob), akara (deep-fried bean fritters) and Jamaican patties, and is filling enough to serve two people as a main dish. Iwenofu was already acquainted with Skinker-DeBalivere when he selected the Delmar Design District as the location for his restaurant. “When I first moved to St. Louis, I lived in DeBaliviere Place.
This location is easily accessed from The Loop and the Central West End.
I knew it to be a diverse area, a good place to attract students.” For those unfamiliar with African or Caribbean food, Iwenofu recommended the chicken curry. “It is easy for beginners.
The chicken curry is available also as a wrap–that’s a fusion: to make it to what people are used to.” The curry is also a good picks for kids, according to Iwenofu, who also suggested that youngsters would enjoy moi-moi (black-eyed pea cake), a salmon burger or bison burger, the Jamaican Chicken Patty and plantain fries.
The restaurant has a healthy selection of vegetarian dishes, including a veggie burger, yam potage with spinach or collard greens, and red beans and rice.
A variety of domestic beer and imported wine and beer from South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya are on the drink list. Exotic beverages like a nonalcoholic Jamaican ginger beer and bottled palm juice are also available. Nubia Cafe adds to the Friday nightclub scene with a DJ who plays African and Latin music. Open poetry readings are held on Saturday evenings. Nubia Cafe 5860 Delmar 314.367.8200 www.nubia.biz Hours: Lunch: Tue. to Sat. – 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Dinner: Tue. to Sat. – 5 to 10 p.m. Nubia Cafe owner Hon. Henry E. Iwenofu opened the neighborhood restaurant in April, 2008. Iwenofu is a former resident of DeBaliviere Place.
Original photograph caption
Nubia Cafe on Delmar.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2009.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source prints different for difference and good picks in singular sentence; retained as printed.
Original source: SD_Times2009_02.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
