Adjo Honsou
5(ish) Questions for is a chance to discover and learn about St. Louis Creatives, Community Champions, and, well, just interesting people in and around our city. It's a deep dive into what they love and where their passion lies. It's an opportunity for all of us to see our region from a different perspective. This written interview is a peek into their lives and their outlook on St. Louis.
Meet Adjo Honsou, born and raised in Togo, West Africa, and now based in St. Louis, Honsou is the creator of FUFU n' Sauce dedicated to sharing the vibrant flavors of West African cuisine through a food truck, catering services, and a signature spice and tea line. As a winner of PBS's The Great American Recipe and recipient of various prestigious awards, Honsou’s journey exemplifies resilience, creativity, and a commitment to using food as a bridge to celebrate cultural diversity and foster inclusivity.
Hi Adjo, tell us a little about yourself!
Born and raised in Togo, West Africa, I moved to the United States at the age of fourteen, where I faced the challenge of adapting to a new culture while longing for the flavors of home. Sourcing African ingredients in Missouri proved difficult, but it sparked my determination to recreate the authentic tastes of my homeland.
Inspired by my grandmother, who taught me the art of cooking traditional West African dishes, I began to experiment with local ingredients and substitute flavors. This led me to create FUFU n'Sauce, a dynamic culinary brand that brings the bold and authentic flavors of West Africa to the St. Louis community and beyond through our food truck, catering services, and signature line of spices and teas.
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to share my heritage on a national stage as a contestant on PBS's The Great American Recipe. I am proud to have won Season 3 of this celebrated show, where I introduced the world to the vibrant flavors of West Africa, particularly through my winning dish, Oxtail in Palm Nut Stew. This experience reinforced my commitment to sharing my culture through food and my passion for showing the beauty of West African cuisine.
Photo provided by Adjo Honsou.
What gets you out of bed every morning?
Living in the purpose of sharing my west African culture with the Saint Louis community because representation is extremely important.
How do you push through creative blocks or periods of low motivation?
Travel. When I hit a big mental or creative block, I like to change my environment. I have discovered that traveling introduces different sets of exposure to things, places, people, food culture.
Who has been your greatest mentor, and what was the most valuable lesson they taught you?
My mom has been my greatest example . She migrated to this country with two suitcases and a dream and has managed to own her own braiding salon for the past 22 years. If she can do it, I can.
Photo provided by Adjo Honsou.
What are some of your goals for the next year, or the next 5 years?
A brick and mortar location for FUFU n’ Sauce is very important to me for the year 2025. In the next five years I see it continuing to be a big pillar in the St. Louis community by sharing cultural diversity and resonating with our St. Louis community.
In 2024, FUFU n' Sauce took over the cafeteria at Saint Louis University, delivering the authentic taste of West Africa directly to campus. The experience was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from both domestic and international students, particularly those from countries who often find it challenging to access familiar cuisine while studying abroad. Research shows that 68% of international students miss the comfort of traditional meals from their home countries. I am committed to bridging this gap. By bringing FUFU n' Sauce to college campuses and universities, I aim not only to educate students on food diversity and the importance of embracing other cultures but also to offer international students a comforting taste of home away from home. I see it in all of the universities across The Midwest in the future so we can provide healthy, alternative and diverse meals for the students.
What moment or decision has most profoundly changed the trajectory of your life or career?
Leaving corporate America and deciding to focus on my brands full-time has been both a blessing and a curse. Entrepreneurship is not this one size fit all. Each day is a lesson to learn and each lesson prepares you for the next step.
What inspires you about St. Louis?
The people of St. Louis inspire me. Their ability to persevere, their ability to be open minded to new things, and their ability to strive in spite it all.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Ice cream over some sweet fried plantain. You can experience this at the FUFU N’ SAUCE kitchen.
Photo provided by Adjo Honsou.
What’s one hobby or activity you’ve recently discovered or deepened your interest in?
Content creation for FUFU N’ SAUCE.
Can you share a time when experiencing or witnessing diversity significantly influenced your perspective or approach?
I remember moving to this country at the age of 14 and being ridiculed for my lunch that I brought to school. That’s not only shaped my life tremendously, it is the catalyst to starting FUFU N’ SAUCE today.
How do you ensure that your work or team embraces inclusivity and diversity?
We ensure this by making it a part of our mission statement. Not only do we live by diversity and inclusivity, we embody it in every aspect of our brain, with the food, the staff and the different environments that we go into.
I was honored to receive the 2024 Trailblazer Award from the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP), recognizing individuals who are making a significant impact in the culinary world. This recognition reflects my dedication to using food as a bridge to foster inclusivity, celebrate diverse cultures, and create welcoming environments where everyone is encouraged to explore the richness of other cuisines.
I also received the Emerging Leader - Kiongozi Award by Vitendo 4 Africa for my commitment to supporting immigrant communities in St. Louis through my work with FUFU n' Sauce. Each year, Vitendo 4 Africa recognizes leaders who stand out in their dedication to advancing and uplifting immigrant and refugee communities locally and internationally. I am overjoyed that this great organization views me as a community advocate and culinary innovator with a powerful voice for inclusivity and cultural exchange, earning a place among a select group of inspiring heroes celebrated for their transformative contributions.
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