Curating a delectable blend of African flavours
A passion for feeding people
Although he spends his days in front of a stove, Evans Narh enjoys cooking for his family at home too.
Evans Narh believes in bringing people together through cuisine.In his 16 years as a chef at the British High Commission in Windhoek, he has done that, and so much more.
Originally from Ghana, Narh said he always wanted to be a chef, and is now living out his dream. He enjoys cooking for his beautiful wife and children, he added.
"As a chef, I am expected to provide professional chef services for the High Commission and the High Commissioner's events."
For larger occasions, the chef manages extra support, such as a sous chef and other kitchen personnel as needed.
"One of my favorite jobs as a chef is maintaining the vegetable garden," he said.
Narh prepared for his career as a chef by training at the Golden Tulip, a five-star hotel in Ghana.
Diverse food cultures
"My work environment is very supportive. My colleagues always give me feedback on new dishes, and they also encourage me to try new recipes and cuisines in order to expand my catalog," he said of his time at the High Commission.
Being a chef has several advantages, one of which is learning about diverse food cultures. Chefs frequently have the opportunity to travel abroad, which is an excellent opportunity to taste different foods and learn about them, Narh narrated.
He, however, admitted that he sometimes finds it challenging to be creative and come up with a variety of dishes for people from different backgrounds and different taste buds.
Another challenge is making sure that he maintains a high standard at all times. After so many years of working as a chef, he has managed to create strategies that help him in this regard.
Skill development
Chefs are constantly learning and planning. Narh said skill advancement is possible in his position. He has access to training, and he is also able to shadow other trained chefs and learn from them.
He highlighted his desire to one day write a cookbook with recipes he has created over his tenure as a chef.
This will include a variety of dishes from around the world. He said it would be a great legacy to leave for his children.