Away from Africa

Opening Gala Dinner The following information was provided by the ATA after a successful event in Cameroon in October 2013. AFRICA TRAVEL ASSOCIATION 38 TH  ANNUAL WORLD CONGRESS IN BUEA, SOUTHWEST CAMEROON International event convenes delegates from business, government and the non-profit sectors to explore Cameroon's newest attractions in the Southwest Region. Cameroon delegates emphasize importance of attracting U.S. tourist arrivals and investment. November 7, 2013  - The Africa Travel Association, the leader in tourism promotion to Africa, held its 38 th  Annual Congress in Buea, Cameroon from October 16-20, 2013. Under the banner of "Re-Discovering Cameroon," nearly 200 international and local delegates, including tourism ministers from Cameroon, Uganda and Zimbabwe and representatives from the public and private sectors, gathered at the newly-opened Mountain Hotel to explore how tourism is one of the most promising industries across Africa and...

We met Pierre Thiam about ten years ago in Brooklyn, when he was planning two eateries almost simultaneously. Since then, he has not stood still. He competed against Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America , wrote a cookbook, helped put together a festival of African cuisine in Dakar, and much more. I asked him a few questions about the road he travelled. Chef Thiam, photo courtesy Simran Jaising What is your background--where were you born, raised, in what languages? I was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal. The official language is French but in Senegal, everyone speaks Wolof. My mother is from the south of Senegal, where Portuguese Creole  is spoken, and she taught me this language, so I grew up speaking these three languages. Grilled Chicken Yassa with Lime and Onion Confit Over Jasmine Rice, inspired by   a typical Senegalese dish Photo: Adam Bartos When did you decide that you wanted to be a chef, that you loved cooking? How and ...