A letter of context for this final Afrobeats Brunch at Asempe from Chef Kuukua Dzigbordi Yomekpe & the Asempe Kitchen Team
Dear Asempe Ebusua, After a lot of reflection, we’re sharing an important update: Asempe Kitchen in Ithaca will be closing its current restaurant operations. While this is a bittersweet decision, we want to lead with gratitude. We are deeply thankful for the opportunity to bring Asempe Kitchen to life in Ithaca—to share West African flavors, introduce plant-forward traditions, and create a space where food, culture, and community could meet.
Our last day of service will be Sunday, February 1, 2026. We will go out in traditional Asempe style with our final Afrobeats in our Press Bay space from 11am-3pm.
Tickets are $20 or $25 at the door for a combo meal purchased ahead via venmo (@asempe kitchen). Sobolo drink as well as other drinks via Open Spaces Cider extra. We will also have an auction on Sunday, February 8th, 2026 from 12pm-4pm.
Although we are not exactly sure of our next few moves, we are working with Shared Kitchen Ithaca and Cornell Cooperative Extension for cooking classes.
