Hola! I’m Ceci, originally from Buea, Cameroon, and now calling Santa Fe, New Mexico my home for over 25 years.

I grew up in Buea, a small town that was once the capital of former West Cameroon, ruled in different eras by the Germans, the British, and the French. Blessed with a refreshing climate, Buea sits at the foot of the majestic Mount Cameroon, whose towering presence has always inspired me.

I was raised by my beloved maternal grandmother, affectionately known by her praise name, Mami Ncha. Whenever she wasn’t tending to her farms or selling produce at the market, she was in the kitchen — and that’s where I loved to be. My earliest tasks were fetching spices and preparing ingredients for her meals. Over time, I became skilled enough to have food ready by the time she returned from the farm. Seeing her impressed smile made me proud and deepened my love for cooking.

My family’s livelihood came mostly from farming. We grew plantains, bananas, coco yams, potatoes, groundnuts, and a wide variety of vegetables, along with fruits such as guava, papaya, avocado, pineapple, mango, and plums. I witnessed firsthand the journey from seed to harvest to table — a lesson that shaped the way I value food today.

In Santa Fe, I’ve continued to share the flavors of my heritage. I taught African Cuisine at Santa Fe Community College for over seven years, cooked with children in the public schools, catered events, and sold food at the International Folk Market for more than a decade. Through my blog and upcoming cookbook, I hope to introduce more people to the vibrant tastes of Cameroonian cuisine and other global flavors.

Cooking is not just what I do — it’s who I am. It’s a way to connect, to preserve culture, and to share love one plate at a time.