Asempe Kitchen Restaurant, Catering & Cooking Classes — Local services in City of Ithaca

I’m a bit of an elitist snob when it comes to the Ithaca food scene. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there are some lovely gems here. But, I lived in NYC for a number of years, as well as the Hudson Valley area near Ulster County (where you can find many restaurants headed by alumni of the Culinary Institute of America), and I had been absolutely spoiled by the dining experiences in those areas.

Let me tell you: eating at Asempe Kitchen was one of the best meals I have had IN MY LIFE. Truly every dish is jam-packed with flavors, delicate and bold, many layers of spice and savory warmth. The ingredients are high quality, and I can vouch for this because I just attended a cooking class at Asempe yesterday—I have never before touched a piece of garlic that was so tender and soft.

Chef Kuukua, who is the owner (and likely the first person you’ll be greeted by upon entering), is such a lovely person. She is genuinely inviting, accommodating, friendly, funny and warm. She absolutely sets the vibe. You just feel like you’re in good company at her restaurant.

And let me tell you: what we cooked in her class was delicious. I HIGHLY recommend trying out a cooking class—but don’t sleep on it, because spots fill up fast.

Also available to purchase are the Asempe proprietary spice blend, as well the best coconut and peanut brittle I’ve ever tasted. It’s like samoa girl scout cookies, except it doesn’t make you feel bad when you eat it.

I will be singing Asempe’s praises to anyone who may listen. I wish Chef Kuukua and her team tremendous success, because they...

I am so grateful for the day that I had the good fortune to meet this awesome person and get acquainted with her amazing culinary creations. This food is sooo good! I am very busy and do not often have time to cook (or even want to). I order out too much and when I get the opportunity to order from Asempe Kitchen Catering (when she is already preparing food and I can add in an order of whatever she is making), it is always a good day. It never matters that I don’t pick what I get as every meal has been amazing. Home cooked, healthy natural ingredients and a taste that reminds me of what life is all about. It nourishes my body and speaks to my soul. Every flavor is a symphony of delight to my tastebuds. Outstanding. Asempe Kitchen Catering, thank you and looking forward to...

Wednesdays at the Hills Market Downtown are now bearable, thanks to the wonderfully talented Chef Kuukua. If you like rice, sauce and flavor, you will LOVE Asempe Kitchen. The meals are far more complex than that, but if you're afraid of new food like i sometimes am, don't be! Don't know what to get? its cool, Kuukua will pick something for you and it'll be DELICIOUS.

During my first visit, she took the time to explain the dishes and asked me my name. she's not forgotten it since. Whenever i visit Asempe for lunch, Kuukua takes the time to explain her dishes and makes me believe she cooked all this food for me.

i highly recommend trying them at Platform brewing on Mondays (for now) and Wednesdays for lunch at the Hills.

Ask for the plantains and tell her Rian...