Behind a fluttering curtain, women cooked and plated Nigerian hors d’oeuvres in the small kitchen of Suya Joint, a new restaurant that opened last week in Roslindale Square.
“We’re all going to be multitasking,” said chef and co-owner Cecelia Lizotte who emigrated to the U.S. from Nigeria in 1999. Lizotte, her husband and two daughters live in Bellingham. As she spoke, she dipped a large ladle into a bubbling pot where akara – crispy black-eyed pea fritters – were frying away.
“The inspiration (to open the restaurant) came from my grandmother,” who owned an eatery in Nigeria, said Lizotte. Suya Joint takes the place of Bangkok Café, which recently closed.
While the chef made sure the aromatic dishes kept coming out to eager local workers who were invited for a preview, co-owner Moises Kaplan greeted visitors as they entered the cozy interior.
Kaplan, who emigrated to the U.S. from Colombia and now lives in Framingham, first met Lizotte when they worked together at National Lumber. Neither had any previous experience as a restaurant owner, although Lizotte had done catering. Kaplan, whose wife keeps kosher at home, loved Lizotte’s spicy, complex cooking so much, they decided to take the plunge and open the eatery.
“I am very excited,” about the venture, he said while smiling at the small group enjoying piquant mouthfuls.
One of the first to arrive at the opening was Todd Martin, who works at Roslindale’s Symphony Barbers and is also a resident. He and DPW worker James Horton, of Dorchester, munched on the akara, rich meat pies, moi moi (soft, steamed bean cakes) and beef suya, thin-sliced meat that is skewered and grilled and gives the restaurant its name.
“I like spicy food,” said Martin with a grin. Horton agreed, adding, “It’s spicy and filling.”
Lizotte said she chose the Roslindale location because it’s centrally located between several Nigerian communities in Dedham, Roxbury and Hyde Park. Many who attended the opening had never tried Nigerian cuisine before and said they’d be back.
Although she has a daunting challenge of balancing her culinary studies at Johnson and Wales University with running a new business, Lizotte said being the chef and co-owner of Suya Joint has made “my dreams come true.”
Details on Suya Joint
Address: 25 Poplar St., Roslindale
Phone: 617-327-8810
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 p.m.-8 p.m.
Menu and further information: suyajoint.com
Behind a fluttering curtain, women cooked and plated Nigerian hors d’oeuvres in the small kitchen of Suya Joint, a new restaurant that opened last week in Roslindale Square.
“We’re all going to be multitasking,” said chef and co-owner Cecelia Lizotte who emigrated to the U.S. from Nigeria in 1999. Lizotte, her husband and two daughters live in Bellingham. As she spoke, she dipped a large ladle into a bubbling pot where akara – crispy black-eyed pea fritters – were frying away.
“The inspiration (to open the restaurant) came from my grandmother,” who owned an eatery in Nigeria, said Lizotte. Suya Joint takes the place of Bangkok Café, which recently closed.
While the chef made sure the aromatic dishes kept coming out to eager local workers who were invited for a preview, co-owner Moises Kaplan greeted visitors as they entered the cozy interior.
Kaplan, who emigrated to the U.S. from Colombia and now lives in Framingham, first met Lizotte when they worked together at National Lumber. Neither had any previous experience as a restaurant owner, although Lizotte had done catering. Kaplan, whose wife keeps kosher at home, loved Lizotte’s spicy, complex cooking so much, they decided to take the plunge and open the eatery.
“I am very excited,” about the venture, he said while smiling at the small group enjoying piquant mouthfuls.
One of the first to arrive at the opening was Todd Martin, who works at Roslindale’s Symphony Barbers and is also a resident. He and DPW worker James Horton, of Dorchester, munched on the akara, rich meat pies, moi moi (soft, steamed bean cakes) and beef suya, thin-sliced meat that is skewered and grilled and gives the restaurant its name.
“I like spicy food,” said Martin with a grin. Horton agreed, adding, “It’s spicy and filling.”
Lizotte said she chose the Roslindale location because it’s centrally located between several Nigerian communities in Dedham, Roxbury and Hyde Park. Many who attended the opening had never tried Nigerian cuisine before and said they’d be back.
Although she has a daunting challenge of balancing her culinary studies at Johnson and Wales University with running a new business, Lizotte said being the chef and co-owner of Suya Joint has made “my dreams come true.”
Details on Suya Joint
Address: 25 Poplar St., Roslindale
Phone: 617-327-8810
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 p.m.-8 p.m.
Menu and further information: suyajoint.com
