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Launched in 2021, ByBlacks Restaurant Week is a celebration of Black-owned eateries, caterers, pop-ups, food trucks, and restaurants in Canada. Produced by ByBlacks.com, Canada’s top-ranked online magazine for Black Canadians covering business, community, social, and the arts and founded by Roger and Camille Dundas, kicks off this year on Monday, May 12, shifting to an annual format.
“ByBlacks Restaurant Week has grown from only ten participants in two provinces to over 50 participating food businesses across six provinces,” says Roger about the growth over four years.
New Brunswick is among the latest provinces to join the event focusing on spotlighting Black restaurants in Canada serving up cuisines that represent their cultural heritage and connection to their homeland.
MOE’s Delicacies and Dee’s Kitchen in Fredericton and Chopshaven in Saint John are participating restaurants from the province of New Brunswick. All three are among a growing list of restaurants in Canada adding to the country’s culinary diversity.
MOE’s Delicacies
Omowale Enoch is the business owner and head chef at MOE’s Delicacies. Originally from Nigeria, Enoch has over 15 years of experience in office Administration and management, communications, client servicing, and human resources.
She moved to Canada with her family in 2018 and as a food enthusiast and passionate cook, she has a strong belief that food is a powerful tool in connecting people of diverse colors and cultures.
MOE’s Delicacies was founded in 2020 during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Enoch saw a need to cater to the rising food needs of friends and newcomers in the community who were then in quarantine and craving a touch of home.
She saw that demand surpassed supply, and since she and her husband planned to build a home, she curated a kitchen to manage orders. “We factored that I would have a kitchen at the lower level, so that’s where I cooked from until I started my restaurant.”
Enoch worked her 9-to-5 job, cooking on the side until May 2024, when she started pursuing her dream of having a restaurant. MOE’s Delicacies opened its doors on February 21 of this year.
“Having catered at large events from a gathering of 500 to weddings, birthdays, and all sorts of family events, it was a piece of great news for people to hear of the restaurant opening.”
She adds, “Referrals have worked greatly for us, and for me, that’s magic. Even recently, visitors from Newfoundland, on their third trip to New Brunswick, were thrilled to finally find an African restaurant, something they hadn’t encountered before. It’s part of the broader need for more African restaurants in Canada.”
MOE’s Delicacies offers traditional Nigerian entrees as well as Canadian dishes. “To cater to Canadians and locals, I introduced some local dishes that appeal to various taste buds,” she says. “For instance, I offer daily specials like spaghetti with chicken breast and mixed veggies.”
Enoch says this approach has allowed her to reach beyond Nigerians and Black communities. “Since opening in a plaza with offices, I’ve served diverse customers, including Caucasians, who appreciate our authentic Nigerian meals and have provided positive feedback. It’s fulfilling to see people from different tribes and cultures enjoying our food.” That multicultural appeal is part of what makes MOE’s Delicacies a standout Black business in Canada.
For ByBlacks Restaurant Week, MOE’s Delicacies is offering a three-course meal. “I will be offering a mixed meat pepper soup as an appetizer. It includes offal and different parts of the cow that are considered delicacies back home in Nigeria,” she says.
“When I came to Canada, I found that some cow parts, valued for their flavor back home, are not commonly eaten here. Therefore, the pepper soup includes a variety of meats. I also plan to add shrimp fried rice, which sells quickly here. I have chin-chin, which is made from flour and fried for dessert.”
Prix fixe costs: $20 plus harmonized sales tax (HST)
Address: Beside UPS, 900 Hanwell Rd Unit 9C, Fredericton, NB E3B 6A2, Canada
Instagram: MOE’s Delicacies
Dee’s Kitchen
Adedayo Agbaje moved from Nigeria to Canada ten years ago and was surprised by the lack of diversity. “When I first moved to Fredericton, I was shocked—there were no Black businesses in Canada nearby, no African restaurants or food; basically nothing familiar,” she says.
“Before that, I had passed through Ontario and stayed there for a few months, so I had seen how things were more developed regarding cultural diversity. Coming to Fredericton felt like a completely different experience.”
Agbaje completed a one-year business analysis program at the Community College of New Brunswick and began working, but the limited food access created challenges. “It was tough. When I wanted to cook local dishes, I had to travel miles just to find the ingredients. It wasn’t easy.” She decided to be the solution to the problem.
For over five years, Agbaje envisioned and worked. She began catering for events like birthdays, working out of commercial kitchens. Her business grew as more African immigrants moved into her part of the province.
“I started with selling dry food items, and people responded well. They kept asking for more variety, and we made it happen gradually. Now, people can get many African ingredients locally, which has made a big difference.”
On March 1 of this year, Agbaje was able to start running the business more formally. Dee’s Kitchen focuses on Nigerian cuisine and offers a personal chef and catering service, private dining experiences and bulk orders. Dee’s Kitchen now stands as one of many rising food businesses in Canada.
Honest about the growing pains of business, she says, “One challenge, though, has been consistency. Even when we had the products, people wouldn’t always show up, and at the same time, they would still ask for a restaurant where they could dine in. Since opening the restaurant, I can honestly say not many people come to dine in—they mostly order takeout. It’s been a bit tough, but it’s also part of growing a new restaurant in Canada in a new community.”
Dee’s Kitchen is offering coconut rice and plantains for the ByBlacks Restaurant Week.
Prix Fixe: $20 plus harmonized sales tax (HST)
Address: 654 Riverside Drive Fredericton, NB E3A 8C2, Canada
Instagram: Chef Dee’s Kitchen
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Chopshaven
Nigerian-born and raised, Ajoke Adejumo moved to Canada in 2014. She graduated from New Brunswick Community College and held various positions in Canadian contact centers, building a diverse professional background.
“Before I came to Canada, I had always told myself I would want to have something for myself,” she says. “I would prefer having a business for myself than working for someone.”
With the lack of African restaurants in Canada, Adejumo reflects on how close-knit her community became. “Many of us were students, and there were also families where both parents worked,” she says.
That changed in 2017 as more Black residents, particularly Nigerians, moved to Saint John, New Brunswick. This close community inspired her passion for cooking and hosting.
“Cooking for friends has always brought me joy. They often complimented my food, and I began receiving requests like, ‘Hey AJ, I’m not home,’ or ‘My schedule is tight, can you make that meal you made the other day?’ They’d ask about costs, bring ingredients, or offer money. That’s when I thought maybe there’s something here. As more friends requested my cooking, I realized there was a real need for the service I provided.”
While in school, Adejumo cooked part-time, from meal-prepping to shopping for ingredients, and eventually bulk cooking. Her friends suggested she start a business. “They’d say, ‘You’re using your time, electricity, everything, while we only give you ingredients. You should charge for your time, too. I thought, ‘That’s not a bad idea.’ So I started charging and gradually built a small clientele.”
She adds, “I quickly learned that good reviews and advertising help, but word of mouth drives the food business in Canada more than anything. People began reaching out, saying, ‘I got your number from someone who said your jollof rice is amazing.’”
Adejumo says that’s how Chopshaven came into existence. “I started taking it seriously in 2018. By 2019, it had grown bigger than I ever expected. Then the pandemic hit. People were afraid to go out, but were still comfortable picking up food or placing orders. That period opened my eyes to the many possibilities for Chopshaven,” she says.
“I took a bold step and officially registered the business in 2020. That’s when I knew it was no longer just a side hustle—it was something real. Today, Chopshaven is proud to be the first Nigerian restaurant in Canada based in Saint John, New Brunswick. We’re growing, evolving, and excited for what’s next.”
For ByBlacks Restaurant Week, Chopshaven is offering a two-course meal. “For the starter, we’ll begin with small chops,” Adejumo explains. “This usually includes spring rolls, puff-puff, and chicken wings. For the main course, we’ll serve Nigerian jollof rice and fried rice, accompanied by chicken.”
Also included is a Zobo drink. “It’s a blend of real pineapple juice and a hint of ginger for a kick. It’s a delightfully sweet drink.”
Prix Fixe: $17 plus harmonized sales tax (HST)
Address: 32 Grannan Street, Saint John, NB E2L 1H7, Canada
Instagram: Chopshaven
Creating Space for Restaurants in Canada to Shine
ByBlacks Restaurant Week spans all six Canadian provinces, with Ontario offering the most extensive variety of restaurants in Canada participating. “There has been a sharp increase in dine-in options in Toronto over the past five to ten years, featuring new African cuisine restaurants,” shares Roger, who also lives in the province.
Visit the ByBlacks website and follow along on Instagram and TikTok for a full list and highlights of participating restaurants featuring a range of offerings, from entrees and juices to desserts, from African, Caribbean, and specialty food business owners.
By highlighting Black businesses in Canada and uplifting diverse food, ByBlacks Restaurant Week continues to support economic growth and culinary creativity across the country.
