We had the good fortune of connecting with Ida Benson-Jaja and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Ida, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I grew up in the beautiful small town of Savannah, Georgia. My family is initially from Nigeria. Growing up as the youngest of six kids in a large family shaped life as I know it today. I often looked forward to large family gathering, sharing meals together, and playing competitive games at the house. There was never a dull moment! This shaped my current desire and passion for bringing family culture wherever I go. For me, this starts with food. Cooking is an avenue and a meeting space for connections of all types. The satisfaction that I receive from serving somebody or cooking for someone that I know that brought encouragement to their soul is meaningful fulfillment. Growing up in the south and embracing my Nigerian culture. A lot what I do relating to food is a fusion of the two. Mixing a collectivist culture with southern hospitality, enjoying together the laid back. Love of the South with the vibrant colorful energy of Nigeria. My upbringing allows me today to build family culture through food.
What should our readers know about your business?
The name of the business is Home Kitchen. Choosing the name was very intentional. It speaks to what the business is intended to fulfill. We want to be a Home to those without a home. Hospitality is huge and building a home culture and we pride ourselves on bringing encouragement and warmth to all of our encounters with people that we serve and cater for. We also have a heart to serve in the community and look for opportunities to give to the unhoused community and be a home to them with food and love.
Starting this business took time, prayer, and advice from people. One of the challenges was just figuring out which direction to take the business when there’s so many different options. Sometimes when you’re a creative, it can be easy to lose your passion in the paperwork. I love that in this season of my life, I am courageously following my dreams and allowing the creative forms that God has placed deep inside of my soul to be expressed through the art of cooking. What I’ve learned along the way is to not shy back from the passions that are on your heart, be willing to take risks, to rely on the community that has been placed around you. Authentically being yourself and letting your gifts give to others is true freedom and gives others the confidence to do the same. Home kitchen desires to be a light in many ways and we want people to know that there is a home even when life tells you that there isn’t.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would wake up and go for a bike ride along the Chattahoochee River and get to explore some of the sites. We then we’ll go grab some breakfast at Toast on Lennox and try a sweet potato waffle with some fried chicken. For entertainment we would go catch a Atlanta United game or go to Puttshack for some mini golf. We would find some local thrift stores and pick up some cool threads and head to the belt line to walk, people watch, and find a spot at either Ponce City market or Krog Street market to get a bite to eat!
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate this Shout-out to Dominique J. Hardy who constantly breathes life into my dreams and goals. She is a visionary and has always spoke life into any idea that God has placed in my mind or on my heart.
Instagram: @Homekitchenatl