Esther Ngemba

Hi, my name is Esther, and I'm the founder and CEO of Furahi: A Taste of Home.

My family came to the United States in 2011 as refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

I think what makes Cleveland amazing is how welcoming and sweet everyone is. It's such a beautiful community. I love the people here, and I also think the Cleveland food scene is amazing—probably the best.

So, Furahi: A Taste of Home is all about sharing my culture's cuisine with others. When I first launched it, the goal was to educate people about Congolese food and share the story of my country. It was about bringing the community together and introducing my new home to my birthplace. As we’ve grown and expanded, offering cooking classes and catering, it’s always been about sharing food, telling a story, and having a good time.

I always feel a little strange calling it a business, even though it brings in revenue, because to me, it’s more about connecting people and giving them a cultural experience.