"Solcieti" : Marcus Samuelsson x ChopnBlok
CHÒPNBLỌK To Be Featured on Marcus Samuelsson’s TV Show: No Passport Required
By Jeanette Pasuizaca
View the Article on Solcieti Here
There’s a food renaissance happening in Houston. The diversity throughout the city has fueled a dynamic food scene that knows no boundaries and does it in a casual and unpretentious way, which is a signature characteristic of Houston. In a city filled with new food trucks every week, invite-only dinners and pop up restaurant events like the recent Slutty Vegan tour from Atlanta, Houstonians are redefining the contemporary dining experience.
While James Beard chefs get all the critical praise and shift the attention to Houston’s lively culinary scene, it is the everyday small business owners and up-and-coming concepts that give the city its special sauce. One such emerging concept is CHÒPNBLỌK, a contemporary fast-casual West African restaurant in the works. The name Chòp, which means “to eat” in pidgin English, also plays a double entendre on the local music native to Houston. While Blok is an ode to the street culture as well as the butcher’s chopping block. Owner Ope Amosu seamlessly bridges his love for his hometown to the love of his motherland Nigeria through CHÒPNBLỌK.
After almost a year of hosting private dinner parties where he has been gradually improving on recipes and operational execution, Amosu opened up the dinners to the public in his first Chòpd + Stewed pop up held at Cafeza last November. Having met the owners Ryan and Keisha Hazen through a mutual friend, Amosu got the green light to take over the cafe’s kitchen for the night to serve his eager guests. The highly anticipated dinner was a hit and guests loved every bite – even the items they couldn’t pronounce.
The authenticity of CHÒPNBLỌK’s menu has been present since day one. Knowing that he would face harsh critics on both the West African and non-African consumers, Amosu sought out real recipes, consulting home cooks across different countries in the region. As a result, his menu blends influences from Liberia, Ghana, and Nigeria through spices and cooking preparation styles that turn the flavor up on the appetizers, entrees and beverages served. While the average American can’t properly pronounce some of the foreign ingredients, Amosu takes it upon himself to educate diners about his purpose and the history of the foods they’re indulging in. The interactive dinners bring together people from different backgrounds brought together by their love of food.
This past Sunday, the CHÒPNBLỌK team invited Solcieti and a group of local publications, foodie influencers and entrepreneurs to host renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson for a special pop up at Cafeza. Chef Samuelsson spent a few days around the city making appearances at Macy’s and other local restaurants for his show No Passport Required on PBS. Going into its second season, the tv series takes viewers across the U.S. to explore and celebrate the wide-ranging diversity of immigrant traditions and cuisine woven into American food and culture. While filming in Houston for his second season, Samuelsson visited established Nigerian restaurant Safari and contemporary hotspot The Pass, owned by two of his former employees.
Chef Samuelsson led the dinner conversation along with CHÒPNBLỌK owner Amosu, who shared how he got started with the restaurant idea and how his heritage has influenced the menu. Other guests included Aces of Taste founder Ahrif Sarumi and former NFL player Fendi Onobun, who talked about their perspectives on their juggling their dual West African / American identities and the impact it had on them growing up. All guests enjoyed the delicious Àkàrà Sliders and mini Meat Pies as appetizers, sipped the Blok’s signature Oga Palmers and Gin + Juice, and split tastings of the Trad Bowl and Black Star Bowl. After dinner, Nigerian violinist Demola played covers of contemporary hit songs for the group and Chef Samuelsson and Amosu showed off their dance moves.
The CHÒPNBLỌK pop up dinner series continues this Sunday, March 24th and is already sold out to 100 lucky diners who will experience this West African culinary phenomenon. They can expect the same lively and hospitable atmosphere extended to Chef Samuelsson and enjoy the afro-jazz vibes of Lolade during dinner. If you were not able to grab tickets for this month’s dinner, follow the Blok on social media @chopnblok on Instagram or sign up for their newsletter on their website ChopNBlok.co to get first dibs on the next edition. There’s no doubt that CHÒPNBLỌK will continue to bring the beauty of West Africa to Houston through their delicious authentic dishes delivered in a contemporary fashion.