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Nadia Nijimbere and Mamba Hamissij (Facebook photo)
Mamba Hamissi and Nadia Nijimbere, the husband and wife team who own Baobab Fare on Woodward in Detroit's New Center area, have been named one of five finalists for the James Beard Outstanding Restauteur for 2024.
Baobab serves east African food.
The award is given to a "restaurateur who uses their establishment(s) as a vehicle for building community, demonstrates creativity in entrepreneurship, integrity in restaurant operations, and is making efforts to create a sustainable work culture, while contributing positively to their broader community."
In 2022, Baobab was named No. 1 on the Detroit Free Press' list of best new restaurants. That same year Esquire magazine ranked Baobab Fare 14 on the list of 40 honorees for best new restaurants.
Other finalists include:
● Quynh-Vy and Yenvy Pham, Phở Bắc Súp Shop, Phởcific Standard Time, and The Boat, Seattle,
WA
● Chris Viaud, Greenleaf, Ansanm, and Pavilion, Milford and Wolfeboro, NH
● Hollis Wells Silverman, Eastern Point Collective (The Duck & The Peach, La Collina, The Wells,
and others), Washington, D.C.
● Erika Whitaker and Kelly Whitaker, ID EST (The Wolf's Tailor, BRUTØ, Basta, and others),
Boulder, CO.
