New Queens Shop Serves Nigerian Food

Beatrice Ajaero grew up on Roosevelt Island, where she still lives, and has an African food and gift stall, Ibari, which she opened after obtaining a law degree and an M.B.A., in the Saturday market. Her new store, Nneji, in Astoria, Queens, has a limited menu, for takeaway, featuring West African red stew with chicken, peppery yassa with chicken, egusi melon seed and spinach soup with salmon, and a spinach and okra dish. Fonio, basmati rice and garri, which is cassava with a couscouslike texture, can be added. There are salads and occasional tagines. “I always wanted to share the tastes of my childhood,” said Ms. Ajaero, 29, whose family is Nigerian and who studied the Nigerian language Igbo, African history and political science. The name of the store means “mother” in Igbo.

Nneji, 32-20 34th Avenue, Astoria, Queens, 917-832-7338, nneji.business.site.

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source: nytimes.com