For the last 14 years, culinary artist Dozzy Ibekwe has been working to make West African dishes more popular in the city. He says that from Montrose Avenue to the South Suburbs, there are only about five West African restaurants. He’s hoping to change that with help from the Rebuild Foundation’s Retreat at Currency Exchange Café.

“Rebuild is all about bringing life into dead spaces,” Ibekwe said. “I’ve seen that manifest in my experience here.”

Located on East Garfield Boulevard, just blocks away from Hyde Park, Currency Exchange Café serves as an incubator for culinary artists looking to expand their crafts without the stresses that come with starting a business.

“We used the various spaces inside of this building to support a multitude of artists,” says Barédu Ahmed, programming manager with Retreat at Currency Exchange Café and head of music programming for the Rebuild Foundation.  “So we have a bar, instead of determining what it’ll be, the residents come in and with the tools we offer, conform this space to them. They already have a lot to think about. So to be able to relieve them, creates a lane for them to think more clearly and feel supported by us.”

From a colorful beet salad to a jorrito wrap filled with chicken and jollof rice, Ibekwe says he’s begun to expand his creative palette without having to worry about his financial one.

(WTTW News)

“Rebuild is also about Black art, and what we do is an art,” Ibekwe says. “Hospitality is indeed an art. It’s all of the above– from ideation to testing recipes to developing a menu, to building a menu that connects with myself and the community.”

The cafe also serves as a work and event space for the community. Zandro Zafra of Ctrl Z Coffee says he appreciates the opportunity to test different coffee recipes that are reflective of his Filipino heritage with his customers.

“We want to have more flavor in it, so it can be ube pandan, which is a Filipino dessert we use in the Philippines,” Zafra said. “Pandan is more of a leaf. It’s like vanilla with a chocolate twist. First sip, they’re all blown out. It’s something different they’ve haven’t had before, something unique and something they can love.”

(WTTW News)

While the first cohort consisted of three culinary artists, this round only features Dozzy and Zandro. They say it’s allowed them to create menus that meet their own aspirations but complement each other’s skills as well.

“We’ve been collaborating on all the ways we can help each other grow,” Ibekwe says. “We’ve done coffee pastries and some savory breakfast pastries as well.”

While the end goal is to open brick and mortar locations, the culinary artists say they’re grateful to experience a residency that’s committed to both their creative and entrepreneurial goals.

“It’s important to feel psychologically safe,” Ibekwe says. “Whether as an employee or entrepreneur, I can say this is a true Retreat.”

(WTTW News)

Follow Angel Idowu on Twitter: @angelidowu3

Angel Idowu is the JCS Fund of the DuPage Foundation Arts Correspondent.