Tenant Success StoriesBringing Cultures Together Through the Joy of Food

Making sure that all the regions of her native country of Africa were represented in her restaurant was important to BChic Bar & Grill owner Beatrice Forchu.

So, prior to opening the restaurant and deciding on the menu, she did some traveling to the different countries of Africa and watched and learned.

“Cooking is pretty much second nature for me,” said Forchu. “It has been part of my family growing up. My aunties own restaurants, my mom is the best cook ever, and my youngest sister owns a restaurant. But I am a curious person. I enjoy trying new things and I wanted to add to what I hadn’t tasted yet.”

The authentic Afro cuisine is not only a welcome surprise for those who’ve never tried it before, but also a welcome enjoyment for the large African population in Wichita.

“I actually had someone from Kenya come in with his family and he was very excited,” Forchu added. “He told me he feels like he’s in Mombasa, his native city in Kenya. He said, ‘You know what it means when you get out of church and you actually come in and you’re being served the ugali, the vegetables and the meat just the way it’s served back home… that’s how this feels.’”

Forchu added that she is thankful her passion has turned into a career and encourages other entrepreneurs to do the same.

“If you enjoy something, you can turn that into a career and you will never feel like you are actually working. It’s also important to stay curious,” she added. “I enjoy hearing our African customers’ different accents, stories, and the many ways they cook. Our culture is about celebrating, and our cuisine is to be enjoyed by everybody. So, I encourage others to come and try us out. Let your taste buds try something new. You will be amazed.”

BChic Bar & Grill is at Northwest Centre in Wichita, 8428 W 13th St N, Suite 100. The restaurant offers both lunch and dinner, and has a full bar. Dining options include dine-in, carry-out, special orders, and catering services. For more information, visit bchicafrocuisine.com.