If you’ve ever met YumVillage owner Godwin Ihentuge, you’ll recognize his infectious enthusiasm and energy the minute you walk into his New Center restaurant, emblazoned with bright slashes of color and pulsating with Afrobeats.

YumVillage bottles spices: A popular Afro-Caribbean restaurant in New Center, YumVillage is now selling seven of its spices in bottles for customers to purchase with their carryout order.

YumVillage bottles spices: A popular Afro-Caribbean restaurant in New Center, YumVillage is now selling seven of its spices in bottles for customers to purchase with their carryout order.

"Most people are doing the best that they can to survive, stay open, and pay bills," said Godwin Ihentuge, owner of the restaurant. "(but the) legislature needs to take it upon themselves to do something to help out businesses."

Yum Village offers Afro-Caribbean style dishes that are full of authentic flavor. Tati Amare spoke to the owner of Yum Village, Chef Godwin Ihentuge about his restaurant. He showed off his restaurant’s signature dish and revealed how you can add Afro-Caribbean flavor to your own cooking.

The pantry is one way for Yum Village to evolve after getting hit hard by the pandemic. Ihentuge shut down the business for two weeks in preparation for the market pantry (in the meantime he helped launch the Pay It Forward initiative that employs Detroit restaurateurs of color to feed people experiencing homelessness and young women and girls at risk).

Anani says he isn’t alone in the efforts. Several other local restaurants including Pink Flamingo To-Go and Yum Village have also been working with Brilliant Detroit to bring meals strategically to neighborhoods in need. To access a free meal, people text a number provided by Brilliant Detroit and answer several questions.