Oyo is an Afro-South American restaurant in Pleasanton- and the founding chef Maurice Dissels came from his home country of Guyana when he was 17.
He grew up in his grandma Oyo’s kitchen, and serves dishes he learned from her. Her ancestors were brought over from West Africa to Guyana in the trans Atlantic slave trade.
And grandma Oyo had this cooking philosophy called “muxalace”. It means “let’s lace this pot up with a little bit of everything.” That’s what Chef Maurice does at Oyo. He mixes his Afro-Guyanese influence /with flavors from South America and the Caribbean.
Hana spoke with him for her series 'Diaspora Stories'- exploring the stories of 1st and 2nd generation immigrants - and those in between like her - who’ve made the Bay Area their home - and are doing the thing they love.
I visited Chef Maurice at the restaurant to hear how it all came together, and how grandma Oyo is ever present in his life.
Listen above
