Selasie Dotse is the chef and owner of e le aɖe Test Kitchen. Born in Accra, Ghana, and raised in the American South, Selasie started cooking at the age of 6 with their mother and aunties. After graduating with two degrees in culinary arts and food service management from Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte in 2012, Selasie went on to work for several chefs and restuarants in Charlotte, North Carolina. After roughly 10 years in Charlotte, Selasie moved to the Bay Area to continue their culinary journey as a fine dining chef. They went on to work at Bird Dog in Palo Alto and many Michelin starred restaurants in San Francisco such as Avery and Lazy Bear. 

The various restaurants that Selasie has worked at has led them to discover flavor combinations they previously had never imagined. But Selasie remains focused on Ghanaian cuisine and the myriad of possibilities available using that rich tradition as a culinary foundation.

e le aɖe Test Kitchen was created by Chef Selasie Dotse as an elevated, fine dining pop-up concept offering a chef’s table, supper club, and other culinary experiences. We create memorable, unique cultural experiences with an emphasis around African and Black stories throughout the Diaspora, whilst highlighting thought-provoking wines with a story to tell.

At our core, we combine cultural authenticity with creative innovation. Cultural authenticity ensures that we are staying true to the roots and traditions of the cultures we are representing, while creative innovation allows us to present these stories in fresh, engaging, and impactful ways. By doing so, we hope to create a platform that not only shares stories, but also inspires curiosity, sparks dialogue, and fosters a deeper appreciation of the diverse cultures that make up our world.

‘e le aɖe’ - meaning ‘tasty or it appeals to the tongue’ in the Èʋe language - pays homage to Chef Selasie's Èʋe-Ghanaian roots. By embracing their roots and honouring the richness and complexity of different cultures, e le aɖe Test Kitchen seeks to create a platform for cultural exchange and connection with fellow guests, where people can come together to savour the flavours of the world and celebrate the joy of shared experiences.