Life Motto: “Don’t work hard, work smart”

Kudakwashe “Kuda” Lusinga

Kudakwashe Taurai Lusinga, “Kuda” as he likes to be called, comes from a small family residing in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. He is married to the lovely Vannessa Sithokozile Nkomo, who works as a front desk clerk at our company. His educational background began in Victoria Falls and later he pursued further education at the International Hotel College in Cape Town, South Africa. After encountering Pops, he decided to broaden his horizons and explore this new part of the world.

Kuda, Vannessa & their son Tinashe

Kuda developed an interest in cooking after being captivated by the food network. Initially, his passion lay in architecture due to his artistic talents. His uncle, an executive sous chef for a cruise line, became his source of inspiration, teaching him the ropes of cooking and encouraging him to experiment with different ingredients. Initially, he considered it a passing whim and had planned to pursue architecture if it didn’t work out, but he found himself captivated by the culinary world. From baking to cooking, he has fallen in love with art and continues to refine his skills by experimenting with a variety of ingredients. The initial dish he prepared consisted of grilled eggplant and was vegetarian. It proved to be a difficult dish to prepare, but the process was valuable. He commented, “I’m still evolving and discovering as I continue on this journey, aiming to reach the Michelin level.”

Hometown village of Karibe

For his first trip outside Zimbabwe, he got to try a whole new range of dishes in Hong Kong and Palau. The journey was tiring both physically and emotionally, but the thrill of exploring a new place made it all worth it. Adjusting to the differences in culture was a bit of a shock, but he noticed some similarities between Yap and Zimbabwe. His transition into the work environment is going smoothly, despite the contrasting cultural perspectives. As is the case in any workplace, effective communication is crucial, and he’s gradually learning about the Yapese culture and language. In his own words, “It feels like I never left home. My colleagues are like family to me, and we’re learning and evolving together.” The arrival of him has the Manta Ray family filled with enthusiasm, and we are eagerly looking forward to the mutual learning experience.

Kuda has already sampled some of the cuisine in Yap and is eager to blend Yap dishes with Zimbabwean culture. He has introduced some new dishes to the Mnuw restaurant that have received great praise from our guests. In addition to his main dishes, he has also created pastries for our breakfast menu. Tapioca is his current favorite food in Yap, and he is looking forward to presenting new methods of preparing it for guests and locals to enjoy.

Zimbabwean Dovi Chicken

Stuffed Pork with Yapese squash & smoked sweet potatoes in balsamic aioli

BLC Salad with homemade ranch dressing

Yap and Zimbabwe share many similarities, particularly in their strong focus on community wellbeing and preservation of the old ways. Because of this mindset, these cultures are both deeply rooted in their respective tourism industries in hopes of sharing their cultures with the outside world.