BALABÉ : Serving Sensational Cuisine from Senegal

by Ted Scheffler

In case you’re not too familiar with it, Senegal is a West African country located on the westernmost point of the continent, the capital of which is Dakar. Influenced by North Africa, Portugal and France, Senegalese cuisine is rich and diverse, with fish playing a central role in many Senegalese meals. 

At this year’s Made in Utah Winter Fest, which continues this weekend and next, one of the busiest food trucks is Balabé Senegalese Cuisine. It’s owned by Ibou Fall, who offers menu items ranging from a rich peanut butter stew of veggies and tubers called mafé or tiep jenn – fish with fried rice and vegetables – to a classic Senegalese curry named thiou, and lamb with fried rice known as jolof. And, you’ve gotta indulge in mbourou fass, a Senegalese cream-filled toast topped with whipped cream, Nutella and bananas.

Ibou Fall - who was previously a retail store owner - says that he started his Balabé food truck because he loves “feeding people and watching the smile on their faces” as they discover Senegalese cooking. The idea of the food truck came to him via “the obvious lack of such a cuisine in Utah.”

His business is also driven, says Fall, by demographics: “Utah is full of foodies curious about all varieties of cuisine, plus the emerging African population in Utah.”

While operating a popular food truck is rewarding, Fall says that his goal is to one day “have a restaurant which will make his food available every day.” 

For now, be sure to follow Balabé on Facebook and online to find the locations for enjoying excellent Senegalese fare.