The cookbook from Frenchie Gomes
★★★★★5.0
Two Cultures, One Kitchen
Recipes from Senegal and Cape Verde, each with a shopping list, simple steps and the story behind the dish. Easy enough for a Tuesday night, special enough to give.
- Fresh, healthy home cooking without a culinary degree
- The family stories behind every dish
- A gift for anyone who loves to cook
Ships in 1 business dayHardcover, 96 pagesEditorial-style photography
Written by Frenchie Gomes, chef, stylist and Orlando business owner
Food has always been more than just sustenance - it’s a bridge between generations, a keeper of memories, and a celebration of identity. In this cookbook, I invite you to join me on a journey that spans the shores of Senegal and Cape Verde, two lands rich with history, culture, and a shared love for the kitchen as the heart of the home.
As someone rooted in both Senegalese and Cape Verdean heritage, I’ve grown up immersed in the aromas, flavors, and rhythms of these two distinct yet deeply connected cultures. Senegal, the Land of Terraanga, taught me that hospitality begins with a shared meal - where the bowl is the symbol of unity and dishes are layered with bold spices, vibrant colors, and the deep traditions of West Africa. In Senegal, Terraanga embodies a sense of community, generosity, and kindness toward others, especially guests. It’s about creating a space of warmth and inclusion, where visitors and strangers are treated like family. This value is not just a social custom; it is a core part of Senegalese identity and pride. Cape Verde also has a rich history from its role as a crossroads of trade and migration.
Why home cooks love it
Big flavor. Real ingredients. No fuss.
West African food has a reputation for being complicated. Frenchie's version isn't. These are the dishes she actually makes for her family, written so you can make them too.
Bold flavor, simple steps
Fresh ingredients and big spices without a culinary degree. Clear steps you can follow on a weeknight.
Healthy, never boring
Lean proteins, vegetables and whole grains, built around flavor first. Food that feels good and tastes better.
A gift with a story
Every recipe carries the family and the culture behind it. It reads as well as it cooks.
What's inside
A seat at Frenchie's table
Senegalese and Cape Verdean cooking, plus lighter takes on the dishes Frenchie grew up on. Built for everyday dinners and for the nights you have people over.
- A shopping basket for every recipeEach dish opens with exactly what to buy, so one trip to the store covers it.
- Clear, step-by-step directionsReaders who say they're "not much of a cook" are making these.
- The story behind each dishFrenchie shares the memory and the culture that every recipe comes from.
- Editorial-style photographyA hardcover that looks as good on the counter as it does on the coffee table.
Reader favorites
- The shrimp dish
- Turkey burgers
- Quinoa salad
- Quick 20-minute lunches
Made for
Who this book is for
Busy home cooks
You want dinner that tastes like effort without the effort.
Healthy eaters
You're done with bland "healthy" food and want flavor back.
Gift givers
You need something personal for the person who has every gadget.
The curious
You've never cooked West African food and want a friendly start.
Meet the author
Frenchie Gomes
Born in Senegal with Cape Verdean roots, Frenchie grew up where every meal was an open invitation. Over three decades she built a career as a chef, hairstylist and fashion stylist, and she owns Frenchie's Hair Design Studio in Orlando.
This book is the food she actually cooks for the people she loves, written down so you can cook it for yours.
In Senegal they call it teranga. You feed whoever walks through the door.
Featured in print, digital and broadcast mediaThe story
Two kitchens. One family table.
Senegal taught Frenchie that hospitality starts with a shared bowl. Cape Verde added its own rhythm from centuries at the crossroads of trade. This book puts both on one table, the way she grew up eating.
Bring it homeReader reviews
What readers are saying
Love this cookbook
"The recipes are easy to follow... It has allowed me to explore recipes from a different culture that are flavorful and healthy."
Temeka Spradley
Amazon review
A true winner
"I love how each recipe starts with a clear shopping basket, followed by easy-to-read directions and detailed step-by-step instructions."
Michele C.
Amazon review
Flavor, heart and intention
"Well-structured, easy to follow, and thoughtfully curated for both everyday cooking and special gatherings."
T. Proctor
Amazon review
Simply delicious
"The stories she tells are as beautiful and nourishing as the recipes themselves. She so clearly cooks from the heart."
Moussoc
Amazon review
Great fresh meals
"Not much of a cook but excited about the shrimp dish!!! Fresh ingredients and great prep instructions."
Christina Fletcher
Amazon review
Every page is goodness
"I love how each recipe gives you the shopping basket and the great stories behind each recipe... The turkey burgers are excellent."
Audrey M. Jefferson
Amazon review
Make it a gift
Want it signed? Get a bundle.
Each of these comes with a signed copy of the cookbook plus the tools Frenchie actually cooks with.
Cook & Sip Bundle
Signed cookbook, thermal cup and cutting board.
Shop the bundle →
Chef Essentials Bundle
Signed cookbook, custom pairing knife, titanium cutting board, apron and thermal cup.
Shop the bundle →
VIP Kitchen Set
Signed cookbook, custom pairing knife, titanium cutting board, apron and thermal cup.
Shop the bundle →The holiday gift
Cooking for someone who loves to cook?
Give them something they won't find on every gift list. A cookbook with stories, culture and dinners worth sitting down for.
Order a copyQuestions
Good to know
How long does shipping take?
Orders ship within one business day.
Is it hardcover or paperback?
Hardcover, 96 pages, 8.75 x 11.25 inches, with editorial-style photography throughout.
Are the recipes hard to make?
No. Every recipe starts with a shopping basket of exactly what to buy, then walks you through it step by step. Readers who call themselves beginners are cooking from it.
Can I get a signed copy?
Yes. The Cook & Sip Bundle, Chef Essentials Bundle and VIP Kitchen Set all include a signed copy.
Is it healthy?
Much of it is. Fresh vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains, cooked with big flavor. One taster called a dish "healthy, fresh, colorful, and wonderfully light."
Does it make a good gift?
It was made for it. It looks beautiful on a counter or coffee table, and every chapter comes with a story.
Two Cultures, One Kitchen
Bring two cultures to your table
Order your copy today. Keep one, gift one.
Food has always been more than just sustenance - it’s a bridge between generations, a keeper of memories, and a celebration of identity. In this cookbook, I invite you to join me on a journey that spans the shores of Senegal and Cape Verde, two lands rich with history, culture, and a shared love for the kitchen as the heart of the home.
As someone rooted in both Senegalese and Cape Verdean heritage, I’ve grown up immersed in the aromas, flavors, and rhythms of these two distinct yet deeply connected cultures. Senegal, the Land of Terraanga, taught me that hospitality begins with a shared meal - where the bowl is the symbol of unity and dishes are layered with bold spices, vibrant colors, and the deep traditions of West Africa. In Senegal, Terraanga embodies a sense of community, generosity, and kindness toward others, especially guests. It’s about creating a space of warmth and inclusion, where visitors and strangers are treated like family. This value is not just a social custom; it is a core part of Senegalese identity and pride. Cape Verde also has a rich history from its role as a crossroads of trade and migration.