Bintou N’Daw
Years of Participation
2022-2025
Bintou N’Daw, a culinary professional originally from St. Louis island in Senegal, West Africa, moved to France as a teenager to pursue her culinary training. With a passion for exploring diverse cuisines, she traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Caribbean, and numerous African countries before settling in New York 15 years ago.
During her time in New York, Bintou has worked with various restaurant and catering companies, demonstrating her international culinary expertise by hosting privately catered events and serving as a private chef for renowned music industry celebrities.
Driven by a commitment to nurturing the next generation of culinary talent, Bintou volunteers to train aspiring young cooks as part of the “Youth Professional Development Initiative” in NYC, equipping them with essential skills for success in the competitive restaurant industry.
A pivotal achievement in Bintou’s career is the establishment and management of Nafi’s Originals, a brand launched in collaboration with her mother, Nafissatou Camara, a decade ago. Their handcrafted line of vegan and preservative-free condiments and sauces, inspired by their African heritage, has garnered popularity and is available at NYC’s Whole Foods, Amazon, and numerous local stores nationwide.
In 2020, Bintou decided to relocate to Charleston, South Carolina, moving her sauce production to the region in Walterboro. She embarked on a new venture by opening “Bintü Atelier” a humble Atelier restaurant in Downtown Charleston, in March 2023, where patrons can experience the rich and diverse flavors of West African cuisine and the connection it has with the Lowcountry foodways. It’s been declared one of the 20 best new restaurants in America for 2024 by Bon Apetit media.