Issue NO.1

Queen Bee's Restaurant

“From selling fritters in Chawama to owning a restaurant at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.”

With nothing but a frying pan, grit, and a dream, Blandine Kapuka began a journey she never imagined would one day bring her to Zambia’s busiest international gateway.

Blandine’s entry into the food business wasn’t planned—it was born out of pain. While working at a restaurant, she received a call no parent ever wants to get: her child was sick. Desperate to rush home, she asked for leave. The response? A cold “NO” and a threat to her job.

That day, Blandine stayed on duty, her heart breaking as she worked her shift, consumed with worry for her child. By the next morning, her decision was made. Nothing mattered more than her son. She resigned, unsure of what the future held, but certain that no job would ever come between her and her child again.

Armed with determination and a deep love for cooking, Blandine began making vitumbuwa (fritters) and selling them from her home in Chawama. Word spread quickly, and the community couldn’t get enough of her homemade treats. Soon she added scones, then cakes. With every batch, her skills, confidence, and customer base grew.

But success soon outgrew her small kitchen. So she took a bold leap and moved to Novare Mall—an unexpected place for traditional Zambian cuisine. There, she expanded her menu to include nshima and a variety of relishes. Management was skeptical. “Nshima in a mall?” they asked. But Blandine stood firm. She believed Zambian food belonged everywhere—and the people agreed.

One day, while serving at her Longacres Mall branch, a frustrated customer walked in and said, “I just came from the airport and couldn’t find any real Zambian food there!”

That moment changed everything.

Blandine realised that travellers—whether locals returning home or visitors arriving for the first time—deserved an authentic taste of Zambia the moment they landed. She approached airport management, pitched her vision, and made it a reality.

Today, Queen Bee’s Restaurant at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) serves hearty, authentic Zambian dishes made with love, culture, and locally sourced ingredients—welcoming the world with plates that taste like home.

Her food is more than nourishment; it’s storytelling. Blandine insists on using ingredients from local farmers, staying rooted in the land and connected to the people behind it. Through each dish, she preserves tradition and serves the soul of Zambia, giving travellers A Bite of Africa the moment they arrive.

Earlier this year, her dedication was recognised with the Best African Chef Award at the Gastronomy Awards—a milestone that reflects how far she has come and how far she still aims to go.

Queen Bee’s Restaurant has become more than a business. It is a movement—a testament to what happens when a woman believes in herself, honours her roots, and boldly shares her culture with the world. Blandine continues to dream of expanding her brand and telling Zambia’s story through food.

From frying vitumbuwa in Chawama to serving nshima at an international airport, her journey is a powerful reminder that dreams are valid and anything is possible. Blandine didn’t just open a restaurant—she opened a door for Zambian gastronomy to shine on the global stage.

And with every plate she serves, she reminds us that our food matters. Our culture matters. Our stories deserve a seat at every table. And everyone deserves A Bite of Africa.