Author Archive: Mila
A Gastronomical Clash: Liberian Joloff Rice Recipe
As second-generation American, I longed for a tangible connection to “home.” Despite my physical and socio-cultural distance from Liberia, where my mother is from, it was a place that captivated my imagination. For several years, I yearned to visit Liberia and Sierra Leone to experience the attitudes, dialect, smells, and unique flavors there firsthand. As [...]
Chez Billy, DC: TidBit of the Day
The Hilton Brothers, the team behind American Ice Company, Patty Boom Boom, Blackbyrd, and Marvin’s bring French Bistro style dining to Petworth. Visit Chez Billy‘s Sunday brunch for the amazing Gravlax or the exceptional bacon lardon’s topping the Salade Lyonnaise. Chez Billy’s two-story building is formerly the home to Billy’s Seafood and Steaks, a hub [...]
Flour Power: A Moist and Tender Lemon Chia Seed Muffin
How do you make a moist and delicious muffin, with no eggs, butter or sugar? This seemed like a new and entirely different experiment. It was a challenge nonetheless, a challenge that lead me to a different source of fiber and fatty acids: the chia seed. I was first introduced to chia seeds several [...]
A Polyface Experience
Two Saturdays ago, I took a trip to Polyface Farms, the iconic biodynamic 550 acre farm outside of Staunton, VA made famous by Michael Pollan in his Omnivoire’s Dilemma for its farming practicies (mimic nature, environmentally friendly, respect for animals, etc). It felt appropriate to pay homage to this book and welcome the changing seasons [...]
Shea Butter Spotlight
Several years ago, when I bought a one-pound tub of raw unrefined shea butter for the first time, I was excited by the opportunity to shop both smart and green. I had done my homework prior to purchase and knew that shea butter was natural plant fat rich in Vitamins A,E, &F. This edible butter [...]
Durham/Asheville Road Rules
“Belly full… butt drunk.” This Liberian vernacular expression may explain the love of food, and belly busting laughter that Belinda and I share in common. “Butt drunk” describes the deliciously intoxicating moment that follows a well-prepared meal. It first sets in when rolling and raucous laughter replaces the dull roar of clanging forks and knives. [...]
