For this episode, I talked to the manager, Frey Belachew, who is actually one of the daughters. 5 years ago on mother’s day, the children of Tenagne Belachew surprised her with a restaurant, now called Lalibela that stands in little Ethiopia in LA. we talked about owning a restaurant for the first time, the immigrant experience and the American dream and finally what its like to work with your family.

Lalibela

This episode follows Chef Aliyssa, owner of My 2 cents in LA, a restaurant that specializes in the fusion of soul food and American comfort food. We talked about what American food means, race and its implication for the food business and especially for a Black woman and the beauty of making food for a community.

My 2 Cents

This episode is very close to my heart. I interviewed Keisha Jacobs who works in the metro in Washington DC and has a catering side business.You’ll hear a lot of moving around, onions sizzling, chicken deep frying, because she was making me two meals while she participated in the interview. To see what she made head to the Black Women Kitchen Stories project website at google site.

Keisha Jacobs

This episode follows Mrs. Jacobs from Washington DC. As we sat down in her kitchen, which she generously invited me in, it was obvious she has a passion for food. I hope you get to see that too.

Mrs.Jacobs

One of the things that surprised me when I met Laurene, owner of Sweet Maple Cafe in Chicago was her insistence that she be referred to as a host first, not a chef, or great cook or a business owner. Running a restaurant for 20 years brings a lot of knowledge, experiences and memories that shine through this episode. I hope you enjoy listening.

Sweet Maple Cafe

For this next episode, I had the privilege of interviewing Chef Lakia, owner of Luckey’s Cafe  from Chicago. Opening a business is hard. Opening a restaurant during the pandemic is a gazillion times harder. Chef Luckey takes us through what that has been like and the hopes for the future.

Luckey's Cafe

This is an episode that you will want to listen to with your notepad ready because Alice Smith, an experienced home cook from Chicago generously gives a lot of recipes, tips and tricks to use in the kitchen. Fun fact, she is the daughter of Edith Smith who is an Alumni and the first Black woman to graduate from Grinnell college. Enjoy this episode.

Alice Frances Smith

Agnes and her three daughters join me in this episode as we discuss her food experience growing up in Kenya and now living and raising her family in Fortworth Texas. Huge shout out to Chiri for introducing me to her family and making this episode happen.

Agnes

In the summer of 2021, I travelled to four cities: Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and Washington DC to interview Black women in the food business. From Hosts, to Home cooks, Entertainers to Trained chefs, Foodies to Food creatives, these Black women give us a glimpse into their relationship with food, the kitchen space, creativity, business and identity, prompting listeners to critically think about them