It’s still Women’s History Month, so take the opportunity to explore and celebrate cultural achievements. The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., offers a variety of culinary delights and historical insights. Discover more about it on The Narrative Matters.
In honor of Women’s History Month, the celebrated Sweet Home Café, a James Beard Award winner located at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C., is set to pay tribute to the culinary achievements of seven remarkable women chefs.
Beginning March 7 and continuing every Friday throughout the month from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., as well as on weekends, the café will feature special menu takeovers by talented women chefs from across the nation. These culinary artists will showcase dishes that celebrate their cultural heritage, sharing the rich stories and traditions behind the food they create, as highlighted in a press release from the NMAAHC website.
Chef Aida Bah will launch the Women’s History Month celebration on March 7 with a menu that pays homage to her roots in the Ivory Coast. Aida, currently a lead cook at the World Bank Group, hails from Abidjan, where she learned the art of cooking from her aunt, a passionate chef known for her flavorful dishes. Since moving to the United States in 2021, Aida has been sharing her culinary talents, previously working as an assembler and cook for Salad Chop.
During her special event, Aida will showcase a selection of her signature dishes, including Suya chicken thighs, Ivorian-style oxtails, and flavorful sides like stewed black-eyed peas, sautéed mixed vegetables with herbs, her famous Jollof rice, and alloco (fried ripe plantains). The menu will also feature a zesty spicy pickled vegetable salad drizzled with cilantro avocado dressing, followed by a delightful dessert of degue, a homemade sweet yogurt and millet couscous, all complemented by refreshing tamarind juice.
The celebration will culminate on March 29 with Chef Toshiba Veney, a sous-chef at Mitsitam Native Food Café in Washington, D.C. Toshiba will present a Southern-inspired menu that reflects her upbringing in Arlington, Virginia, where she was profoundly influenced by the strong women in her family who instilled a love for cooking in her.
“They always told me to cook with my heart and to cherish every moment of it,” shared the seasoned culinary expert.
Toshiba’s menu promises to delight with an array of mouthwatering flavors from diverse cultures, featuring BBQ pork and mac & cheese egg rolls, creamy Cajun crab and shrimp egg rolls, and jerk trumpet mushroom egg rolls. The entrées will be enhanced with toppings of pickled jalapeños, coleslaw, spicy remoulade, fried kale, and pickled onions. Her sides will include collard greens with smoked turkey necks, mac & cheese, and dirty rice, while dessert will consist of rich red velvet cake adorned with cream cheese frosting. Each dish will be served with two sides, ensuring a delicious and satisfying dining experience.
During the Women’s History Month celebration at NMAAHC, Chef Ramin Coles, Executive Chef at Sweet Home Café, will honor the exceptional contributions of chef and TV journalist Carla Hall, author Joanne Hyppolite, and historian Jessica B. Harris to the culinary arts and history.
About:
The National Museum of African American History and Culture, often referred to as the Blacksonian, is a museum under the Smithsonian Institution situated on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Established in 2003, it officially opened its permanent location in 2016 during a ceremony presided over by President Barack Obama.
1400 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560
Women’s History Month, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Sweet Home Café, women chefs, African American culinary history, cultural events, Washington D.C., culinary celebration
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Senior Editor, Digital Manager, Blogger, has been nominated for awards several times as Publisher and Author over the years. Has been with company for almost three years and is a current native St. Louisan.
