As the co-founders of Dine Diaspora, which produces the Black Women in Food initiative, Maame Boakye and Nina Odura seek to highlight and amplify amazing restaurants run by Black women. These are some of their top recommendations.
Less"There is never a time I will go to New Orleans without visiting this restaurant. The vibe is really beautiful. It's Caribbean-inspired, drawing from the chef, Nina Compton's, own heritage, so you're learning about the chef's history and culture as you're eating each dish. No matter who you are or where you're from, you will have an amazing time eating the buttermilk biscuits with honey and bacon butter. They are so good—just the right texture." —Oduro
"Cane is based in Washington, D.C., and it's a brother-and-sister–owned Trinidadian spot—Jeanine Prime is one of the owners. It really goes to show that you can have elevated Trindadian flair in the District. My favorite things are the doubles, and they have tiffin boxes, and you can choose between meat or vegetarian curries. When you go in, you can tell the people working there have a connection to the family. It's a must-visit for anyone coming to D.C." —Maame Boakye
"Tiffany Derry, the chef here, made this duck fat–fried chicken that was shared at chef Kwame Onwuachi's 'Family Reunion' event, and it was a crowd favorite—as well as ours. This is a place that we know is a must-visit when you're near Dallas." —Boakye and Oduro
"This vegan burger spot in Atlanta has numerous locations, where they make vegan burgers with very provocative names. My favorite is the Fussy Hussy—a plant-based patty loaded with pickles, vegan cheese, and a special 'slut' sauce, on a vegan Hawaiian bun. When you go into the space, everyone is really friendly. They have music playing, and they have a slushy drink bar in there as well. It's a different take on vegan cuisine." —Boakye
"This plant-based ice-cream company is based in Baltimore, Maryland. They're not your common flavors that you'd think of for ice cream, but so delicious and healthy! One of my favorites is the sweet potato. They have a really vibrant brick-and-mortar that's bright and inviting for everyone to enjoy." —Oduro "My favorite on the list of ice cream is the horchata, their take on the Latin American drink, with vanilla and cinnamon." —Boakye
"This is a plant-based eatery based in Brooklyn, New York, and when you walk into the space, you literally feel like you are walking into a warm, inviting living room with beautiful colors. It's a very cozy environment that's playing the best of soul and hip hop music. I really like the vibe they set in there. My favorite dish is called the E Classic, which is a vegan egg sandwich on an English muffin. They have an apparel line as well—it's so multifaceted." —Boakye
"One of the traditions that I started is that for my birthday, I do a Black history food tour. Mama J's in Richmond, VA, was one of the spots on the tour one year; it's situated in an area that was a center of Black culture and Black excellence, and it helps everyone see a history that has lived on for generations. It has traditional soul food, by Mama J, obviously. I love sides, so I first order the candied yams, cabbage, and string beans. I recommend the fried chicken, of course." —Oduro
"This is a woman-owned cafe in Accra, Ghana, in the residential district. It's a really cozy spot for individuals to gather. You can work there, meet friends there, and they have a really exciting seasonal menu. It's not traditional Ghanian fare; it's more like a Westernized take on Ghanian food, with some twists. I like their full English breakfast, their grilled chicken wrap, and their salt-and-pepper calamari." —Boakye