For local chefs, home cooking takes on new meaning
/by Maya Gold
While restaurants around the country are struggling to stay open, local chefs and bakers are getting inventive. People are bringing their love of food home with them and starting take-out restaurants that operate in their kitchen. The Petworth area has several at-home businesses that started during the pandemic. Here’s three ways you can get some amazing food and support neighbors…
Astrid Hernandez, Central American food
Pictures of Astrid Hernandez’s home-cooked food. (Photo courtesy Astrid Hernandez.)
What's currently on the menu?
Pupusas (beans with cheese,pork with cheese, zucchini with cheese)
Chicken Flautas
Chicken Empanadas
Burritos (pastor, chorizo, chicken, asada)
Tacos mexicanos (Pastor, chorizo, chicken, asada)
Sopes (pastor, chorizo, chicken, asada)
Baleadas
Platanos en gloria
Quesadillas
Tamales (chicken, pork)
How did your home restaurant/bakery get started?
I started recently selling food due to the pandemic, I was pregnant and I was working as a manager in a food store but when the pandemic started I got laid off because they closed. Things at home were getting worse due to our economic situation--my husband also got laid off from work. By December, we were out of savings and a neighbor asked me to make her some pupusas. That started the idea to offer homemade food. Plus my kids and some friends keep telling me that my cooking is delicious!
What is your inspiration for your home restaurant?
My children, the neighbors who have given me their support, those flattering messages that they liked the food. I really enjoy what I do even though it is a bit difficult for me, but I would like to thank everyone for their understanding. I try to do my best and I feel satisfied when I see their feedback.
What's your current favorite thing on your menu?
My menu is made from my favorite dishes.
How should folks contact you to purchase your products?
Text or call 202-460-0748.
Lalee Lalee, Desserts and Baked Goods
Lalee’s boozy cupcakes. Current flavors include chocolate, vanilla, and velvet. (Photo courtesy Lalee Lalee)
How did your home restaurant/bakery get started?
I started my home bakery during the pandemic. I always baked for friends and family and decided to try making it to something for a profit.
What's your current favorite thing on your menu?
My favorite thing on the menu is the chocolate cake with peppermint buttercream. I also love the Hot Cocoa Bombs! All my goods can be made vegan as well.
Chocolate cake! (Photo courtesy Lalee Lalee)
How should folks contact you to purchase your products?
People can order via Instagram @Blendnmixdc or Facebook @blendnmixdc or text 917-808-3347.
Farzana Romine, Breads & Desserts
What’s currently on the menu?
I have sourdough bread on the menu right now. People can customize and try new things in their bread, including a variety of other ingredients like seeds, spices, herbs. I am also taking orders for custom made cakes and some desserts like cupcakes and pavlova.
How did your home restaurant/bakery get started?
Baking has been my passion since I was 10 years old. I grew up in a very food driven culture in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Food brings so much joy to people that I love sharing food with everyone around me. When we moved to Petworth, I introduced ourselves to our neighbors with some sourdough bread. They loved it so much that some of them started ordering from me. So I thought about reaching out to more people and that's how it started here in Petworth.
What is your inspiration for your home restaurant/bakery?
Bread is a very nutritious food but commercial breads are full of chemicals and sugar which are not good for your health. Sourdough is an ancient way of making bread. All you need is flour, water, salt and time. Most commercial bakeries do not make real sourdough. They mix some yeast to speed up the process. Whereas, my sourdough takes 3 days to make. I want to give people the taste of real bread and that's what inspired me to start my bakery.
What’s your current favorite thing on your menu?
My personal favorite is sourdough with mixed seeds, cranberry and fennel seed for some anise flavor. This bread smells so good.
How should folks contact you to purchase your products?
They can directly message me on my Facebook page. I like discussing with them what they want in their bread before I finalize the order.
