Cornelia Poku — Black Girls Explore D.C.
Cornelia Poku is the brain (and everything else!) behind one of our favorite social media channels, Black Girls Explore D.C.
For making our mouths water across the District, she’s our Scene Setter this week.
You can follow her on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter.
We haven't talked to you since last Restaurant Week! What's new with Black Girls Explore DC?
No worries! It's always good to catch up. Things are going great so far! Still posting across Tiktok, Instagram and Twitter. Plus, I am now also a contributor for the City Cast DC podcast and DCist.
You say Black Girls Explore DC happens in your free time. How many hours each week go into maintaining your community and those delicious food pics?
Yes, blogging takes up so much of my time, which is why I'm so happy that I still love doing it! The time commitment depends on how many places I've visited that week. But, on average, I would say between 15 to 20 hours a week.
What's your Restaurant Week pro tip?
That's a great question! Here are my two tips:
First, do not miss out on the $25 three-course lunch options. They are harder to find, but there are so many to choose from. Check out the website and dig around to see who is offering lunch, and then double check the menu to make sure it costs $25.
Second, if you’re comfortable with sharing, remember that the more friends you go with, the more dishes you can taste and try! Who doesn't love a bite of something different?
Tell us about the D.C. dish that most recently blew your mind.
OK, this is a tough one. Can I share a few actually?
The first was the jollof at Moi Moi on K Street. It's very unusual to make jollof with basmati rice, but it was fabulous and the dish was so smoky — which is a flavor much closer to how jollof is made in West Africa.
The second was the mushroom galette at Irregardless on H Street. It was stunning. I loved the earthiness from the mushrooms and the light flakiness of the crust. It was so delicious.
The third was the salmon rillette at Unconventional Diner which was fishy and savory and had the teeniest balance of bright fruit flavor from the sauce. I could just eat a bucket of that.
Editor’s note: the galette is pictured above.
This Q&A has been lightly edited for length and clarity.