Inspired by her grandson and her passion to support her community, Lewtine Ojiem established Da Judah’s Kitchen after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022.
The kitchen incorporates a fusion of different foods from African regions, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Northern Africa, and Southern Africa. Ojiem worked at Griswold Home Care for 16 years before losing her job during COVID-19. This prompted her to start thinking outside the box for ways to earn money and spend time with her grandson, while incorporating her passion for cooking.
“I was babysitting my grandson, Judah, and just catering for different events in the community,” Ojiem said. “Then I said, ‘You know what? I think maybe I should go out and try to open a restaurant’ because Judah was now so active that I could not even go to do my overnight job.”
Ojiem found herself exhausted because she did not have time to take naps in between work and babysitting. She decided to quit her overnight job and do something during the day instead. She wanted more quality time with Judah, which marked the beginning of Da Judah’s Kitchen.
Da Judah’s incorporates as many dishes from Africa to represent the continent’s culinary array. Ojiem serves many foods, including fufu, egusi, cassava leaf, beef stew, goat stew, fish, and her most popular dish, samosas.
“Incredible” is the best word to describe them. The perfect ratio of soft to crunchy, with the Kenyan spices enunciating each bite; making it one of the most flavorful dishes in the Lehigh Valley. “It [samosas] is an appetizer,” Ojiem said. “Most of my customers say 50 miles North, East, South, and West that samosas here are the best. I sell a lot of samosas, maybe 300 per day.” The array of dishes brings people into the restaurant to enjoy diverse flavors. Ojiem
created a place that allows people to try new foods and experience the different cuisines of Africa. “My dream was to have a one-stop for everybody, whether you are American or African, to come and taste something from Africa,” Ojiem said.
