Mera Kitchen Collective

Black-eyed pea fritters, served with tomato sauce | vegan, gf In the village, black-eyed peas grow among the millet, a practice called intercropping. On market day mothers would sell their peanuts and bring Samsam or Massa home to divide among the children. Here in the United States, my children come to the kitchen excited for them, even before I have finished frying.

Popover-style mini yeasted pancakes made with millet & rice, finished with honey. Honey can be omitted. | Vegetarian, gf, vegan without honey

Chicken wings, tossed in onion & mustard sauce, with peppers & olives | gluten-free, dairy-free Yassa comes from Senegal, carried to Burkina Faso by travelers. When I moved to Baltimore and saw peppers in three colors, I started using them all, red, yellow, and green to represent the colors of Burkina Faso’s flag.

Peanut butter & cabbage soup, with dried fish, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and okra. Served with Jasmine rice. | Gluten-free, dairy-free, contains peanuts. In my country, every woman keeps a small field: peanuts, okra, sorrel, amaranth. Peanuts go into almost every sauce, and what she does not cook, she sells at the local market.

Peanut marinated grilled rib eye skewers, topped with peanut powder, with cucumber & tomato salad | gluten-free, dairy-free, contains penuts

Whole head-on griddle-fried fish, served with attiéké (cassava couscous), plantains, and crudité salad; served with hot sauce. Please allow 25 minutes for this dish. | gluten-free, dairy-free Attiéké comes from Côte d'Ivoire. Many Burkinabé went there to work, and the dish came home with them. It is made from grated, fermented, and steamed cassava pulp. Now Cassava is grown in Burkina Faso too, though you find it more often in the cities than in the villages.

Rice porridge stewed with ground peanuts, amaranth and sorrel leaves, topped with tomato sauce, served with "to" (fermented white corn dumpling) | vegan, gf, contains peanuts This dish comes from a time of famine in Burkina Faso. With limited millet, people gathered what leaves they could find- sorrel, amaranth, black-eyed peas- and boiled them with what little grain remained. Babenda is now a dish served during festive periods and major ceremonies, such as weddings, baptisms, and other similar events.

Sweetened millet & yogurt pudding, topped with mango & toasted coconut | vegetarian, gf This dish originated from trade. The Fulani people had milk to sell, while the Mossi had millet; they would exchange their products to prepare a meal, and that is how *dégué* came about. Today, under the influence of modernity, it is prepared with yogurt and fruit and consumed as a dessert.

Sweetened millet juice, tamarind, uda seed, a touch of dried chili, ginger, vanilla sugar, garnished with mint This is the welcome drink for the guests visiting the village!

Cauliflower fritters finished with a tahini lemon sauce | Vegan

Hand-cut with whipped garlic sauce | Vegan, gluten free ingredients, shared fryer

Yemeni-inspired dip of avocado, cilantro, garlic, cumin, green chilies, and lemon, served with tortilla chips. Vegan, gf.

Watermelon with pomegranate molasses, mint, served with/ whipped za'atar feta. Vegetarian, gf. Cheese can be omitted.

Our housemade falafel with tahini dipping sauce | Vegan, gluten free ingredients, shared fryer

Smoked eggplant tahini dip | Vegan, gluten free Pita and/or carrots available for extra charge | Pita contains gluten

Baby greens, cucumber, cherry tomato, fennel, pomegranate, pickled jalapeno, mint, fried pita, za'atar yogurt dressing (vegan upon request) (Can be made vegan upon request, see below)

Roasted plantains, jasmine rice, avocado, fresh peppers, cucumber, carrots, onions, spiced tomato sauce w/ a side of ginger habanero *hot* sauce | Vegan, gluten free

Kofta seasoned beef patty, griddled beefsteak tomato, sumac onion & parsley, spicy shatta mayo

Crispy falafel served in pita with pico de gallo, cilantro tahini, pickled cucumber, lettuce. Vegan.

With chocolate crust and cinnamon sugar rice crispies

Toasted phyllo, crushed pistachio, rosewater syrup | Vegan Price per individual piece

Organic medjool dates filled with cacao nibs, raw honey, and sea salt. Dipped in Jinji's dark chocolate. Nut free, gluten free. Price per piece.

Avocado Sahawaq (sa-hah-wik) is a recipe Anysa's family made in California, substituting the traditional tomato with avocados. Made of coarse mashed avocado, cilantro, Thai green chili, garlic, lemon, and cumin. Moderate heat level.

If needed, please indicate how many sets of silverware you would like.

Add if you would like to buy a paper bag.

Fresh juice with hibiscus, pineapple, ginger and mint, bottled to go.

Emilienne's ginger juice with mint, tamarind and pineapple. Bottled to go.

A new sparkling water from a local sibling owned business. Naturally essenced, sugar free.

Cola, Lemon-Lime, Orange, & Sugar Free Cola

A medium-bodied skin contact white, this is a blend of 150 year-old vine Merweh from the Qannboubine Valley and young Sauvignon Blanc from the Bekaa Valley. Fresh, lively, mildly aromatic, and with a medium tannic structure, this is a diverse and food-friendly wine. 1 litre bottle.

Ward is a Lebanese direct-pressed Rosé made of 100% Syrah grapes. Ward was fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in neutral oak barrels. Unfined, unfiltered. Enjoy this wine chilled!

This fresh and fruit-forward dry red is made entirely from Cinsault. Lebanon's Bekaa Valley is famed for its viticulture, and this medium-bodied red is made in a more natural style, yet still approachable and delicious. 1 litre bottle.

Custom shirt designed by our teammate Garima, inspired by patterns found inside Mera. Printed on a Comfort Colors 100% heavy weight cotton shirt, by Black Collar Screen Printing in Baltimore.

Custom shirt designed by our teammate Garima, inspired by patterns found inside Mera. Printed on a Comfort Colors 100% heavy weight cotton shirt, by Black Collar Screen Printing in Baltimore.

Handmade by our dear friend Yamah & Co with a custom Mera stamp for just the right amount of flair.