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Home | Johnisha L.

Johnisha L.

Johnisha became enamored with food and cooking as a powerful means to bridge cultural divides. As a biracial kid growing up in the 1980s, she enjoyed eating the soul foods of both her Eastern European Jewish mother and her Catholic African American father. She also loved to partake in the cuisines of her closest friends’ families, fellow tester Karima Barrow’s Trinidadian father introduced her to delicacies such as pelau and goat roti.

Johnisha graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a degree in pastry arts, and worked at both a farmstand bakery and a seasonally focused restaurant. She has also managed a community-based culinary cooking program focused on the foodways of the African diaspora. Although she currently works as a grant writer for social justice oriented nonprofits, she still treasures her time experimenting in the kitchen. And whenever she plans visits to new places, one of the first things she investigates is where to find the best meals and pastries.

Johnisha Levi
A red Dutch oven filled with pasta and meatballs, covered in cheese.

One Pot Pasta with Sausage Meatballs

1 hr

A rectangular easy mixed berry snacking cake with one piece cut from it and blueberries on the side.

Easy Mixed Berry Snacking Cake

1 hr

A crispy chicken schnitzel cutlet on a plate with sweet potato wedges and a herb vinaigrette

Crispy Chicken Schnitzel with Panko

1 hr

A plate of pasta with pancetta and Brussels sprouts with a couple spoons resting in it and a bowl of Parmesan and dill on the side.

Pasta with Pancetta & Brussels Sprouts

50 mins

Four pieces of cheesy beef and caramelized onion quesadillas stacked on a plate with a bowl of dipping sauce on the side.

Cheesy Beef and Caramelized Onion Quesadillas

30 mins

A black plate with broccolini with tahini sauce.

Broccolini with Tahini Sauce

15 mins

A tray of one-pan spaghetti puttanesca

One-Pan Spaghetti Puttanesca

50 mins

Orecchiette with chickpeas, turmeric, and greens in a large pot with a wooden spoon, on a countertop.

Orecchiette with Chickpeas, Turmeric, and Greens

1 hr

Garlic, chile, and cumin roast chicken on a white platter with a serving fork, beside empty plates and glasses of wine.

Garlic, Chile, and Cumin Roast Chicken

1 hr 45 mins

Shells with ricotta and fire-roasted tomato sauce on a white plate with a fork, beside a pan of shells, a clove of garlic, parmesan, and a tomato.

Shells, Ricotta, and Fire-Roasted Tomato Sauce

45 mins

Lemon salmon piccata, 2 pieces, in a metal pan with slices of lemon, pan sauce, garnished with garlic and capers.

Lemon Salmon Piccata

30 mins

Spaghetti Bolognese in a large metal skillet, being served with tongs, on a wooden table.

Spaghetti Bolognese

2 hrs 50 mins

2 bowls of chicken tenders in a cream sauce with slices of orange and tarragon leaves, with a knife and fork.

Chicken with Orange, Cream, and Tarragon

1 hr

A weathered wood table with a white plate, filled with 2 honey-soy covered trout, green beans, lime quarters, a pot of glaze and a large spoon.

Trout with Honey-Soy Glaze

30 mins

Three white plates with blackened red snapper, black rice, yogurt sauce, and sauteed spinach.

Blackened Red Snapper

1 hr

A spatchcocked mayo roast chicken on a blue and white plate with a salad and a bowl of salt and pepper nearby.

Mayo Roast Chicken

1 hr 40 mins

Three assembled slow cooker tacos al pastor with shredded pork, pineapple-avocado salsa, and chipotle mayo, with lime wedges on the side.

Slow Cooker Tacos al Pastor

9 hrs

A white oval plate topped with broccoli with walnuts, raisins, and ricotta salata with a fork and spoon on the side.

Roasted Broccoli With Walnuts, Raisins, and Ricotta Salata

45 mins

A round green Dutch oven filled with slow cooked lamb and cannellini beans on a brown burlap cloth.

Slow Cooked Lamb and Cannellini Beans

2 hrs 30 mins

An oval bowl filled with braised pork in red chile sauce with a spoon resting on the side and a stack of tortillas and dried peppers on the side.

Braised Pork in Red Chile Sauce

2 hrs 45 mins

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