Mama Josie Café Creole

I'm going to get straight to it. We found Mama Josie on TikTok and wanted to see what all the hype was about.I ordered the turkey, plantain, and rice & peas.The turkey was very dry and hard to chew.The plantains were also dry and tough--I couldn't even eat the bite I had.The rice & peas were the only thing that tasted good.My brother spent $30 on a plate of fried goat and a beef patty. He said the patty was chewy and doughy.We ended up discarding our food and ordering sandwiches on DoorDash instead.I really had high hopes as a fellow Caribbeaner, but unfortunately, this was a big disappointment.

Bonjou tout moun! I'm here today to tell you about Aurora's newest hotspot for Haitian (etc.) cooking - namely, Mama Josie Café Creole in the old Tonti's space at Chambers/Quincy. Let's explore the tasty baked goods, main courses, and more that can be found here.One thing I want to make very clear from the beginning (since I've seen some confusion on this subject) is that the "Creole" in the business name specifically refers to the variety from Haiti, not the one from Louisiana. So no, you won't find étouffée or gumbo or dirty rice here - but at the same time, I don't think you'll miss them when you see what else is on offer. Start things off with a cooling beverage - options on your visit may include Grenadia (passionfruit), Melon (in this case referring to watermelon), or my personal favorite, Choublak (hibiscus) - while you check out the substantially stocked pastry case. Mmmmm, don't those Pates look delicious? Whether your tastes lean more towards Mori (codfish), Epina (spinach), or even Aran So (herring), I think you'll find that these stuffed puff pastry delights will serve as a most suitable starting point for your culinary investigations. And on that note, let's look a little further at Mama Josie's menu offerings, and see what awaits us in terms of potential main dishes. On my recent visit, I readily admit it took me a while to make a decision from amongst the proprietress's captivating combination plates. But I finally settled on Poule Nan Sòs. Literally "chicken in sauce", this dish of poultry pieces slow-cooked with plenty of thyme, Scotch bonnet peppers, and mixed citrus is a cornerstone of the Haitian kitchen, and was especially memorable when paired with rice and peas (Diri Kole) and stewed corn (Mayi). (By the way, the more familiar Jamaican-style jerk chicken is also offered here). But chicken is certainly not the only main-course possibility to consider at Mama Josie. When the weather gets a bit cooler (any day now, the way things are going), you may get a chance to try a hearty bowl of pumpkin soup (or rather, Soup Joumou). Or, see what you think of some long-braised oxtails, or even a Sunday special of Dinde (turkey) with some macaroni and cheese on the side. Yes, no matter what you pick, it's safe to say that Mama Josie's plentiful platters will make you "trè kontan".