Lexington Refugee Launches African food truck
Lexington, KY — Lexington has a vibrant food scene, and the latest addition to it is an African food truck, Miss Milolo Cuisine, owned and operated by Sandra Diba, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
From Refugee to Food Truck Owner
Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sandra and her family came to the U.S. as refugees in search of better opportunities when she was just 14. She did not arrive with any cooking skills, but a passion for flavours of her homeland transformed her into a successful cook in America.
“I learned how to cook here in America, actually, back home, I didn’t know how to cook.”
Upon arrival in 2008, they settled in Lexington where Sandra completed a business degree at Eastern Kentucky University. Yet, she was enamoured with the culinary practices of her homeland and started selling food during weekends, sating the city’s taste buds with authentic African flavours.
During these initial days, Sandra met Alphonse, the man who would become her husband and primary encourager. Alphonse identified her talent and advised her to open a food truck.
“I realized her gift was cooking, and I decided to help her. She always wanted a restaurant, but I always tell her to get a food truck, and she started realizing that a food truck is better than a restaurant for someone who’s trying to start her business,” said Alphonse.
Miss Milolo’s Grand Opening
On Saturday, the long-awaited grand opening of their food truck, Miss Milolo Cuisine, took place. Despite the rush and throng, the couple looked thrilled to be able to serve their specialities to Lexington’s foodies.
“I don’t know how I fell in love with cooking, but for some reason, there’s nothing I love more or enjoy doing besides cooking,” expressed Sandra, fully engrossed in the flurry of orders.
Securing a spot as the first African food truck in Kentucky, Miss Milolo Cuisine will be operating from Wednesday through Saturday every week. Patrons can find them at a parking lot off of Leestown Rd, near Kroger.
The Future of Miss Milolo Cuisine
The hardworking couple plan to expand Miss Milolo’s offerings in the future, hoping that other Lexington residents will enjoy their traditional African foods as much as they do. Their story is a testament to the American dream and a celebration of diversity in the culinary industry.
