Dougla is a love letter to my grandmother, Elysabeth Bandoo.

Thank you for teaching me spice.

Thank you for teaching me flavor.

Thank you for teaching me to respect ingredients.

When I thought I was having the worst days—walking through the fields searching for food we would use for dinner—I now realize you were training me. You were teaching me farm to table.

You once told me that i would travel the world. I didn’t know then that I would travel the world because of cooking. It all began with you—from building clay firesides, to cooking roti , to drinking chocolate tea early in the morning. It was you who showed me patience, understanding, joy, and love for food.

Thank you for believing in me. As I take this journey, you will always be in my heart, traveling it with me.

I can still see the early mornings—making roti, coconut chutney, and curry goat. I can still hear the fire crackling. The smells never left me. More than anything, I can still hear your laughter and your voice saying,

“Andrew, make sure the oil is hot.”

This is my journey, and it began with you.

With love,

Andrew Black