MARIA BRADFORD – A CULINARY JOURNEY ROOTED IN TRADITION AND INNOVATION

Maria Bradford’s culinary journey is deeply rooted in her love for Sierra Leonean cuisine, and her innovative flair that adds a unique twist to traditional recipes. During a captivating interview with Ariana Diaries, Maria shared her journey, highlighting the importance of preserving cultural heritage through food, while also embracing creativity and modern influences.

The Evolution of Maria Bradford

Maria Bradford’s culinary journey began in Freetown, the bustling capital of Sierra Leone, where her fascination with age-old African recipes and fresh, local ingredients blossomed. Growing up, she cherished the joy of cooking for family and friends, and these experiences laid the foundation for her enduring love of the rich flavours of home. Today, Maria has transformed her lifelong passion into a fulfilling career, redefining African cuisine for a global audience.

Her catering company, Shwen Shwen, offers an award-winning Sierra Leonean-inspired Afro-fusion fine dining experience. With dishes characterized by vibrant ingredients like tamarind, beans, sesame seeds, mango, chili, and pineapple, Maria crafts unique flavours that pay homage to tradition while embracing modern influences. Her recipes, inspired by her grandmother’s cooking, recreate the traditional meals of her childhood, infused with a contemporary twist.

The country’s diverse history and openness to growth have shaped its cuisine into something truly unique. Maria’s journey is not just about food; it’s about storytelling. Her cookbook, Sweet Salone, serves as a culinary and cultural tour, showcasing evocative recipes and exclusive photography that reveal everyday life in the beautiful West African Country. Through her writing and innovative dishes, Maria invites the world to savour the essence of Sierra Leonean culture, where history, people, and place come together to create a culinary experience like no other. Let her feed your curiosity and introduce you to the reinvention of African cuisine.

Celebrating Sierra Leonean Street Food

‘Sweet Salone‘ cookbook starts with a homage to Sierra Leonean street food—a deliberate choice that speaks to her deep connection with her homeland. She recalls her childhood memories of sneaking street food after school, despite the social norms that frowned upon it. The vibrant flavours of street food have left an indelible mark on her, and she wanted to capture that essence in her cookbook. While she stays true to the traditional recipes, she also emphasizes the use of high-quality ingredients and a thoughtful replacement of certain common seasonings like Maggie with a variety of spices to enhance the natural flavours. Some of her favourites: granat cake(peanut brittle is simple, sweet and crunchy) and roadside grills – mouth-watering ‘Kankankan’. (Tender beef/ chicken threaded on a skewer and then grilled to perfection in a tantalizing spicy peanut sauce.)

The Maria Bradford Twist

One of the standout elements of Maria’s work is the fusion of traditional ingredients with her creative innovations. She speaks passionately about how she has reimagined dishes by incorporating new techniques and ingredients, without losing the essence of  the traditional cuisine. For instance, she uses cassava in various ways—from making croquettes to desserts—demonstrating her culinary prowess and the versatility of these traditional ingredients. Her approach is not just about preserving the old but also about inspiring a new generation to see the potential in African culture and lifestyle.

Community and Education

Maria is not just focused on her own culinary achievements; she has a vision for the broader community. She expressed concern over the lack of knowledge among younger generations about traditional foods and cooking methods. During a visit to her homeland, she was shocked to find that many young people were unfamiliar with staple dishes like “Morkor.”

Morkor: Introduced to Sierra Leone by the Temne tribe, this sweet and savoury green banana fritter is today sold by street food vendors throughout the country, crossing tribal boundaries.

This gap in knowledge drives her desire to see culinary education integrated into the school curriculum, where children can learn about the cultural significance of their food, the processes behind it, and the importance of food hygiene.

Maria’s dream extends beyond her own kitchen. She is in the process of establishing a restaurant in 2025 at Sevenoaks, Kent that showcases the richness of Sierra Leonean cuisine to the world. Moreover, she envisions a future where Sierra Leone’s culinary traditions are preserved and celebrated through community initiatives and education, ensuring that the next generation appreciates and continues these traditions.

Balancing Passion and Self-Care

Despite her passion for her work, Maria acknowledges the challenges of balancing her demanding career with self-care. She candidly shared how she often struggles to take time for herself, especially during busy event seasons. However, she is making a conscious effort to prioritize rest and self-care, understanding its importance in maintaining her energy and creativity. Maria’s honesty about the difficulties of delegation and the pressures of maintaining high standards is a reminder, that even those who excel in their fields need to take time to recharge.

A Message of Cultural Pride

Throughout the interview, Maria emphasized the importance of cultural pride, especially in relation to food. She draws inspiration from the way French children are taught to appreciate their culinary heritage from a young age and hopes to see a similar approach adopted for Sierra Leone. By teaching children to value and take pride in their traditional foods (fufu, yebeh, cassava leaves to name but )Maria believes they can grow up with a stronger sense of identity and connection to their culture.