How 3 Chefs Are Redefining Thanksgiving And Celebrating Black Traditions Through Culinary Innovation - Page 2

1. Rashida Holmes // Macaroni Pie

Source: James Stefiuk / Getty

Rashida Holmes, owner of Bridgetown Roti in East Hollywood, is putting her own spin on traditional Thanksgiving dishes, including a nod to the classic macaroni and cheese. Holmes is known for her signature Macaroni Cheese Pie, which features a unique twist—infused with a zing of curry and topped with a crispy, golden-baked crust, as she recently shared in an interview with the LA Times. For added richness, Holmes pours her father’s homemade gravy over the dish and uses fusilli pasta instead of the usual elbow macaroni.

Holmes explains that one key difference between her macaroni pie and the Southern-style version is the inclusion of eggs in the recipe. She also swaps regular milk for evaporated milk, a common substitute in Barbados where fresh cow’s milk isn’t always readily available. Holmes believes this substitution gives her dish a slightly richer, more indulgent finish, adding depth to the classic comfort food.

“The thing that’s great about this noodle is that you can get all your cheesiness into its crevices, where a macaroni noodle is sort of one-note, smooth on the outside,” Holmes shared of her beloved recipe during her LA Times interview. “Now some people would say that the sauce would go inside, but we’re not making a saucy mac and cheese, we’re making mac and cheese pie.”