Jamilka Borges creates Pittsburgh-inspired dishes with Milo's Sweet Tea and Lemonade
Chef and restaurateur Jamilka Borges likes a food challenge, so when representatives from Milo’s Tea approached her about incorporating their beverage into a recipe, she was all in.
“I like a good food partnership,” said Borges. “Milo’s Tea … is woman and family-owned. Their tea is really freaking good.”
Borges, who is from Puerto Rico, came to Pittsburgh in 2007 for culinary school at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. The two-time James Beard Foundation semifinalist began her career as a prep cook at Oakland’s Legume (which now operates as Butterjoint). She has been a chef at Bar Marco, Spoon, Independent Brewing Company, Hidden Harbor and Lorelei. Last year, she helped launch Richard DeShantz’s restaurant Sally Ann’s in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Borges said she wanted to incorporate Milo’s tea and lemonade into something that represents the city of Pittsburgh. It took a week to come up with a few ideas and to experiment.
“I wanted both savory and sweet,” she said.
Borges created Milo’s Summer Delight Cake and Milo’s Extra Sweet Pierogies. Borges said the cake has a “sweet, slightly floral taste from the tea and a bright lemon flavor from the curd.” She said since Milo’s Famous Sweet Tea and Lemonade are made with real and minimal ingredients, the flavor truly shines without being overpowering.
For Milo’s Extra Sweet Pierogies, the tea flavor mixes well with all the different components and you’ll end up with a sweet-savory taste, Borges said.
“This combined with the tanginess of the sauerkraut is a delicious combination,” she said. “The tea flavor gives more of a caramelized, meaty taste.”
The items will be on the menu at Lilith, a restaurant she and pastry chef Dianne DeStefano are opening this month in Shadyside.
They’ve renovated the space that was formerly Cafe Zinho, which closed earlier this year.
According to Borges, the name Lilith comes as an ode to her and DeStefano’s perseverance as chefs in a male-dominated field — the theory is that Lilith was Adam’s first wife in the Bible. She believed that they were created equal but after Adam disagreed, Lilith fled the Garden of Eden to gain her independence.
Borges said only 25% of restaurants in the U.S. have a female as their executive chef.
Lilith will serve eclectic coastal-inspired cuisine with nods to DeStefano’s Sicilian heritage and Borges’ Puerto Rican heritage.
“(Milo’s was) looking to partner with a chef and this is a good opportunity because I love their story,” Borges said. ”They are led by a woman and they have stayed true to producing a high-quality product made with natural ingredients.”
Lilith is located at 238 Spahr St., Shadyside.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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