Hi there, I’m Mary Davis, the person behind Eat Fudena. If you’ve landed here, chances are you share my love for good food, curious cooking questions, and the simple joy of preparing something delicious. Let me tell you a bit about how this all started.
A few years back, I launched Fudena as a small pop-up in Philadelphia. At the time, I was simply craving the flavors of home – West African dishes like jollof rice, waakye, and hearty stews that reminded me of my childhood. I saw how excited people were to try something new, how food could bring people together, and how sharing those recipes could spark so many great conversations. The name “Fudena” comes from the Dagaare phrase “Fu di naa?” meaning “Have you eaten?” a simple question that always carries a sense of warmth and care.
But as time went on, I noticed something unexpected. While serving meals, I would often chat with customers who had plenty of questions. Not just about West African food, but about cooking in general. Questions like: How many calories are really in that sandwich? How do I store fresh mozzarella? Can you actually fry frozen chicken safely? And sometimes, people would hesitate to ask, feeling like maybe they should already know the answers.
That’s when it clicked for me. There’s a gap that so many of us feel when it comes to cooking and food knowledge. It’s not that people don’t care they simply want reliable, clear answers without feeling overwhelmed.
So I started gathering the kind of information people often seek. Things like how to pick the right pan for searing steak, how long that leftover soup will stay safe in the fridge, or whether you can reheat fried seafood without ruining its texture. Even light-hearted questions pop up more than you’d expect, like how many slices are in a pound of cheese.
We talk about food in all its forms – from frying techniques to seafood safety, meal prepping, calorie breakdowns, and plenty of those little details that help people feel a bit more confident in their kitchens. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or just starting out with your first homemade pizza, it’s about making every step feel approachable.
Cooking can be filled with small uncertainties, and I know how helpful it is to have a place where those uncertainties feel less intimidating. That’s what keeps me sharing, learning, and exploring right alongside you.
Welcome to Eat Fudena. Let’s make cooking a little less complicated, together.
Meet Mary: The Curiosity Behind Every Kitchen Question
Mary Davis has always carried the flavors of her Ghanaian roots close to her heart, even as her professional path took her in unexpected directions. After earning her MBA from Wharton, she spent several years working in the world of food industry operations, specializing in nutrition analysis, ingredient sourcing, and consumer product development. Her work often brought her behind the scenes of how food makes its way from concept to kitchen not just on the corporate level but also within local communities.
Driven by her personal longing for the bold, comforting dishes she grew up with, Mary eventually launched Fudena as a pop-up eatery in Philadelphia, introducing West African classics like jollof rice and waakye to a wider audience. The name “Fudena” reflects her heritage, taken from the Dagaare phrase “Fu di naa?” meaning “Have you eaten?” a question that, in her culture, always carries a deeper sense of care.
Over time, conversations with curious customers began to shape Mary’s perspective. She realized that beyond recipes, people often sought practical answers about food itself the kind of questions that rarely get addressed openly. This blend of culinary passion and her professional background in food systems eventually led her to share knowledge far beyond West African cuisine. Today, Mary continues to bridge cultures and kitchens, helping others navigate the everyday questions that come with cooking and enjoying good food.