Mitsitam Native Foods Café

Mitsitam means “Let’s Eat!” in the Native American tongues of the Delaware and Piscataway peoples. And that’s exactly what museum-goers of the National Museum of the American Indian do after a morning of walking its exhibits – they eat, and well, too. Mitsitam is not just another cafeteria with overpriced burgers and drinks; it’s an extension of the museum experience for the fifth sense: tasting the past and present of Native American culinary traditions. It also erases any notion that Native American cooking was tough corn and wild turkey, but flavorful uses of the Earth’s resources. In fact, it’s received such rave reviews that nearby U.S. Air & Space Museum-goers sneak over to Mitsitam at lunch to avoid having to eat McDonalds and other fast-food fare at their own cafeteria.

Mitsitam is divided into five geographic regions, each with a separate menu to reflect the foods and tastes of that area, albeit with a twist of modern familiarity so the café can actually make reasonable sales. The Northern Woodlands, for example, might offer Lemon Verbena and Honey Cured Duck with Hazelnut and Dried Blueberry Dressing, while South America features Feijoada Completa Spiced Plantain Crisp soup. The Northwest Coast tends to be the priciest with its seafood entrees, Meso America offers chicken and beef mole tacos, and the Great Plains has Pulled Buffalo sandwich with Chayote Squash Slaw. These are only a small selection of the wide variety offered at each region. The menus even change periodically, for repeat visitors.

In addition, the menus indicate whether foods are “Vegetarian” and “Gluten-Free” and even offer a “budget” suggestion if you don’t want to fork over $20 for something you’ve never tried before. There’s also a lengthy dessert section of traditional interpretations and everyday treats, from chocolate cake to Mesquite Pinion Cookies.

All this can be enjoyed in the airy seating area decorated in relaxed, earthy tones. If you’re lucky, you can score a table with a picturesque view of the waterfalls splashing over rocks outside. 

 

- by Rin-rin Yu, Washington Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Rin-rin Yu

Rin-rin is an award-winning writer and journalist based in the Baltimore-Washington area. Her work has appeared in China Daily, DAYSPA magazine, Luxury Home Design, Aquatics International, Not For Tourists and other publications. Rin-rin has also worked for ABC News, WHDH-TV (NBC) in Boston and Hanley Wood Business Media. She has a master's degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She is an avid world traveler and maintains a travel blog, www.mytravelhats.com.