“Not Your Average Cranka”

Indiah (right)

If you know anything about good Soul food in Washington, D.C. Oohhs & Aahhs Soul Food Restaurant has been the only thing your palette craves after a long night at the club or a nice day on U Street since about 03!   If the food wasn’t enough to make you think the restaurant lives up to its name, meeting Co-Owner Indiah Wilson pushes the rating of this establishment off the Richter!   Alisa and Amalia, my last “Not Your Average Crankas” are the “it girls” of the Bubble gum pink wearing, Catwalk Classic strutting divas but Indiah Wilson is running the big girl game in Washington D.C.  This savvy, sweet, and sassy business owner is not a D.C. native but the impression she has left on me, and this city’s food game makes her fly enough to be LBoog’s “Not Your Average Cranka”.

Indiah, a Connecticut native, was trained as an accountant by Attorney Nicholas Lamort law firm in her hey day.  This diva, that has always been on her grind, was crunchin numbers in Connecticut by day but was struttin down W 34 St. in New York City making connections to bolster her modeling career by night.  Indiah was you guessed it (not too hard to assume by the picture above) a model.  Through her career, she has made friends with many big names in the game.

 In the 80’s, Indiah graced the runway as a model in Waldoff Astoria fashion shows and also modeled for Macy’s.  Standing out in the modeling game was no feat for Indiah with her good looks and charm.  In pursuit of her career, which had the potential to be big, she moved to Paris for nine months to continue modeling.   Little did she, this petite mediocre cook at the time know, she had other things on her palette career wise that lead her to follow another dream in Washington, D.C. in years to come.

 

2006 Cover Girl!

 

 

Indiah makes the big move to Washington D.C. in 2001 and didn’t leave anything behind. The fans she attracted in the N.Y. continued to keep up with this diva and serve as a major fan base of her endeavors in D.C.  Still using her accounting training from the law firm, Indiah continued her work in this field here at B.W.I. airport but trust there was much more in the plan for this woman!  In 2003, Indiah combined vision with Oji Abbott to open Oohh’s and Aahh’s Soul Food Restaurant.  These two capitalized on the opportunity after finding out in the U Street barbershop the place was up for grabs!  Without much hesitation, Indiah and Oji scoop the joint up and started feeding the U Street community.

The business people, residents, and frequenters of U Street started grubbin on the reg in Oohh’s and Aahh’s.  The aroma or fried chicken, sweet cornbread, and macaroni and cheese flooded the streets like a mating call for all us D.C. food feens who have been waiting for some up to par soul food.  Indiah admits she wasn’t the better cook between the two, Oji combined recipes from his family and Indiah’s to set the restaurants menu and like a moth to a light in the dark, Washingtonians flocked to Oohh’s and Aahh’s for its great cuisine and good treatment.  

Over the years Indiah has impressed many Washingtonians, and visitors to the city, with her poise and care for each customer.  Her efforts have paid off and the Washingtonian, City Paper, and many other restaurant reviewers have put Oohh’s and Aahh’s on the map!  Indiah, still “using” her modeling career, even graced the cover of the 2006 Cheap Eats Guide by the Washingtonian. Because of her consistent kindness and exemplary service she has been featured across the cities publications.

Oohh’s and Aahh’s has penetrated many different communities but one group that really couldn’t get enough are the club heads.  After using her looks to attract people to their clubs, Indiah had the club owners to reciprocate the favor and send people to her spot.  (Like I said always on a grind!!)  Back in Pearls hey day (R.I.P), when H2O wasn’t ghetto and Republic Gardens and Love were the jump off, Indiah started serving late night plates to her friends and people who she met in the club.  If you roll with a ball player or a balla with some doe, and he asks you if you want something to eat after you leave Love, more than likely he is gonna take your ass to Oohh’s and Aahh’s and sweetie, don’t complain.  They started serving late night plates to the public in 2007 on Friday and Saturday nights (soon to be Wednesdays and Thursdays too says Wilson) and it’s the perfect fix after you downed that cup of Ciroc because the lights cut on.  And trust, Indiah will be in there rocking her white one piece, hot pink Prada stacks, and a fly little Chanel ankle purse with money in one hand and a plate of food in the other.  The day and night dynamic of the restaurant is different, but the service is consistent.

Needless to say, Oohh’s and Aahh’s is the bomb and so is Indiah.  I’ve been going to this spot since 2006 and have been hooked ever since.  I whole-heartedly recommend you try this spot and judge for your self.  It get’s LBoog’s stamp of approval and is a perfect example of a woman in this area doing her thing.  Definitely not the average Cranka… More pictures to come in the gallery…

 

 

 

May Pick: Alisa and Amalia Ehrmann

Mali and Lisa Not Your Average Crankas...

UMD’s newest fashionistas, sweet and sexy, 4.0 achieving twins are my pick for the first “Not Your Average Crankas”. Alisa “Lisa” and Amalia “Mali” Ehrmann take the cake when it comes to sass and class in the 09.   These young ladies, who have a special place in my heart, double your pleasure when ever they make their presence known around the DMV.   Two of the freshest faces born and bred in Landover, MD will definitely revitalize the game once us older ladies trade our pimp cards in for some bling.

Although mature in demeanor, this playful duo exudes fun and excitement anywhere they go.  Their vibrant demeanor is equally as evident in the many photo opts,(personal and professional) they participate in cuz you guessed it, THEY ARE MODELS.  Their modeling careers started early on; they have always been beautiful girls and modeling for these two is second nature.  Their modeling careers definitely flourished during their time at Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Springdale, MD.  From premiering in and developing Flower’s performance in the Cat Walk Classic to participating in Bloomingdale’s Prom Edition Fashion Show these girls have proven to be top notch models.  Endless camera flashes and eyeliner pencils later, they made their way out of high school (with honors) and both attend the University of Maryland-College Park.  Lisa is a Communications major and aspires to utilize those skills in the fashion industry and eventually would like to have a career as a fashion buyer for a top company. Meanwhile her counterpart Mali is making moves as a candidate in the prestigious Journalism School at the University of Maryland.  This genius beauty queen wants to pursue a career writing in the fashion arena.

Hold up, did I forget to mention these girls have been in Seventeen magazine countless times!!!  Premiering in 2004 as one of the best dressed teens in the country, Lisa made her mark on Seventeen.  After her big break, both girls have found their place in the March 2009 edition.  Both ladies has even landed  positions with Seventeen as a Style Council Members.  Because of their fashion conscious personas they were selected to do online blogging through Seventeen to connect with real life girls about fashion. They post fashion finds and give the game a necessary PG County twist! Lisa is also in the May2009 Seventeen JC Penny add that is currently on the shelves.  Now that’s some PG talent for you. We always have been fly in the DMV and I’m proud Seventeen magazine is giving these girls the recognition they deserve!

These are two of Lboog’s “it girls” of 2009.  They have class, they have talent, they have brains and they are not your average chicks boppin around Landover and the DMV… so what do you think? Did I do you proud Mr.’s???  Fellas let me know!

Any professional inquires about these ladies can be directly referred to real.coochie.crooks@gmail.com.  Everyone else can find them on facebook and try your luck but these hot commodities can’t stay on the market too long.  I’m pretty sure Mali traded in her pimp card and Lisa’s is chillin in her wallet.

Check more photos of these PYT’s below! And Check out my newest article “You Can Find Me in the Club???”

http://coochiecrooks.wordpress.com/2009/04/15/you-can-find-me-in-club/

 

2006 Cover Girl!

2006 Cover Girl!

Seventeen Magazine

Pretty Lisa

Mali

Mali (l) Lisa (r)