Bring Burmese Food to DC

Toli Moli began with a simple mission: to sweeten snack time. It's hard to believe nearly nine months have passed since we served our first faloodas to folks lining up on Georgia Avenue just after an epic snowstorm.

Since January of this year, a few major things helped further our vision:

1. My mom and I both quit our jobs to dedicate all our time, attention, hard work and passion to the business.

2. Over 600,000 people on Facebook watched this cool video NPR made about our falooda, helping us tell the larger story of how "many immigrants find a taste of home" thanks to this "globe-trotting dessert."

3. Union Market extended our pop-up to an indefinite lease, meaning we get to play more in the kitchen, serve the best Burmese food we possibly can, and expand our goal of shaping communal snack culture in the U.S.

On September 28th, the day of my mom's 64th birthday, she boarded a plane to Burma for the third time since she left as a teenager. In just two weeks, I will join her there for a lifechanging journey to rediscover the flavors of her home country. Our goal is to bring the best of Burma to DC. With your help, two minority female foodpreneurs will continue to thrive and innovate.

Bottom line: my mom and I have put it all on the line for Toli Moli and now we need a little help to reach the next phase of our growth.

Your support will enable us to take cooking classes with experts, visit lesser known towns where culinary treasures await, and most importantly, it will provide a parachute for this great leap of faith we've taken.

Funding this campaign is an investment in the future of Toli Moli at a critical moment for our small, family-owned business.

Though our Union Market stall is tiny - just 100 square feet! - we envision a brick and mortar location in the near future where families, friends and foodies will gather to enjoy a delicious pause in their busy lives.

The impact of your contribution will have a multiplier effect. Burmese cuisine is still relatively unknown, and we are currently the only shop in Washington, DC where Burmese food is served.

Toli Moli started with just me, my mom, and generous support from a few very encouraging friends. Today, #FaloodaNation includes curious eaters hungry for something unique, rooted in centuries of tradition.

Our primary objective for this trip is to revisit my mom's first food crush, falooda, in all of its many variations and be immersed in contemporary Burmese food culture. Fermented tea leaves, hand-mixed salads and lots of textures are just a few of the hallmarks of Burmese cooking. Imagine what else we'll discover this October!

Thank you in advance for being a part of our huge goal.

Every cup and bowl we serve is stacked with love. Upon our return, we look forward to having even more to share with you in this city we call home.

With gratitude,

Simone Jacobson
Chief Falooda Wallah, Toli Moli