Where Are They Now: Tyler Black
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
Checking in with an old favorite.
In 2008, I reviewed Mi Lah Vegetarian, the two-floor BYOB that's still doing its meatless thing on the corner of 16th and Chancellor. The chef was Tyler Black, a Florida boy with a resume that iincluded the Four Seasons, Govinda's and Horizons. He left the restaurant and Philadelphia about a year in, but his grilled haloumi with green grapes, olive oil, Meyer lemon peel and parsley has stuck with me all these years. Apparently the feeling is mutual, per an out-of-the-blue email I got from Black today.
"...I would like to let you to know that your review of Mi Lah always stuck with me," he wrote. Shucks.
So where is Black now? Living on a farm in Alachua, Florida, and running Ameraucana Wood Fire with his girlfriend, Mikaila Herold, around Gainseville. Named for the breed of chickens they raise, the food truck specializes in wood-oven, wild-yeast sourdough pizzas. Menu includes a Margherita, marinara, "Pizaladiere" with olives, red onion and anchovies and the Mortadella Vetri, inspired by you know who.
Check out Ameraucana's Facebook and if you're ever in Gainesville, drop by and show Black Philly still remembers him.
