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Best Ways to Garden Year Round for Fresh Produce
It’s not possible to garden all year long—or is it? With some planning, you can come close! Here are the best ways to garden year round for fresh produce. Have a green thumb? Unless you live in a constantly pleasant climate, gardening all year long may seem like just a pleasant dream. But while you won’t be able to grow crops in the snow and ice, there are ways to extend your grow times, increase your yield, and even raise tomatoes (and more) in the wintertime! Here are the best ways to garden year round for fresh produce. Plant Cold-Weather Crops All plants...
Fried Fish and Spaghetti: A Black Tradition Cooked With a Side of History
The tradition of fried fish and spaghetti on a plate stayed with me through my childhood in St. Louis and Denver and my young adult life in Chicago. My mom was an exceptional cook, and she taught me how to make crispy catfish with a side of flavor-packed, meatless spaghetti and sometimes creamy coleslaw. If you grew up in the Midwest, the combination does not sound unfamiliar or strange. “It was not considered weird when we did fish fry fundraisers to have spaghetti on there with a salad and the fish and some bread,” says Adrian Miller, a food historian and...
Addis Nola Ethiopian Restaurant in New Orleans Brings a Taste of East Africa
Addis Nola is shaking up New Orleans by bringing Ethiopian culture to the city’s vibrant food scene. The award-winning Ethiopian restaurant in New Orleans is celebrating more than a year of being reopened at the new location on Bayou Road. The historic corridor is the oldest in New Orleans and serves as a hub for Black culture and enterprise. The restaurant’s move to the area signifies its community standing and cultural impact as one of the few African restaurants in the city. Bridging the Food Scene Gap Addis Nola made its debut in March 2019 with the goal of bringing a taste...
Caribbean Food in Los Angeles Finds its Star at Linden
Centered on the infamous Sunset Blvd between Gower Street and North Bronson Avenue, the Linden Los Angeles is a culinary gem serving Caribbean food in Los Angeles that pays homage to the rich flavors and vibrant cultures of the islands as well as, Jewish, African American and South Asian cuisines. From the moment you step inside, the restaurant’s comforting ambiance envelops you, transporting you to a warm, maroon-hued space that feels like your grandma’s dining room. With a décor that blends books with elegant artwork and touches of Caribbean heritage, Linden sets the perfect stage for a dining experience featuring Caribbean...
Two Delicious Sugarcane Drinks to Enjoy at Home
Sugarcane is a tasty ingredient for sweet drinks around the world. If you are discovering sugarcane for the first time, here are two reasons to give it a try, especially for making your own sugarcane drinks at home. Why Drink Sugarcane Sugarcane is a tasty ingredient used in beverages in parts of Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Now, Americans are exploring sugarcane as a tasty and low-sodium, low-cholesterol food. Juice bars that cater to health-conscious consumers can even craft sugarcane juice that relaxes customers naturally. Sugarcane drinks taste sweet and help you maintain your electrolyte balance for...
Why Port Wines Should Be on Everyone’s Wine List
The next time you’re in the wine aisle at your local grocery or wine store, think port wines. Interest for the world’s most notable fortified wine has been reviving over the years after a slight decline. Thanks to an innovative cocktail culture as well as port producers adapting to today’s wine world, it looks like we’ll be seeing more of the vino classic that dates back to the 1880s. If you have a passion for wine and travel, then grab your passport and head over to Portugal, specifically the Douro Valley, where port wines has been made for centuries. The wine’s name...
The Hue Society Remains Grounded Despite Plunges in DEI Commitments
In 2020, when KN95 masks saw supply shortages and simultaneously widespread protests against police brutality targeting Black communities heightened, the concept of DEI became a popular buzzword adopted by many companies as a performative measure. At the time, this resulted in a surge of funding for Black-owned initiatives and businesses, only for this support to wane over time, leaving many founders disheartened. Despite these setbacks, Tahiirah Habibi, the founder and CEO of The Hue Society, remains committed to centering Black folks in wine by prioritizing genuine connections and practicing discernment regarding partnerships. Expanding The Hue Society In 2017, Habibi saw a resource gap...
Fior Scotch Blends Passion with Representation in the Whisky Industry
Retired Marine Major Eric Dominijanni delved into the realm of the alcohol industry in 2023 with Fior Scotch. Coming from humble beginnings with roots planted in Queens, New York, he graduated from Mercy College before joining the Marine Corps in 1997. The buoyant foodie has always loved to cook, so when he received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase his culinary talents, he obliged. “In 2006, I was on ‘Throw Down! with Bobby Flay’ and won. I have been cooking since I was knee-high to a pit bull,” says Dominijanni. “Cooking has always been my life. I make my own sausage, wine,...
Vegans of Los Angeles Food Bank Focuses on Food Security While Serving Compassion
The Vegans of Los Angeles Food Bank is the first vegan food bank in Los Angeles, creating food security and ensuring Southern Californians have greater accessibility to healthier food options, serving more than 25,000 people annually. Gwenna Hunter is the visionary behind the Vegans of Los Angeles Food Bank, emerging as a powerful voice for change, embodying and encouraging empowerment, community leadership, and spiritual illumination. She brings the message of food worthiness as a birthright that excludes animals to the forefront. The mission of the Vegans of Los Angeles Food Bank is to provide nutritious, plant-based food to our communities while promoting planetary...
Eating Beautifully: 5 Foods That Make Your Skin Glow
Plenty of foods can improve your diet and health, but some can even affect your skin’s appearance. Here are some foods that make your skin glow. Food isn’t just something you eat for sustenance. From boosting your immune system to making your hair shine, the food you eat has huge effects on your entire body. That’s why knowing the foods that make your skin glow is so important for proper skincare. Papaya One of the most delicious fruits, papaya has several key nutrients for skin health stemming from an enzyme called papain. This makes papaya great for preventing breakouts, moisturizing, and improving the...
South African Wine Geek Merecia Smith Opens Historica Lab
When Merecia Smith was in high school, her dream was to be a social worker. She wanted to help people. She saw the difficulties faced by many in the impoverished community she was born into on the outskirts of Stellenbosch — South Africa’s second-oldest town, dating back to 1679 — and the hub of the country’s most celebrated wine route. When she realized that to pursue this dream she would need a university degree, costing money her parents didn’t have, she enrolled for a one-year dental assistant diploma at the equivalent of a city college. She passed with flying colors....
7 Menu Choices for Buffet-Style Dinner Parties
Buffet dinners are perfect for large groups and picky eaters. Here are some of the best food choices for your buffet dinner parties to wow your guests. Buffet-style dinner parties are great ways to connect with your family members and friends. This type of dinner party is great for larger groups and people who are picky eaters. Although buffet dinners are known for having less-healthy options, here are six food choices for buffet-style dinner parties that are both healthy and tasty! Build-Your-Own Salad Salads can come in many forms. Adding a build-your-own salad station is great for picky eaters or people who don’t...
Young Cancer Survivor Lives His Best Life and Cooks Up Support for St. Jude
If you want to be inspired by a living example of a fighter, look no further than a young man who conquered cancer three times. The battle against the disease began early in life for Javon at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “As a child, I grew up at St. Jude. I was used to being around children who were being treated for cancer. I just thought I was a normal kid. They became my village,” says Javon, a college honors graduate, marching band musician and home cook. A Village Life at St. Jude Life changed dramatically for two-year-old Javon when doctors...
5 Dirtiest Foods You Should Wash Before Eating
Having a balanced diet matters for maintaining a long, healthy life. While it’s fun to eat sweet and salty foods occasionally, snacking on your favorite fruits and vegetables helps maintain an even diet of healthy eating. However, if you don’t properly wash your foods, you can get food poisoning, leaving you bedridden for days. So let’s look at the five dirtiest foods that need washing before consumption. 5 Dirtiest Foods You Should Wash Before Eating Apples While apples have numerous health benefits and powerful micronutrients, they tend to sit high on the list of dirtiest foods to wash before consumption. Because pesticides and...
5 Train Etiquette Tips to Get You and Others from Destination A to B
Many “trains” arrive at “your” station; treat them good whether they stay or leave! – Mehmet Murat ildan “ALL ABOARD!” Traveling on a locomotive is a wonderful way to journey from one destination to another. Picture yourself relaxed, headset playing your favorite music, daydreaming and taking in varying views flowing past large windows. A train venture offers amazing scenery through countrysides, mountains, coastlines, lush forests and cities. Rail travel allows passengers to just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Traveling by train affords you the opportunity to visit numerous cities and landmarks en route to your final destination. Amtrak is the...
Chef Not Cook Series Captures the Legacy of Culinary Artists Through Photos
New York-based photographer and storyteller Brendan Miller is unveiling his newest photo series, Chef not Cook: The Process to Plate, capturing the stories of eight prominent African American chefs leading the charge in the industry. “It’s very focused on the contemporary movement,” says the photojournalist. “But it’s historically framed in thinking about how, for generations, there was all this talent that shaped not only American culinary trajectory and history but really just all over the world.” This powerful series, nominated this year for a James Beard Award in photography, depicts Black culinary artists thriving in their element, underscoring the significant impact...
Alexis George Wines Honor Family, Gives Back to Community
With exposure, opportunities are more likely to follow. That certainly is the case for Alexis George Wines founder and winemaker George Brown. Brown recalls his childhood days growing up in South Philadelphia, which he describes back then as being “tough” but also “close-knit” with the elders keeping the kids in the neighborhood in line. Being raised in a single-parent home, his mother worked for the Board Education and it would be the education throughout his youth and young adult years that would allow him to see what is possible. “I was really fortunate to go to some really great schools,” Brown...
Juneteenth Menu Ideas That Preserve the Holiday’s Culinary Traditions
Black folks collectively rolled their eyes the moment Walmart blanketed its freezers with Juneteenth ice cream in 2022. Did a multinational corporation with no ties to the community really have the audacity to market a red velvet confection for Juneteenth menu ideas? Especially with pints plastered in African imagery to honor Freedom Day for the last enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, conveniently delayed two years after the Emancipation Proclamation? This megastore had the nerve… but quickly recalled this product and others following complaints of racial insensitivity and “corporate pandering.” A Time Not to Forget The holiday traces its origins back to the...
How to Host a Wine Tasting Party This Summer
Summer is the time when people love to gather. Everyone can sit down to enjoy the company of others. What’s a better way to catch up with your closest friends than with a wine tasting party? You’ll probably want some tips if you’ve never hosted a wine tasting before. Here’s how to host a wine tasting party this summer. The More Intimate the Guest List, the Better When it comes to hosting a wine tasting party, you should keep the guest list small and intimate. Ten or fewer is the preferred number to aim for. The small guest list allows people...
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