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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...
Chidobe Co-Op in Zimbabwe Launches Chaya Kickstarter with MATTER
Minnesota-based global NGO MATTER launched of the Chaya Kickstarter Campaign, aiming to raise $50,000 to fund the first line of marketable chaya products. This initiative will enable women in thriving farming cooperatives in Zimbabwe to turn surplus harvests into sustainable income. Chaya, a nutrient-dense vegetable, already improving the nutrition and health of communities in Zimbabwe, is now poised to improve the economic health of countless families across the country. Through the newly opened Chidobe Chaya Processing Center in Victoria Falls, women in the farming co-ops will be able to sell their chaya to be dried and processed into marketable products within Zimbabwe...
Caribbean Spice Island of Grenada Launches Global Culinary Conversations
The Caribbean spice island of Grenada was the gathering destination for culinary greatness in May, spearheaded by a harmonious collaboration between James Beard award-winning chef and author Alexander Smalls, Grenadian pioneering chef Belinda Bishop, the James Beard Foundation and the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA). Located north of Trinidad and Tobago and in between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, Grenada is known to the world as “The Spice Isle,” with the Caribbean spice island being one of the largest producers and exporters of cinnamon, bay leaves, ginger, cloves, nutmeg (its crown spice) and more. While Grenada has sealed its reputation...
World Plantain Day Connects and Celebrates Roots of the African Diaspora
Every year on June 5th, plantain lovers across the globe come together to celebrate World Plantain Day. This annual observance is the brainchild of Dimeji Eyiowuawi, founder of the plantain-centric organization Dodo Gang. World Plantain Day is more than just a celebration of a beloved fruit – it’s a tribute to the African diaspora. For many across the African diaspora, the sight and smell of plantains cooking evoke powerful memories of home, family and shared traditions. These nifty fruits, whether fried, roasted, boiled, or mashed, have the ability to transport people back to cherished moments around the dinner table or in...
Creamy Shrimp and Grits: 7 Tips to Make the Southern Dish at Home
The secret to creamy shrimp and grits may be ingredients already in your kitchen. According to chef Jada Prince, owner of Sassy Chef’s Kitchen in the DMV area, just a few simple ingredients will go a long way in creating the dish you want. “I am a big fan of simple but great. I don’t take a lot of ingredients to make good food. Quality ingredients and let the food shine,” says Prince. “For me, it starts with grits. They have to be flavorful and creamy and have this nice body and nice mouthfeel to them.” Prince is known among clients...
Food 4 Education Named to TIME’s List of 100 Most Influential Companies
The Kenyan nonprofit Food 4 Education is creating the blueprint to accelerate sustainable school feeding programs in Africa. Named to the fourth annual TIME100 Most Influential Companies list, Food 4 Education is recognized for its vital role in ensuring Africa’s children – the global workforce of the future – have access to a hot, affordable, and nutritious school meal every day. The non-profit is on a mission to eradicate childhood hunger by mainstreaming scalable and high-quality school feeding across Africa. “In only 25 years, one in four people will be African – this seismic demographic shift underscores the urgency of expanding locally-rooted school feeding programs as a crucial...
Exploring West African Spices to Add Bold Flavors to Your Menu Lineup
West Africa encompasses a vast and diverse region, with each country’s unique culture and history influencing its cooking practices. Despite these differences, the cuisines of West Africa share a vibrant culinary tradition marked by bold West African spices and distinct flavors. With the help of spice expert Abena Foli, founder of POKS Spices, we are going to break down the West African flavor profile, highlight ingredients commonly used in the region, and showcase how you can integrate these bold flavors into your cooking. Profiling the Flavors of West African Spices The West African flavor profile is characterized by savoriness, punching heat and...
The Best Types of Plums for Cooking and Baking
While you may not usually think about picking up plums, you should know how incredible they are. Check out the best plums for cooking and baking. You probably have a favorite apple variety, but you may not know which plum cultivar you like best. Whether you eat plums frequently or you’ve yet to try one, you should know the best types of plums for cooking and baking. They may not be one of the common fruits you buy or grow, but plums are incredibly juicy and delicious, making them a perfect addition to your diet and recipe rotation. Best Plums for...
The Spice Theory Caribbean Food Spices Crafted in Jamaican Heritage
If there are memories most of us have as adults, they are those involving food and the hands that so thoughtfully prepared it. For Dr. Corrie Amos, it is her grandmother Violet who she says is someone who served her community and enjoyed giving back through food. “As long as you walked in the door, you were sure to leave with a full belly and a happy heart,” Amos says about the matriarch who passed away in 2021. Amos shares that her love of food comes from her grandmother who is also the inspiration behind her Caribbean food spices that meld...
Chemical Food Preservatives You Should Avoid at All Costs
Knowing what chemical food preservatives you should avoid at all costs helps you select the best items available that won’t harm you down the line. The food industry likes taking several shortcuts to get the most out of its items. Adding food preservatives is a common practice among some companies to extend the item’s shelf life. However, you need to know the chemical food preservatives you should avoid at all costs. Trans Fats The meatpacking industry will use trans fats to keep their goods edible for years. In no way, shape, or form should you consume meat that can last over a...
Uncle Nearest Expands Portfolio with Square One Organic Spirits Acquisition
The world’s top-selling Black-owned spirit company Uncle Nearest recently announced the acquisition of Square One Organic Spirits, a female-owned boutique organic spirits company founded Allison Evanow with the sole mission of creating innovative organic spirits and cocktails with an eco-conscious mindset. The new agreement comes at the mark of the 20th anniversary of Square One debuting as America’s original all-organic spirits company. “In 2020, I expressed our vision for Uncle Nearest to not just be a brand, but to become the first spirits conglomerate in America founded by a woman or person of color,” states Fawn Weaver, founder and CEO...
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James Beard Award-winning culinary lifestyle media outlet connecting the African diaspora through food, drink and travel. Telling our stories since 2009.
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