Recipe Spotlights #1
Feb 24, 2021
Welcome to my new recipe series, where I’m highlighting BIPOC creatives in the food industry!
This first release of the BIPOC Recipe Series spotlights Black recipe creators. I chose mostly independent creatives, because independent creatives have complete control over their narratives, meaning they are Black stories told by Black people. So without further ado, here are five Black recipe creators and food storytelling communities comprised of Black voices!
- Jikoni: Jikoni means kitchen in Swahili. According to their website, Jikoni focuses on African culture and people, as African cuisine and stories are underrepresented in the culinary world. By looking through the lens of cuisine, people can learn about culture. “All roads to lead to Africa” for Jikoni.
- Lady of Q: Sylvie Curry of The American Barbecue Showdown often used Asian-inspired flavors in their barbecue, but their range of cuisines spans all around the world. Sylvie may be a barbecue pitmaster, but that doesn’t stop them from crafting mouth-watering, non-BBQ recipes like the Alaskan Seafood Feasts and Korean Crispy Corn Dogs. Their YouTube channel has content discussing their time and how they got on the show, but also recipes from well before their TV show stint. Sylvie deserves all the subscribers and fans, so be sure to hit the subscribe button!
- Meiko and The Dish: Meiko Temple spent time in a Corporate America career of marketing and design, but ultimately, they found their passion in food. And what better way to combine design and culinary skills (along with a love for food!) than this beautiful blog! Meiko’s personal favorites are listed on the About page, and the recipes are colorful, creative, and culinary delights (re: Pink Spaghetti or Elote Corn Chowder)!
🌱 Vegan (or Plant-Forward)
- baumassfoods: Hilaire Baumgartner follows a mostly vegan diet (“zero meat (even fish), very limited dairy, and very little egg”, according to the About page). Hilaire is making “bomb-ass, plant-forward food” and is showing the world that a plant-based lifestyle, if accessible, is as enjoyable as (if not better and more sustainable than) one with meat. I mean, are you kidding me with these triple chocolate pistachio cookies, bbq jackfruit bean bowls with cornbread croutons and coleslaw, and skillet lasagna?! Warning: You may want to eat your screen after scrolling through their recipe feed. After all, Hilaire is a commercial food photographer in addition to running this blog, so the stunning visuals should come as no surprise.
- coco verde vegan: The Rodriguez Flores family is cooking up various plant-based foods and Latinx vegan dishes. They are Afro-Dominican and are passionate about food, welfare and social justice. Their Instagram captions are in both English and Spanish. Their Instagram feed pops of color, but also consists of heart-warming family photos.
Ways to Support BIPOC Bloggers:
- Many sites are supported by ads. If you use an ad blocker, please turn it off or remove it. If you see any ads that appeal to you (and look safe), click on them, as this may help the creatives get that revenue.
- Just show them some ❤️. Hit that follow button if you feel like you identify with their mission. Drive their Instagram engagement up by saving, sharing, or any other interactions. Followers aren’t always the goal, but enthusiastic and dedicated members of their Instagram communities are. Subscribe, like, and comment on YouTube channels, if they have them!
- Sign up for their Recipe Newsletters (typically a lightbox that appears on the screen or on the bottom).
- If their website has them, leave a review if you try their recipes and love them.
Supporting blogs doesn’t seem like it means much, but Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are underrepresented in creative spaces. Uplifting the BIPOC voices that do exist also creates more space for future creatives to leave their mark. BIPOC stories are beautiful, diverse, and meaningful – remember that the BIPOC community isn’t a monolith and sub-communities face different experiences.
* To be copyright conscious, I didn’t include any photos from their blogs.
See you soon,
Carissa 😊
If you have any questions, comments, or recommendations, please message @CarissaEats on Instagram or email carissaeats@yahoo.com!
