Black Lives Matter

After nearly four months (!!!) of quarantine and Covid-19, we’re all still adjusting to the “new normal” of ongoing uncertainty and an infinitely slower pace of life. With my wanderlust responsibly on hold for the foreseeable future, I’ve been slowing down and looking for inspiration closer to home. Though I’ve been busy in my kitchen indulging (and soon sharing!) my love for cooking and creating my own recipes, I’ve also had the chance to discover some of what I’ve been missing right under my nose here in Los Angeles. 

While it has always been a priority of mine to be as inclusive and diverse as possible—not only in my day-to-day life, but with my travel guides and recommendations as well, the recent Black Lives Matter movement has encouraged me to take an even closer look at ways I can help support the community. This has been a time of introspection for many of us, and I’ve been taking time to listen, reflect, and learn about how I can be better—and do better—in using my platform as a catalyst for inclusivity, acceptance, and love.

My personal mission has long been to encourage and inspire others to experience different cultures through travel and cuisine, and I truly believe that these are the very best (and easiest!) ways to experience and connect with the world around us. Because when we open ourselves to another culture—whether that’s through travel or food—we’re in turn creating more empathy, respect, tolerance, and understanding for one another.

As part of my ongoing dedication towards inclusivity, once businesses start to reopen, I will be revisiting my previously-posted city guides to ensure that black-owned businesses are fairly represented. If there are any black-owned businesses that you love and feel that I’ve missed or overlooked in your city or favorite travel destination, please reach out to me so I can make sure they are on my radar. 

In the meantime, I wanted to share a list I compiled of the black-owned restaurants that I love (or am excited to try) here in my hometown of Los Angeles. While this is a list I have thoughtfully researched and carefully vetted, I have only personally tried a handful—and it’s my goal to change that. There’s no better time than the present to explore and enjoy the diversity around us, and I hope that you will join me on this journey!