10 Black Foodie Influencers You Need To Follow Right Now
Our melanin sisters are taking over the food influencer game! They not only rock the kitchen but show us how to do it too; giving us the confidence we need to at least try and recreate their masterpieces.
They are changing the way thousands look at food with their unique dishes, skills, and love for creating hearty dishes. Set aside a few minutes to show love because it's super easy to get lost in the sauce and stand in awe of their timelines.
Let's salute these Black female food bloggers and influencers who love to share their recipes and help us all channel our inner chef girl.
1.@thedannirose, formerly @StoveTopKisses
Who's That Girl?
Her real name is Danni Rose but once you swoon over her Instagram page (which you'll start doing after half a scroll), you'll see why she's rocking the @StoveTopKisses name.
Her bio reveals she was "raised" in her "daddy's Alabama juke joint," so that right there tells you that she's certainly not new to this, and there's no question that her cooking is fire. Some of her most-liked recipes and delicious snapshots are baked macaroni and cheese (which we know can make or break an entire meal), crispy cream corn ho cakes with hot sauce, and seared ribeye with bacon scallion butter. Mouth. Watering.
2.@JessicaInTheKitchen
Who's That Girl?
You know I had to show love to a vegan and vegetarian chef. And Jessica Hylton aka @JessicaInTheKitchen is as real as they come. Her recipes aren't only a big up to those on a plant-based diet, but many of them are gluten-free as well. And while some of us are still wondering how this can taste just as great as their counterparts, Jessica has shown countless times it can be done.
Some standouts? Recipes for a hearty one-pot minestrone soup, vegan quiche, overnight French toast casserole, vegan cheese pasta bake, and cranberry apple crisp… just to name a few.
3.@ButterBeReady
Who's That Girl?
Shout out to Butter Be Ready! Real name Quin, Butter Be Ready can do no wrong in the cooking department. Her Instagram alone looks like an editorial spread for a major magazine, not to mention she's mastered the art of photographing meals that actually look good online. The best part? She also provides recipes for us.
Whether you're looking for powdery blueberry streusel muffins (her blackout chocolate cupcakes deserve more than an honorable mention), or something savory like spicy Korean wings, Butter Be Ready is for everybody.
4.@IAmEricaBarrett
Who's That Girl?
Homegirl is official official! Erica Barrett wears many hats but the one that we can't get enough of is chef. She's been featured in Oprah's 2016 Favorite Things, Good Morning America, and Shark Tank. And it doesn't take long to see why. She's not only a pro but super creative!
Her Instagram feed proves she's not afraid of taking chances with dishes like fried lobster deviled eggs, fried green tomato po'boys, and of course, sweets, like loaded, sprinkle cake pops. Thankfully, she's got a cookbook, Shuga & Seoul, to teach us her ways. *Insert raised hands emoji here*
5.@ChefResha
Who's That Girl?
She's the real deal! One of the things I love about @ChefResha is in her bio she let her nearly 70K followers know that she's a self-taught chef and pushes them to conquer their cooking fears. Seeing her feed shows that she's just as magical as she says she is, because one of the questions that keep coming to mind is, "How did she teach herself how to do that?!"
I'm sure trial and error are a part of the mix, but she's certainly gone from student to teacher real quick. From her Mexican churros to her slow roasted turkey wings with creamy marsala gravy, she's proven cooking is an art.
6.@GrandbabyCakes
Who's That Girl?
While most of us have stood under our mother or grandmother in the kitchen, it's safe to say, Jocelyn Delk Adams, AKA @GrandbabyCakes, took her childhood cooking lessons to a new level. Her recipes are inspired by her grandmother (may she rest in peace), and clearly, she was doing something right because @GrandbabyCakes has had regular features on TODAY, Rachael Ray, Food Network, and the Cooking Channel.
Thanks to dishes like caramel apple cake and homemade tomato basil soup, she's probably your favorite chef's favorite chef.
7.@LohiCreates
Who's That Girl?
Why is Lohi Creates every woman, though?! The Nigerian blogger based in Toronto (how dope is that?) holds nothing back when sharing what she whips up for her beautiful family of three. Her feed and website make it look so easy, so don't be surprised if you find yourself putting on your apron to tackle her recipes with determination. And it challenges us all to try something new.
A few favorites have already proven to be her shrimp tacos with mango salsa and grilled croaker fish with yam fries and broccolini. We see you boo.
8.@EdenTheFoodie
Who's That Girl?
Eden is doing it for the culture with her chef page, @blackfoodie.co. She goes further than dishing about delicious meals hailing from various places, and sparks conversation about heritage, food, and everything in between. This is why she's one of our faves for more reasons than one.
One of the best things about Eden is that she supports other Black-owned chefs and restaurants, spreading the word and the love down her feed, inspiring her followers to do the same.
9.@ChefDanie
Who's That Girl?
Chef Danie is an entire vibe. Her recipes break beyond the borders and make major salutes to places like Haiti and Thailand; just check out her soup Joumou and Limonaide she made for Haitian Independence Day. She provides the recipe, but one can only hope for a result as well as hers.
In the meantime, I have no shame in admiring her dishes from international to hometown favorites like Cabernet braised short ribs with roasted garlic parmesan risotto and pancakes with Chanel syrup. Yeah, she murdered those.
10.@FoodLoveTog
Who's That Girl?
FoodLoveTog describes herself best in her bio as a "spice slanger" and "magic maker." And it's obvious she lives up to these witty phrases. Taking a look at her feed, she certainly doesn't lack seasoning or magic as she spreads love via dishes like brunch potatoes, creamy corn grits (topped with bacon, shrimp, and cheese… God thank you), and Cajun soup that includes 15 beans.
Her profile is filled with inspiring messages that not only help us feel more confident with not just in cooking, but in life altogether.
Featured image by @grandbabycakes.
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Charmaine Patterson is a journalist, lifestyle blogger, and a lover of all things pop culture. While she has much experience in covering top entertainment news stories, she aims to share her everyday life experiences, old and new, with other women who can relate, laugh, and love along with her. Follow Char on Twitter @charjpatterson, Instagram @charpatterson, and keep up with her journey at CharJPatterson.com .
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
The world is filled with tons of distractions vying for our attention. Our workloads can be demanding, social media chatter can be deafening, and it all makes you wish you could flip a switch and shut everything off.
But since life doesn’t come with a mute button, we have to find ways to turn the volume down so we can reset our mood and fade into the present moment. Interestingly enough, singer Coco Jones knows a thing or two about this.
@harpersbazaar Relatable 👏 #cocojones #vmas #vmas2023 #celebstyle #titkokfashion #moschino
In a recent red carpet interview with Harper’s Bazaar, singer Coco Jones was asked by an interviewer, “What was the last song you listened to?” Ready for the R&B starlet to sound off a Billboard-charting banger, we were surprised and humored to learn that the songs to land in her rotation come from a more sonic style of music known as ambient music.
“The last song I listened to was probably ambient music,” she shared. “It be so loud in this world of mine, I just need to listen to a gong.” This had us thinking that maybe we too use a few gongs, harps, and xylophones in our music rotation, especially if Coco approves.
What Is Ambient Music?
Ambient music is a genre of music that emphasizes atmosphere, mood, and tone over traditional musical structure and melody. This vibe-setting, atmosphere-shaping sound is often described as "background music" as it’s designed to create an immersive and ambient sonic environment rather than being the primary focus of the listener's attention.
Ambient music has rich, audio texture while being shapeless in its melodies. Many songs in the genre tend to be minimalist in nature, with simple and repetitive musical elements. It often features long, sustained tones or chords, with lengthy compositions that listeners can get lost in — in a good way, of course.
@lovie.world ambient music starter pack i want everyone to know peace #ambientmusic #musictok #playlist
Why You Might Love Ambient Music
Taking your first listen to an ambient track, may take some time to adjust to. If you’re used to songs with structure and reliable flows and chords, it could take a couple of listens to ease into the amorphic style of this music genre. Its primary goal is to evoke a specific atmosphere or mood that can be calming, meditative, introspective, eerie, or even unsettling, depending on the artist's intentions.
As TikTok creator and DJ, Lovie shared in her video detailing the genre, “We also go through too much as a people to not be listening to some Tibetan singing bowls and some gongs, okay?” And we couldn’t agree more. Sometimes we need sounds to transport us from reality, even if that’s just for 30 minutes at a time. Life is tough enough, why not allow our music to feed into our escapism just a little?
Exploring Ambient Music
If you’re looking to give ambient music a spin in your playlist, your next question might be where to even begin. You might be pleased to know that as a beginner, you don’t have to venture too far to find that you may have already been introduced to the genre through singer and songwriter, Solange Knowles. Her fourth studio album, When I Get Home, features the atmospheric sounds of ambient music throughout.
Some of the pioneering artists in the ambient music genre include Brian Eno, who is often credited with coining the term "ambient music," as well as artists like Tangerine Dream, Harold Budd, and Aphex Twin.
The sounds of ambient music are unhurried and full of ease, which can provide the perfect momentary escape from the outside noise or as background music for your studies or creative processes. So if you're looking to widen your music taste and tune out this noisy world, take Coco’s advice to give ambient music a try because you can never go wrong with a gong.
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Featured image by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
