Black Owned Businesses and Bloggers in Food.

Black Owned Businesses and Bloggers in Food. Excited to share some newly discovered people to follow in the food space!

Hi, hi everyone! Thank you so much for your positive feedback on yesterday’s blog post about Urban Farming in Cleveland. I’m really excited that so many of you found the post uplifting and inspiring. That is always my goal…whether I’m sharing a recipe, or any other type of content.

As I said yesterday, it’s actually refreshing to be shifting my focus for the week and helping to highlight the Black community. It has been eye-opening, and to be honest, really fun discovering new to me brands, businesses, and influencers both in the food space and beyond.

With the help of my family, you guys, and our small but mighty HBH team (especially our newest member, Margaret, and my mom), we’ve compiled a list of Black-owned businesses. Food bloggers/influencers, brands, and restaurants for you all to discover as we take this time to truly stop and immerse ourselves in the Black community.

Please let us know of anyone you personally follow and enjoy. You all know I love hearing from you. I read every single comment on yesterday’s blog post (as did my mom)…and with a huge smile too. Thank you guys for truly being the best HBH family. I love connecting and sharing with you every single day.

I will see you again tomorrow. And in Sunday’s Nine Favorite Things we’ll be highlighting more Black-owned businesses in the lifestyle and fashion space. So please mention anyone you follow in the comments. Have fun discovering some some talented cooks or influencers to follow!

PS. any food people you guys suggest I will try to include in Sunday’s post. So let’s hear them!

Food Bloggers/Influencers…

Grand Baby Cakes

I’m excited to know Jocelyn personally and all I have to say is that she truly is the kindest, sweetest, and most caring person. Her energy radiates happiness and her southern style of cooking is not only delicious, but brings people together in the best way. And her cakes? Well, you absolutely must check them out yourself, especially this strawberry lemonade cake. Yum!

Food Heaven

Wendy and Jess describe themselves as best friends who love to eat, cook, and nerd out about anything nutrition-related. They share plant-based recipes with a focus on nutritious food that is delicious and accessible. They even have a podcast you can check out too! And their black bean enchiladas look amazing.

Kaluhi’s Kitchen

Kaluhi’s goal is to change the way people plan for meals, cook, eat, and share their food. Her blog and YouTube channel will show you just how fun and easy cooking can be. The banana pancakes that she recently shared are perfect for Saturday brunching.

A Classic Twist

Zainab, who is originally from Freetown, Sierra Leone, has such a cute story. I encourage you to read it in full here. She focuses on everyday classic recipes with bold twists and flavors. Her baking began as a grad school hobby. It was a way for her to de-stress and express her creativity while earning her Ph.D. in neuroscience. So somewhat similar to me…but then not at all. I definitely do not have a Ph.D. in neuroscience! Her easy chicken fajitas sound so flavorful. Great family dinner!

Immaculate Bites

Imma believes you can have the taste of the tropics right in your own home. She cooks a mix of African and Caribbean recipes…which you all know I LOVE. Her food looks delicious. Her grilled salmon (which she pairs with mango salsa) is definitely on my list of recipes to try soon. Perfect for summer.

Sweet Potato Soul

Jenné is from Georgia, but living in LA. She shares delicious and easy-to-make vegan recipes. Her very first cookbook, Sweet Potato Soul is now out and is an incredible resource for vegan cooking. I also loved reading her blog posts on making produce last longer and this mezcal watermelon margarita…which looks beyond good.

Ayesha Curry

Many of you probably know of Ayesha. She’s a mom of three, incredible chef, and the founder of Eat. Learn. Play. A foundation devoted to providing an equal road to success for all kids. You can learn more here. 

Hannah Bronfman

Hannah is truly one of the best healthy lifestyle focused influencers I’ve come across. She shares everything from tips on beauty, to confidence-boosting, to delicious recipes. Make sure to check out her cookbook and follow along on Instagram.

Benjamina Ebuehi

Benjamina was a finalist on the British Bake Off…so you know her recipes are going to be GOOD. Also, she’s a food stylist and has some of the prettiest recipes!

Marissa Moore

Love Marissa’s approach to food, easy, and (mostly) healthy. She’s a registered dietitian, and her recipes look delish! Can’t wat to make her vegan berry oatmeal bars.

Chocolate For Basil

Jerrelle is an award-winning author, food stylist, food photographer, food writer, and recipe developer. Her first cookbook Black Girl Baking, was nominated for a 2019 James Beard Award in the baking category. She shares sweet and savory recipes on her blog, Chocolate For Basil.

Toni Tipton-Martin

Toni’s cookbook, Jubilee is a celebration of African American cuisine and is loved by many around the world. Her cookbook highlights 200 years of African American cooking. Read more about Toni and her cookbook on Bon Appètit.

Diala’s Kitchen

Her first cookbook is out August 4th! So exciting and each and every recipe looks incredible! She shared the best pizza recipe recently and it looks beyond good.

Sophia Roe

I’ve listened to Sophia Roe’s interview on The Second Life Podcast and it’s one of the most inspiring stories! I love her approach to food.

All The Healthy Things

Ashlea shares simple, healthy, gluten free recipes. Her chopped Thai chicken salad would be the perfect summer lunch of dinner.

Related Reading: Cherry Bombe put out a list of Black-Owned Women Lead Businesses with a very extensive cookbook list! I personally have a couple of these books and many have just made my “must order” list too. You can read the full post here.

Food Brands…

Me & the Bees Lemonade

This is the sweetest story and I really, really have to encourage you to read it all the way through…loved! Mikaila, the founder is just 15. She has a passion for saving the bees and creating only the sweetest lemonade. You can purchase their lemonade at places like Whole Foods and Kroger. Find a store near you here. The Lemon flavor sounds so delicious, the Mint and Ginger Lemonades are on my Whole Foods grocery list.

Partake Foods

Delicious cookies that are vegan, gluten-free, and allergy friendly. Eyeing these double chocolate chip cookies for sure.

Sanaia Applesauce

Sanaia is an applesauce brand created by CEO & Founder, Keisha Smith-Jeremie. Keisha is reimagining our favorite childhood treat, applesauce. It’s USDA Organic and honestly sounds incredible. Look for Sanaia at Walmart and please, please read (and watch) their founder’s story here. It is so inspiring.

A Dozen Cousins

Ready-to-eat vegan and non-GMO seasoned beans made with avocado oil. I am so impressed with this brand. Most prepared bean brands are loaded with the weirdest ingredients, but these I would use in my very own kitchen. You can easily purchase them on Amazon (eyeing these Cuban black beans). Also, I loved reading the founder’s story, so sweet. You can read more here. They have an incredible mission statement. 

Sweet Dames

Focuses on Macaroons and Cocomallow Sandwiches. Wow and yum!

Iya Foods

Focuses on whole food powders, spices and seasonings, cassava flour, and hibiscus flower. Learn more here and order on Amazon here (this Peri Peri seasoning would be so good on chicken…sounds incredible) And again, this brand has a truly incredible mission statement. So impressed and love their story. Please find out more here.

BLK & Bold 

BLK & Bold pledge 5% of its profits to initiatives aligned to sustaining youth programming, enhancing workforce development, and eradicating youth homelessness. I just ordered their organic coffee and cannot wait for it to arrive.

MODESTINE®️| ORGANIC TEAS

Ayurvedic and Herbal teas. Order some here. I need some of the Let Go Blend.

Trade Street Jam Co

Low sugar, vegan jams for spreading on everything. These look SO GOOD! I love jam and these are so creative. The Summer Solstice Gift Set would make the cutest care package.

restaurants around the country…

Note: I know there are a million more Black-owned restaurants around the US. So if you have one in your city that you love, please share with us in the comments!

Brooklyn Perk Coffee – Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn Tea – Brooklyn, NY

Cheeky Sandwiches – NYC Lower East Side

Dooky Chase’s Restaurant – New Orleans, LA

Swank Desserts – Summerville, SC

Theopolis Vineyards – winery located in Yorkville, CA

Brown Estate – winery located in Napa, CA

Red Bay Coffee Roasters – multiple locations across California

The Plate Sale – food preservation in Georgia. Love what this company is about. Read more here.

Crumbs Bakery – offers All vegan treats in Chapel Hill, NC

Related Reading: Black-Owned Restaurant Lists Circulating the Internet, Organized by City on Bon Appètit.

Chefs to Follow on Instagram

Photo via Bryant Terry.

Tia Mowry – Sister Sister anyone? Loved that show growing up. Be sure to check out her cookbook, Whole New You.

Bryant Terry – so excited to get his cookbook, Vegetable Kingdom.

Mashama Bailey – her restaurants in Savanah sound incredible.

And here are more incredible chefs! 

Nyesha Joyce

Chef Timon

Preston Clark

Nina Compton

Kia Damon

Jerome Grant

Max Hardy

Makini Howell 

JJ Johnson

Edouardo Jordan

Kiki Bokungu Louya

Kwame Onwuachi

Ashleigh Shanti

Tunde Wey

Kith and Kind C