Fifth Season. November 2021. When I entered my suburban apartment kitchen, the once bare white walls were covered with stringy orange slime. It looked like a chaotic scene from Ghostbusters. But these were pumpkin fibers, not viscous green psycho-reactive slime. And there were no ghosts. Just my own mom and grandma attempting to make pumpkin […]

Cuisine Noir Magazine. Fall 2021 Click here to order a copy of the print and downloadable 2021 special edition issue.

Georgia Trend Magazine. November 2021. Overlooking the colorful downtown, swaying in my rocking chair, sipping a blueberry sour cocktail, I feel I could be in any Southern small town. But this is no ordinary place, building or porch. It is the same spot where global heads of state and accomplished billionaires have wined and dined. […]

Georgia Trend. October 2021. Tis’ the season! With pumpkins, turkeys and candy on our minds, the last quarter of the year is all about celebrations over food. Restaurants and bars across the state are getting creative with food and drink items to get customers into the celebratory spirit. Whether you’re tickled by edible ghost candies, […]

Cuisine Noir. October 2021. Hippin’ Hops Brewery and Oyster Bar is the first African American-owned brewery in Georgia. Its first location opened this year in May on Glenwood Avenue in the East Lake neighborhood of Atlanta, and two more Hippin’ Hops are scheduled to open later this year, also in Georgia. Owner Clarence Boston, originally from […]

Cuisine Noir. September 2021. Many African American decedents of enslaved people lived along the barrier islands and along the coast of Georgia, Florida and both Carolinas. “Instead of dying after their landowners abandoned their cotton, indigo and rice plantation, the Geechee thrived in collectives that shared their bountiful resources as well as their own language, […]

AAA The Extra Mile. September 2021. Milder temperatures coupled with southern hospitality make the South the perfect place to visit during the fall. Moreover, leaves change colors later in the year in the southeastern U.S., so you can enjoy a drive through the scenic mountains and valleys well until mid-to-late November. Base your getaway in […]

Georgia Trend Magazine. Sept 2021. Whether it is a childhood memory, a family reunion or a first date relived, we all have a special place for a specific dish or a restaurant. This month, I spoke to four elected officials from Georgia about their favorite food memories. Rep. Kasey Carpenter, (R-Dalton) is a second-generation restaurant owner. […]

Cuisine Noir. September 2021. Charlise Johnson is the chef and owner of In My Fillings cupcake shop in Suwanee, Georgia. Her unique business model offers customers an opportunity to make their own cupcakes by combining different base cakes, icings and toppings. She opened her first, what she calls the “Chipotle for cupcakes,” style location during the pandemic […]

Cuisine Noir. September 2021. Located an hour’s drive from Atlanta, Macon is a charming small town steeped in history, culture and music. In the 1840s, Macon established itself as a cotton economy in the Black Belt. The advent of the railroad through downtown brought along politicians and artists from around the country who would stop […]

HuffPost. September 2021. Veronica Wandui is the executive banquet chef at The St. Regis Atlanta, where she orchestrates weddings and conferences for up to 600 guests at a time. After graduating from culinary school in Nairobi, Wandui was demotivated, harassed and told to stay “in her place.” She migrated to the United States and restarted her […]

Georgia Trend Magazine. August 2021. As we mask up again, you don’t need to give up eating out and meeting friends entirely. Fortunately, restaurants across Georgia have set up relaxing al fresco dining, where you can enjoy the late summer breeze and beautiful views in a safe environment. Graze and sip at some of these […]

Oxygen. July 2021. You’re eating right, taking all the right supplements and exercising regularly, but you’re not seeing the results you want. Maybe you’ve nailed down exactly what you have to eat to live your healthiest lifestyle, but have you thought about the combinations of foods you eat? How about the ingredients you’re combining, beyond your basic […]

TIME Magazine. July 2021. Contributed pieces on New Orleans, Santa Fe and Costa Rica to the list. Continue reading online at TIME Magazine or grab a print issue…

Georgia Trend Magazine. July 2021. Though the past year has unfolded as a rocky road for most food businesses, frozen desserts have continued to be a low-churn industry. Think about it – no one is in a bad mood after eating a cup of banana pudding ice cream! “Making gelato makes me happy,” says Atlanta-native […]

Cuisine Noir Magazine. July 2021. Athens is a hip college town located only an hour’s drive from the bustling capital of Atlanta, Georgia. Centered around eclectic neighborhoods, a walkable downtown and an expansive University of Georgia campus, the small town makes for a perfect weekend getaway. Take a Walking Tour Take your first steps in […]

AAA The Extra Mile. July 2021. As you embark on a road trip across the U.S., your choices to eat are no longer limited to fast food and gas station snacks. With the rise of South Asian truck drivers on American roadways, a demand for Indian cuisine has also surmounted. As a result, Indian fast-food restaurants have […]

Oxygen Magazine. July 2021. Seasonal allergies can occur at any time of year, but they are especially common during spring, early summer and fall. They can be a real nuisance when you want to take advantage of outdoor sports and workouts because you face the risk of suffering through a runny nose, watery eyes and […]

HuffPost. July 2021. The popular Netflix Original documentary series “High on the Hog,” hosted by Stephen Satterfield, takes viewers on a journey through the deeper history and food of Black America. The four-part series was adapted from the 2011 book “High on the Hog,” written by culinary historian and author Jessica B. Harris. Harris has written over 12 books examining […]

Georgia Trend Magazine. July 2021. On a corner of Memorial Dr. in Atlanta is an obscure sign that simply says “GD.” From the street, you can see a bustling patio with casual tables and live pop and jazz music (on the weekend). An indoor-outdoor bar opens the small space to a cozy dining room with […]

Cuisine Noir. June 2021. The Reconstruction Era was one of the most formative movements in American history for civil rights. Despite the importance of the era spanning 1865-1977, it is often misunderstood and overlooked. The city of Columbia, South Carolina, recently launched Reconstructed: A Journey Through the Reconstruction Era in Columbia SC in partnership with the non-profit organization Historic […]

Greatist. June 2021. The Juneteenth season is about remembrance and celebration. We remember the day Union troops arrived in Texas, announcing that the Civil War had ended and enslaved people were free. And we celebrate the cultures that have been preserved and reborn out of that time.  One such culture is that of the Gullah Geechee people, one […]

Scotts Cheap Flights. June 2021. If you’ve walked down the aisle of an airplane envying all those “lucky” passengers who travel up front in spacious seats and sip on glasses of champagne and mimosas through the journey, it may be time for you to book yourself a business class ticket.  Splurging on flying business class […]

Travel+Leisure. June 2021. Located in the heart of the South Carolina Lowcountry, between Charleston and Savannah, Palmetto Bluff is a lush and vibrant community filled with rich history, stunning natural beauty, and Lowcountry charm. Exquisitely designed homes and a luxury hotel and spa sit on 20,000 acres of magnificent maritime forest with ancient live oak trees, […]