Food and drink spaces on social media have been largely shaped by Black food creators starting recipe trends, curating personable food reviews, or sharing cultural dishes across the diaspora. Without the platform many of these creators have pioneered, we wouldn’t be able to engage with different dishes and flavors as we do now. However, the problem with trends lies in how they can be short-lived and micro compared to the impact of continuous engagement. For something to become trendy, the formula is too reliant on 30-second reels that come and go. It dilutes dishes' story and cultural significance, especially when it intersects with the Black diaspora. So refer to this list as a starting point for meaningful engagement, because supporting Black creators isn’t just limited to one month.
Roti Brown, @rotiibrown
If you’re ever wondering how you can add a unique twist to your dishes — Roti Brown is someone you should check out. Her page contains many vibrant dishes ranging from easy dinner ideas to hearty soups that will feed your soul. Brown’s TikTok page and blog have a rich collection of comforting recipes that urge you to use any and every ingredient to the fullest. Her “garden-to-table” cooking style ushers in creative ways to fuse opposing yet innovative flavors together like Sweet Corn Biscuits with Spicy Blackberry Jam and Avocado Crema or Curry Beignets. Brown is also one to refer to for all function-friendly dishes that will leave you with empty plates and happy stomachs.
On February 25, Brown will be hosting her first dinner party in partnership with Our Place in honor of Black History Month. She will be presenting a five-course menu inspired by the African diaspora featuring dishes like Rum & Molasses Braised Short Ribs & Peri-Pert Red Cauliflower Steaks. Reservations are limited so be sure to claim your spot and check it out if you’re near Our Place’s Venice location. If not though, be sure to spread the word and check out her page!
Scot Louie, @dinnerplus
You might’ve heard of Scot Louie as the celebrity stylist who created looks for big names like Kehlani, Ryan Destiny, and Nia Long. But on top of styling iconic looks, Louie also creates iconic foods as a content creator. His brand, DinnerPlus, features a mouthwatering array of dishes like Marry Me Stuffed Salmon, Shrimp Rasta Pasta, and Wasabi Crunch Salad. His content is dreamy yet perfectly accessible for a dinner night in or if you want some ideas for your meal prep rotation. Some of his most notable content features a creative fusion of Jamaican and soul food dishes — a combination that will bring you some unforgettable dishes. Two of his most popular videos on his TikTok gathered over 1.8 million views each. One featured a special take on a soul food bowl with collard greens, rice and peas, sweet potatoes, and creamy cajun butter chicken and the other showcased a Jamaican-inspired oxtail stuffed pasta shells.
Luckily, more of Louie’s recipes are going to be in a newly-announced cookbook called Tastemaker which is available for pre-order now and will be out September 3.
Justin K. Arthur, @justinkarthur
Whether it’s experimenting with different flavors or combining unlikely dishes, Justin K. Arthur is one of the best creators to show us more ways we can enjoy cooking. You might’ve seen Arthur on Buzzfeed UK as a host of his cooking series, ‘ConFuse It,’ where he takes cuisines from different countries and fuses them.
Through these, he’s created a myriad of exciting combinations like Senegalese Sombi and Jamaican Patties, Indian Biriyani and Nigerian Pepper Soup, and Ghanian Jollof Rice and Japanese Sushi. His love for experimenting with different flavors doesn’t stop there though. His own personable and witty content features more fusion recipes like or. He employs a unique editing style in his content that uniquely embodies his brand and makes it feel like you’re on FaceTime with a friend: “I cook, I talk, and I cook,” he said. Arthur's use of staple Ghanaian flavors details the numerous ways the cuisine can be adapted, teaching us how food connects people through our love of cooking things that remind us of home.
Biobele Braide, @bakedbybio
If cozy baking became a thing like cozy gaming is, Biobele Braide would be at the forefront. Braide’s baking page showcases a beautiful array of sweet treats like glossy cinnamon rolls, chunky cookies, and fluffy cakes. It’s the perfect blend of romantic and dreamy plus, they all have their recipes on her. As aesthetically pleasing as her content is, Braide also shows us, in her words, the beauty in imperfections. Her videos are one of my favorite things about her page as she highlights the arduous process of baking something new and still making do with trial and error.
Even though Braide isn’t a trained baker, she reminds us that the simplest pleasures of luxury is the time we dedicate to whatever fulfills our soul.
Raufikat Oyawoye-Salami, @lanisbakebox
Oyawoye-Salami is a woman who wears many hats: baker, teacher, and producer. Back in 2020, Oyawoye-Salami competed and won The Great Canadian Baking Show. Since then, she’s made numerous television appearances like Family Feud Canada, The Good Stuff with Mary Berg, and her show Raufikats Better Bake Along.
Her love for baking transcended on screen as she continuously expressed her craft through creative flavor twists like her signature, inspired by her favorite British treat, Jammy Dodgers. On top of being a baking superstar, Oyawoye-Salami shares tutorials and baking tips for any beginner or seasoned baker to take notes on her page.
Chasity Cooper, @bychasitycooper
Chasity Cooper is one the most innovative voices in the wine culture and writing spaces. Her ability to connect Black culture with wine and dissect both through many perspectives — a culinary lens, a business lens, a media and culture lens, and an intrapersonal lens — is what makes her content special. Her journey with wine culture began back when she was 21 years old studying abroad in Spain and excitedly bringing bottles of Spanish wine back home. Then, she began writing about wine and posting on Instagram directing the conversation on different wine-to-food pairings, winemaking as a field, and the ways Black entrepreneurs are transforming wine culture. Her wine commentary goes beyond the glass as she considers wine tastings to be a holistic experience. One where we can connect with those around us. As Cooper puts it in an Instagram post, “The more I learned about wine, the more I’ve wanted to make sure that everyone in and around my life had access to the language of it, too.”
In making her goal come true, Cooper wrote an interactive guide to wine commentary called the which has over 150,000 tasting note combinations to accompany your wine gatherings whether you’re a sommelier or a beginner. Her book will be dropping on March 12, but it is available for preorder now!
Michelle R. Johnson, @thechocolatebarista
If you look up who the first Black barista is, Michelle R. Johnson is the first to pop up — and rightfully, so. In her early career, Johnson was a competitive barista based in the DMV and the first Black female barista to compete in the U.S. Barista Championship. As a household name in the Black barista community, Johnson received another title when she became the first Black queer-owned barista to create her own oat milk company. The company stands out from the rest though as she made it for Black people with a lactose intolerance. The LA-based company ushered in an outpour of support from communities of fellow baristas, business owners, and coffee professionals through crowdfunding. If you look at her page, it’s evident how the power of community support is integral to her journey and how she made it all possible. Her strides opened up doors for her and other Black coffee professionals to thrive as well as reminding us how we can show out for each other.
Pollo Wang, @pollo_wang
Being from the South, I often miss a good plate of soul food. But anytime I do, one of the few accounts I check out is Pollo Wang. Wang's food content is unique in its own right as he cooks while telling a story that’s addressed to his mom. His stories are usually memories of their times together cooking in the kitchen, family recipes he recreates lovingly, or how his food brings people together. His voiceovers are a collection of heartwarming poems that begin with “Mammah” and loop back around to the main message from the beginning of the video.
His creative and cinematic way of storytelling through food is equally beautiful hearing it as it is seeing it. He also owns his seasoning brand also called Pollo Wang, which showcases traditional Southern staples.
Shakayla Felice, @sweetgreensvegan
Doing plant-based recipes can seem very daunting at first, but Shakayla Felice shows us how fun and easy it can be.
Being plant-based for over five years now, Felicie carries a ton of delicious vegan recipes under her belt. Making dishes plant-forward and accessible for beginners to try is the goal behind her content. While showing tutorials on how to make these mouthwatering dishes, Felice takes it a step further and educates others about the benefits of gut health and eating foods that support digestion. Felice’s approach to vegan cooking is comforting and informative, assuring us that eating plant-based is a journey and takes trial and error to find what works for your individual needs. Her holistic style of content creation reminds us of how we can connect with our food every step of the way and make it as accommodating as possible for us.
Andrew Bernard, @thenarddogcooks
Andrew Bernard’s content is another great place to check out if you’re just starting your plant-based journey. His videos capture how versatile each ingredient is whether you’re using it as a quick to-go snack or incorporating it in a hearty dinner dish. Some of my favorites on his page are quick and contain lots of protein which is super if you’re becoming a gym girly like me like his vegan banana bread baked oatmeal recipe.
Bernard also highlights that any dish can be vegan and accessible, especially with recipes that remind him of home.