WELCOME!

Hi, I’m Janielle, founder of Blooming Black Foodie. Welcome to my first blog post! For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a passion for food. Growing up, I watched my grandmother prepare traditional Caribbean dishes and eyed my mother make wholesome vegetarian meals in the kitchen. Starting in high school, I visited restaurants with my friends, falling in love with flavorful food, great service, and wonderful ambiances. After surviving the ramen noodle faze in college, I created my own southern and restaurant inspired recipes, such as honey BBQ wings, ginger-soy-lime marinated shrimp, Italian meatballs, deviled eggs, velvety mashed potatoes, and fried catfish.

To refine my cooking skills, I hosted dinners for family and friends. Before I knew it, my family members assigned me to permanent macaroni & cheese, collard greens, and apple pie duty for thanksgiving (this wasn’t up for debate, lol). After completing mixology school, where I earned my TIPS and wine certification, I started whipping up frozen margaritas, chocolate martinis, and handcrafted specialty cocktails at neighborhood bars and private parties.

Once I leveled up and discovered fine dining, eating exceptional food became more than just a hobby, it became a lifestyle. I managed to navigate the sea of reviews on Yelp and OpenTable with ease and find consistently phenomenal eateries. Branching out from traditional American cuisine, I indulged in Thai, Indian, Japanese, Brazilian, Peruvian, Mexican, Ethiopian, Mediterranean, Balkan, and more! Almost overnight, I became the go-to person in my network for restaurant recommendations. After years of phone calls, texts, e-mails, and direct messages from acquaintances asking where to dine in cities across the country, I decided to create a platform to share my food tips, insight, and advice with readers globally.

After completing a nutrition course in 2017, watching food documentaries, and conducting extensive research, I learned the importance of a well-balanced diet, especially for African Americans. Hence, I practice wellness by making organic, gluten-free, low-sodium, dairy-free, and low carb meals at home. Although I’m a carnivore, there’s a special place in my heart for plant-based and vegan recipes. I also found peace in the practices of yoga and meditation. Therefore, I’m an advocate for good nutrition, physical health, and mental health.

While I have a fairly strict diet at home, when I dine out, I don’t hold back. Oh yes, those are my cheat meals 😉 My personal mantra is: life is short, so eat good food! With the exception of following doctors’ orders, I believe that healthy eating is all about moderation. Discipline during the week and letting go during the weekend is how I live my BEST life. We’re all human, so while it’s essential to take care of your mind, body, and soul, it’s also important to give gratitude to yourself, forgive yourself, and treat yourself!

Whether you’re in a pinch to find a quick, delicious, healthy AND affordable recipe for family dinner, locate a cool bar to hit up with your friends while on vacation, or make a reservation at a stellar restaurant for date night, Blooming Black Foodie has something for you. The truth is – there are millions of online recipes and thousands of restaurants and bars in each city. It can take hours to choose just one and THEN, you have to make sure it’s good. Exhausted yet? Lol. I get it – you’re busy. Life can be hard and tiring. Trying to find time to look great, feel great, eat right, exercise, drink water, save money, travel, be social, work hard, network, be the best parent/child/ sibling/aunt/uncle/niece/nephew/cousin/partner/friend you can be, AND watch your shows (I’m saying! lol) can be a full-time job in itself. Having a ton of things on your plate can be super stressful. Let’s not make eating good one of them.

I love traveling to different cities, exploring new restaurants, bars, food festivals, and wineries along the way. I look for establishments offering quality products, fresh ingredients, impeccable service, and a comfortable atmosphere. I specialize in the BEST happy hours and brunch. Affordability is a plus! Yet, whether it’s a five-star restaurant, a mom-and-pop eatery, or a neighborhood dive bar, the experience should always be delicious, fun, and stress-free. So, join me on my journey to indulging in the best food, wine, and specialty cocktails worldwide. It’s an adventure you don’t want to miss!

Cheers! Janielle