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HippieSrirachaGirl

I eat, I taste, You seek, You follow

Urban Jewel

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LA Black Restaurant Week

An event highlighting various ethnic cuisines in Southern California that included over 60 Black Owned Restaurants. This event was presented by Socal Gas and supported by Sysco, Dine Black Los Angeles, 93.5 KDay-FM Hip Hop Back in the Day and Power 106 FM. The event occurred from August 7-16, 2020 but this does not mean that you cannot continue to support Black Owned Restaurants throughout the rest of the year!

Small Businesses during this time of Covid-19 need support from the community. This is your time to explore various ethnic cuisines of Southern California: Soul food, American, Plant-based Soul food, Bakery Dessert Shops, Vegetarian, Caribbean, Ethiopian, Mexican Soul Food, Barbecue, Southern, Creole & Cajun, Cafe Coffee Shop, Halal, Northern Region African, Seafood, Eastern Region African and Juice Smoothie Bars.

Below are two of the restaurants that I had the chance to check out: Sky’s Gourmet Tacos and Sweet Blessings Eclectic Soul Food.

Sky’s Gourmet Tacos is Mexican food with a splash of Soul. Barbara Burrell is the founder of this 1992 establishment with creating fresh seafood meals located at three locations. Sky’s Gourmet Tacos offers breakfast, gourmet salads, burgers, nachos, tortas and vegan alternatives. first location: 5408 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles 90019. The second location: Marina Del Ray, Sky’s Gourmet Marketplace that offers high quality grab-n-go meals that also includes their signature famous gourmet tacos, groceries, Deli counter and even delivers to the boat slips! The third location: 358 W. 38th Street.

Below are one of the Famous Gourmet Shrimp Tacos, which comes with lettuce, coleslaw, tomato, cilantro, pico de gallo & Sky’s Sassy Sauce. The Gourmet Shrimp tacos were delicious, the shrimps were tender and the Sky’s Sassy Sauce was a flavorful addition to the taco. It will get messy but packed with taste!

Sky’s Gourmet Tacos: Black Owned Restaurant
Location: 5408 W. Pico Blvd Los Angeles, Ca 90019
Photo by: HippieSrirachaGirl
Sky’s Gourmet Shrimp Tacos
Ordered with just lettuce, cilantro & Sky’s Sassy Sauce
“Mexican with a Splash of Soul”
Photo by: HippieSrirachaGirl

Sweet Blessings Eclectic Soul Food has been opened since last fall of 2019. The owner of this establishment is Katina Cyler along with her husband. They have traveled from Florida to kickstart this Soul food restaurant. During LA’s Black Restaurant week, I had the opportunity to meet Katina and she was warm in spirit and has a major passion for cooking authentic Southern food as well a showing casing local artists on the walls of her restaurant.

On August 16, 2020, Sweet Blessings hosted their very first art event, “A Night for the Culture” a partnership between ArtLoud LA + the restaurant. Held from 8pm-11pm with a $15 entry. Reserve your ticket on eventbrite.com This art event bridges a connection between talented black artists and the essence of tasty Southern food.

After having the Cluck and Surf Plate, I was beyond satisfied from the mildly sweet cornbread to the smoky greens and the Mac n’ cheese. Once I bit into the chicken thigh, the outer skin was extra crispy and not salty. To be honest, I could not wait another day to finish my Cluck and Surf Plate. The catfish was cooked to perfection and again not too salty. Will definitely go back to both Sky’s Gourmet Tacos and Sweet Blessings Eclectic Soul Food to explore other dishes on their menu.

Photo by: Sweet Blessings Eclectic Soul Food
Fried Chicken Plate (4 pieces)
Side of Mac n’ cheese and collard greens, cornbread and Jelly Sauce
Photo by: HippieSrirachaGirl
Cluck and Surf Plate (2 pieces of Fried Chicken & 1 piece of catfish)
Side of Mac n’ cheese and greens plus cornbread
Photo by: HippieSrirachaGirl

Sky’s Gourmet Tacos and Sweet Blessings Eclectic Soul Food are just two of the Black Owned Restaurants who participated in LA’s Black Restaurant Week. Both are respectable establishments.

Below is a list of the restaurants that participated in the LA Black Restaurant Week of 2020. Do check these restaurants throughout the rest of the year and continue to support small business owners who are also Black Owned Establishments.

Continue to Support Small Businesses.

Stay healthy and vigilant!

Thanks,

HippieSrirachaGirl

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Caribbean Gourmet: Vegan Curry Plate & Roti

While in Shelter-in-Place check out Caribbean Gourmet. Yonette Allyene is a Guyanese Chef based in Los Angeles, California. Chef Yonette can be contacted through Instagram. When Shelter-in-Place is lifted she can found at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Farmer’s Market on Saturday’s from 10am -3pm and at Atwater Village Farmer’s Market on Sunday’s from 10am-2pm.

Currently, Chef Yonette is providing prepackaged delivery service meals to customers in the Los Angeles Area. Below is the menu for Caribbean Gourmet. Chef Yonette accepts payments through these APPS: Venmo, CashApp, or Zelle. [First Delivery Order is free within 15miles from Pasadena. Further locations in the outlining areas can range from $5-15.]

Photo from Caribbean Gourmet

Below is the Vegan Curry Plate, which comes with Channa (indian styled chickpeas) along with an assorted selection of vegetables in a delicious and robust curry sauce added with Roti!

Vegan Curry Plate & Roti
Photo by: HppieSrirachaGirl

Direct message Chef Yonette through her Instagram Account by saying, “I’m a part of the tribe, HippieSrirachaGirl Tribe.“

Express yourself! If you are a Food Explorer, take a picture and share with us what you ordered and how it worked out!

Thank you,

HSG

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Granny’s Kitchen Southern Style Soul Food – South Central L.A.

Comfort food provides a memory from either Momma’s, Auntie’s or Granny’s cookin’. The smells and sounds of this kitchen stimulated my families memory of group cooking. The sweet smell of baked sweet potato, to the peppery scent of braised cabbage to the crackling sound of catfish in the cast iron skillet. Arkansas is known for comfort food, one being Southern cuisine. Southern food is traditionally influenced by African Americans along with the Irish, the French, and Native Americans etc.

Owner Eric, brought the memory of his Granny’s cookin’ from Arkansas to Los Angeles, California. She taught him how to cook comfort food for the family, which then lead to him cooking for the community. My inquisitive mom, longtime friend Emmanuel and his mother joined me on this food adventure! The business sign on the outside of the restaurant pays homage to Eric’s Granny, she spirit continues to live within the soul of the restaurant. Walking into the restaurant, my eyes were fascinated by the walls covered in artistic messages from the community. People from all walks of life have passed through their doors and their names will last for years to come.

Platter 1

I ordered Platter 1, the baked wing platter, which comes with 4 pieces of chicken, two sides and a cornbread. This platter should have included a side a sweet potato yams because the sweetness from the yams would have definitely balanced well with the black eyed peas and cabbage. (Side note: their black eyed peas, cabbage and greens are not cooked with any meat (if you are vegan, this is your new spot!).

Platter 2

Platter 3

Platter 4

For Platter 2, Chef Eric cooked the catfish with just a sprinkle of seasoning and black pepper for my mom. He took the time to accommodate all 4 of us, we definitely appreciated his patience. Emmanuel’s first bit of the sweet potato yams was an experience, he tilted his head back, closed his eyes went to dreamland and said, “these yams are fire!”

Our food was hot, didn’t miss a beat. About 30 mins into our meal, the patrons started coming, one after another. It was great to see the community support his restaurant. Eric provided a comfortable environment plus great tasting comfort food for the Soul, what more can you ask for?! He even sat down with us for a conversation and we had the chance to understand his vision for the current restaurant, plus he will be opening up a new Granny’s Kitchen in Riverside, California!

For more information on this restaurant call at (323) 231-2141.

Check out Granny’s Kitchen Southern Style Soul Food instagram page! Location 5440 S. Central Ave, Los Angeles, Ca 90011. Find Parking on the street.

When you have the chance to check out this restaurant, let them know that its’s a HippieSrirachaGirl invitation!

If you are a Food Explorer leave a comment below on the dish you have tried.

Cheers,

HSG