The Awakening, by Audarshia Townsend

The Awakening, by Audarshia Townsend

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I don’t like how the only Black female contestant on ‘Top Chef’ is being portrayed
On the debut episode of Bravo’s “Top Chef” this season in Toronto, Lana Lagomarsini, a private chef and owner of Lana Cooks from Harlem, proclaimed in…
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Audarshia Townsend
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'Ciao House' Winner on Latina Representation in 'The Bear,' Fine-Dining World
Fresh off her win on Food Network's latest culinary competition, Chef Natalia “Boa” Rosario pens a thoughtful guest essay for The Awakening.
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Audarshia Townsend
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‘Sinners’ on screen, a culinary history unleashed
The new horror flick starring Michael B. Jordan uncovers hidden cultures of the Mississippi Delta.
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Audarshia Townsend
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How a Former Chicago Restaurateur is Saving His Community from Violent Carjackers
I typically reserve this space for writing about how restaurateurs have been pivoting to save their businesses during the pandemic as well as other…
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Audarshia Townsend
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‘Palm Royale’ puts Grasshopper, Mississippi Punch back in delightful rotation
A new Apple+ series about 1960s West Palm Beach high society aims to impact modern cocktail culture in similar fashion as “Mad Men.”
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Audarshia Townsend
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15 Great Women-Owned Steakhouses
This first-ever guide to the best female-owned steakhouses across the country includes luxury destinations, a drive-thru concept, and a premier…
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Audarshia Townsend
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‘The Gilded Age’ Showcases Black-Owned Restaurants in an Era When Black Entrepreneurs Strived to Build Wealth and Recognition
I did a little digging and discovered that James Hemings opened the first-ever Black-owned restaurant in the country.
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Audarshia Townsend
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Alpana Singh’s chic Chicago restaurant hits its groove
I’ve been following Alpana Singh’s career since she served as host for “Check, Please!,” the now-defunct restaurant-focused WTTW-TV show that had…
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Audarshia Townsend
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Savoring Flavor
Meghan Sussex, Nia Renée Hill, the founders of the Black Women in Food Summit and many others demonstrate that Black women are redefining the global…
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Audarshia Townsend
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28 Days of Soul Food: Day 18
This first-ever steakhouse guide definitively spotlights Black-owned establishments that have put their own spin on the country's most classic…
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Audarshia Townsend
2
Bubbles from a Black Woman
Nichole Johnson’s Lapin Rouillé Champagne makes history and there’s so much more to come.
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Audarshia Townsend
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Here’s Your Ultimate Guide of the Best Black-Owned Eateries to Visit during the Democratic National Convention
With the Congressional Black Caucus coming to Chicago in August, restaurants like Soul Prime, Soule and Turner Haus Brewery will be in the spotlight…
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Audarshia Townsend
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