If you’re a foodie and always on the prowl for delicious eats, Black Owned Food LA is your go-to. Black Owned Food LA was established in 2020, and as it states in their bio is your “number one GPS source for Black-owned eats in LA.”
Owned and operated by Tiffany Hinton Jefferson of Hinton Enterprises, Tiffany travels to different parts of L.A. County to indulge in various mouthwatering cuisine, all while providing the public with her honest review and promoting their businesses.
The coronavirus pandemic was the beginning of Tiffany’s journey as an entrepreneur, which was inspired by her love for food. She had just completed maternity leave and her corporate job at the time furloughed 95% of the work staff and eventually let all of their employees go. She expressed how excited she was, because she wanted to continue to see her son grow, who was only nine months at the time. She also utilized this time to grow a business brand.
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“I saw how Black-owned restaurants were struggling to remain open and they had to pivot quickly. Because of COVID, dining in at restaurants wasn’t an option. I woke up early one morning and instantly knew what I had to do which was to market restaurants through social media,” Tiffany explained.
Her goal is simple – to make you want to eat your phone and support the individual who owns the restaurant. She stressed that her career strength is sales and marketing and also that she is good with photos, videos, and social media. This is a recipe for a successful food vlogger.
“I knew that I could make this a business so that’s how I became a social media manager while doing food reviews. A lot of people don’t know behind the scenes that I manage businesses social media pages too. I do a lot of restaurant visits on the weekends. Sometimes seeing up to four restaurants in one day. But it’s rewarding and I love seeing these restaurants flourish and the ones that are struggling persevere through the storms,” she highlighted.
Her first vlogging experience was a food truck operated by a father/daughter duo called, “Dilan’s Caribbean Grill.” She recalls showing up to the food truck unsure of how it would turn out, but once she arrived, everything was effortless. She said the chef, Dilan Bernard, cooked with so much love and emphasized how they are her favorite food truck to date.
“I don’t think he knows that he changed my perspective on how I view chefs and their hard work. I am very appreciative for that experience and looking to reunite with them soon for an appreciation post. Because of that visit, my platform was established to learn about the owner and how they started, showcase the food and their business, and try some of their best dishes,” she
Being the food connoisseur that she is, and one who has eaten at many restaurants with different flavors, when asked where the best places she has tried, it was difficult to pinpoint only one. She has a plethora of recommendations…
She is a big breakfast/brunch person, and since she is from the South, she was raised on homemade biscuits, grits, bacon, pancakes, and eggs. She is a fan of the Waffle House, so The Serving Spoon in Inglewood is and will always be her number one go-to when it comes to a good meal to start off her day. She also recommends Hilltop Coffee & Kitchen in DTLA and R&R in Chino. On the weekend, she suggests trying My Father’s BBQ in Carson and Post & Beam in LA.
If you’re looking for a quick meal on the go with cleaner ingredients, Georgia’s in Long Beach, who she says has large portion sized salads, and is a “soul food restaurant on the healthier side” For more of a Happy Hour vibe, she highly recommends The Nile in Inglewood. She stressed how great the cocktails and tasty bites are. A big plus is that there are DJs who play the best music. Less than ten minutes away from The Nile is another one of Tiffany’s go-tos, 1010 Wines. She called it a “nice getaway for a glass of wine and dinner, with the best grits.
If you’re craving a Caribbean cuisine, Taste of the Caribbean LA is a place you should visit. Tiffany attended their grand opening and shared a funny story of how her and her son couldn’t stop eating the jerk chicken on the drive home. Lastly, Poppy and Seed is the perfect date night dinner, calling their Anaheim restaurant “underrated.”
Tiffany is extremely passionate about the work she does. Being able to promote Black-owned restaurateurs is something that brings her joy. As in any profession, vlogging has its’ challenging moments. The most challenging for Tiffany would be highlighting a restaurant, getting negative reviews from people who went to that same restaurant, and sharing their negative experiences in her comment section on social media.
“While I think it’s important that the restaurant get the feedback to do better, it’s magnified on my platform because of the views. I find myself on both sides for the owner and the consumers. Behind closed doors, these owners go through so much just to stay open another day. Yet the consumer spent their hard earned money and just want great customer service and delicious food. My motto is my taste buds aren’t yours so although you can’t please everyone, you have to take the good with the bad. And ultimately my platform is for both the restaurant and the people who patronize them,” she stressed.
Getting DM’s from people who have lived in L.A. their entire life and never knew about a restaurant she posted is the most rewarding for Tiffany. She loves highlighting a restaurant and getting them their well-deserved attention, and she loves when the word gets out and other influencers review them also. More reviews keeps the doors open.
“I have learned so much from these owners about food that I may have never known since being in this food space. I now have Michelin and Le Cordon bleu chef friends. Also, these owners have taught me how to cook on a whole new level. The fact that my toddler gets to experience so many new food cultures and flavors alone is rewarding! And I somehow manage to still cook at home although my fridge and freezer is full of so many delicious meals,” she said.
Her advice for those considering starting a food vlog is to stay consistent and positive whether you like the food or not. She recommends to start by recording and documenting your food experiences when you go out to eat.
“It it’s a passion of yours, you will immediately know,” she concluded.
For more information on Black Owned Food LA, visit: https://www.blackownedfoodla.com/
Follow their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackownedfoodla/
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