This post contains *affiliate links, which means I receive commissions for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. I only provide links to products that I use and wholeheartedly recommend. I've had the immense privilege to travel the world for much of my life. I took my first solo trip when I was 20, all the way to Morocco, which led to a lifelong love of travel. I've cried in strange places, made friends with the kindest strangers, and fundamentally changed through travel.   For the vast majority of my travel experiences, I've felt incredibly safe. However, I app ..read more

I visited some of these places while in Charlotte for a partnership with the visitor's bureau. Others I tried out on my own. All I enjoy! This post contains *affiliate links, which means I receive commissions for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. I only provide links to products that I use and wholeheartedly recommend. When someone mentions Charlotte, North Carolina, you probably think of an urban banking center, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and a gorgeous downtown skyline. All of which Charlotte has, for sure. But the city, also known by the moniker Queen City after ..read more

This post contains *affiliate links, which means I receive commissions for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. I only provide links to products that I use and wholeheartedly recommend. Washington, D.C., is forever home in my heart, or at least one of my homes. It's a place I always come back to after going to grad school there, beginning my professional career there, and taking the chance to chase my creative pursuits there. It's a city that I absolutely love for its dynamic food scene, cultural sites and events, music options, and more. It's a city where I've take ..read more

I think I have the best job in the world. Period. Yes, as a content creator and writer, my income is unpredictable. Yes, I have to buy my own health insurance on the open market, which sucks. Yes, being chronically online can't be great for my mental health. But, I get to indulge my own curiosity for work and learn new skills, meet new people, and constantly expand my awareness. For example, I'm deeply curious about the work of Black people and communities in connection with food and beverage in the U.S. I've spent years learning about that, writing a book about it, meeting Black food folks ..read more

This post is sponsored by Virginia Tourism I've been lucky enough to travel all over the country exploring Black-owned businesses and Black history in the U.S., and Richmond, VA, is one of my favorite trips. It's such a cute city, and there's great food and lots going on there to explore. Plus, it's close to the Washington DC area, so you can drive down easily for a weekend trip. I regret not visiting Richmond more when I lived in D.C. Clearly, I played myself. On top of that, Richmond has a variety of Black-owned businesses that make for a well-rounded experience where you feel like you can ..read more

Magic at the Margins is an ad-free subscription community and digital newsletter. Magic at the Margins publishes and shares content that is both unique and inclusive, exploring history, culture, nuance, and/or identity through the lens of food and beverage. Magic at the Margins also explores essential skills related to food and beverage, from mixology to knife skills. Magic at the Margins welcomes freelance contributors interested in crafting original and relevant written pieces for the newsletter. Pay is $1/per word, capped at $1,000 per piece, for stories that fit our community themes. Most ..read more

There is no American cuisine or American food landscape as we know it today without Black food and beverage traditions, professionals, and businesses. The numerous Black food and beverage festivals in the US today serve as spaces to celebrate, explore, and acknowledge those contributions. I'm lucky to have attended some of those events and been able to soak up spaces that center the joy, innovation, and contributions of Black culinarians. I want more of those experiences. And I know the friends I've made at these events over the years do too. So as I plan to make that a reality for myself, I ..read more

This post contains *affiliate* links, which means that I may receive commissions for purchases made through these links. I only provide links to products that I use and wholeheartedly recommend. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is one of my favorite destinations in the world. Yes, I'm absolutely biased after living there for 2.5 years. But even now, after moving away and coming back to experience Jordan as just a visitor, I'd still recommend a visit to Jordan for any traveler. The country of about 11 million people offers a range of things to explore, from incredible street food to ancient wond ..read more

Savannah, Georgia, is known for its charming public parks, cute boutiques, good food, walkable downtown, and Southern charm. All that and more has made Savannah a popular tourist destination along the Georgia coast. History is also a significant draw for many to come to Savannah, especially its Black history, even if visitors don't consciously recognize it. Consider one of the defining features of Savannah's built environment, the well-preserved antebellum architecture of many of the city's historic buildings. These buildings are often the backdrop for weddings and photoshoots, drawing visito ..read more

This post contains *affiliate* links, which means that I may receive commissions for purchases made through these links. I only provide links to products that I use and wholeheartedly recommend. In two years, I went from sharing my first terrible videos on social media to working as a video-centric influencer and creator. Now, about 75% of the content I share on Feed The Malik is short-form videos. The same stats hold for brand partnerships. The vast majority of sponsored content I create are videos that are two minutes long or shorter. More often than not, they're less than 60 seconds. Short ..read more