About

KwanzaaCulinarians.com is a group of food bloggers of African descent collaborating together to share recipes and stories celebrating Kwanzaa. Besides sharing recipes, Kwanzaa Culinarians recognizes food-related influencers with thought-provoking stories and discussions within Kwanzaa’s principles of supporting the African Diaspora community.

ORGANIZERS

Sanura Weathers of MyLifeRunsOnFood.com is the founder of Kwanzaa Culinarians. In 2009, she started a sweet, savory, buttery, green and healthy food blog. Her recipes use seasonal and locally-grown ingredients found at the farmer’s market and in her farm share. As a Food Writer, Social Media Manager and Graphic Designer, Sanura creates a visually appetizing food blog redefining comfort and traditional recipes with a healthy twist. She was recently mentioned In “Black Enterprise” magazine November 2011 issue’s special report on food.
Social Media: Facebook/MyLifeRunsOnFood | @SanuraJamila

Chrystal Baker is the co-founder and co-publisher of DuoDishes.com, a recipe and food events blog that features eclectic and homestyle dishes, mingling Southern roots, West coast flair and the occasional international ingredient. With a double major in Communications Studies and French from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she started her post-graduate career in the world of television production before settling into her true passion–sharing culinary treats with others. After years of cooking for family and friends, she started a food blog in 2008 to post the recipes for those dishes. Since then, the website has led to recipe development with international brands such as Bertolli and Alexia Foods, publication in three cookbooks including Chef Jeff Henderson’s “America I AM Pass It Down Cookbook”, a radio feature on Los Angeles’ KCRW, a television appearance on Los Angeles’ KTLA and local and national contest achievements. In addition to maintaining DuoDishes.com, she is a freelance writer for BasilMagazine.com, Cooking.com and LosAngelesRestaurants.com. Chrystal lives in Los Angeles, CA.
Social Media: Duodishes.com | @theduodishes

Bren Herrera is the owner and editor of FlanboyantEats.com, a culinary blog documenting her Afro-Latin experience as a private chef and food writer cooking up Cuban, Latin, fusion and global cuisine. Bren’s experience in food started at the age of 7, cooking alongside and mocking her mother which led to a natural interest and skill in cooking fresh foods akin to her rich culture. Having entertained with food all the way through college and during her corporate America years, Bren realized her food was a strong and repeat hit. Her passionate cooking and constant sharing of recipes and travel stories led to the creation of the blog, which in turn has landed her TV gigs, including appearing with Emeril Lagasse on his latest project on Planet Green, a regular spot on NBC’s “Daytime” morning show among other notable networks and programs. Bren has also been privileged to do a private cooking demo with “Chef of the Century” Joel Robuchon to which during which he praised her signature flan dessert! Bren has been featured cooking  live on CNN, Fox, NBC, CBS and featured in Black Enterprise, The Washington Post, The Atlanta-Journal Constitution and other national publications. She’s been fortunate to secure sponsorship contracts with General Mills, Kmart and other national brands. Bren is a private chef, food columnist for Mamiverse, Cuisine Noire and freelances for various food, travel and lifestyle print publications. Bren has a B.A. in Political Science and English Literature from The University of Virginia. Bren lives in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, GA
Social Media: FlanboyantEats.com | Twitter  | Facebook | G+

Lisa C. Johnson is the owner and editor of Anali’s Next Amendment, where she dishes up tasty servings of life, food and current events. A food blogger, freelance writer and licensed attorney, she received a B.A. in Psychology from Brandeis University and her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law. Lisa first started blogging in 2006 as a creative outlet for her love of writing and food. In 2009, she participated in a panel discussion on intellectual property issues impacting food bloggers at BlogHer Food in San Francisco and wrote an article analyzing copyright and trademark issues involved in the Jessica Seinfeld cookbook case. Lisa has been published in The Atlantic and currently writes for Craving Boston. She lives just south of Boston in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Social Media: AnalisAmendmentBlog.com | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook