Black Business Month: EP. 1 - Natraliart Jamaican Cuisine
August is Black Business Month and to show my support and ally ship to the black community, I am taste testing black-owned Vegan / Plant-Based Friendly restaurants in LA. I could’ve posted a black square on my Instagram feed, but it wasn’t enough to me. Besides donating to Black Lives Matter, I still knew there was MORE I could do.
Featuring black owned businesses was something that came to mind, but I wanted to take it a step further and highlight black-owned vegan spots in my local area. I know this isn’t the only way show my ally ship, but this is a start.
To launch this new series, I visited Natraliart in Mid-City, Los Angeles for some amazing Jamaican Food. This business has been an LA staple for 35 years and is both a market and a restaurant. This is a plant-based friendly spot and I highly recommend anyone who visits the area to come by. I LOVED the ital (veggies cooked in coconut milk) especially with the long-grain rice. The veggie patty was incredible. The flaky crust reminded me of layers and layers of phyllo dough, and the inside is a gorgeous mixture of veggies with jerk seasoning. There’s a great kick of spice but nothing overwhelming. Natraliart also carries a variety of fresh juices.
Black Lives Matter is not a moment, but a movement. This is history in the making, and I want to be part of the side that aligns with the black community. Racial injustice, police brutality, and Karen’s going wild is all part of a harrowing climate that must stop today! Too many innocent black lives have been taken from this Earth and it’s not right. I’m tired, but think about the black community and how EXHAUSTED they must feel.
I am privileged to create content and support the community. And while I don’t have a large following, it’s still my duty to show my support. It’s a privilege to be an ally and to speak about racism because I’m not the only going through it. We gotta STAND UP & SPEAK OUT. We gotta help amplify the voices of the black community. It’s the very least we can do <3
♡ N A T R A L I A R T:
INSTAGRAM: @natraliart
YELP: https://www.yelp.com/biz/natraliart-jamaican-restaurant-and-market-los-angeles?q=Vegan
For BLM Resources visit: https://blacklivesmatter.com/