Polyswitch 

Casablanca

Imagined by architect Pierre Bousquet in 1918, Marche Central is a staple "Souk" market located in the heart of Casablanca and emblematic heritage locals take pride in. Known particularly for its fresh offerings of local fish, but also meats, vegetables, rare spics and flowers, Marche Central represents a cultural experience, always a great pick for lunch and a walk in the surroundings. 

Every local can attest the best juices and smoothies in town are pressed here, I tried all the juices and they're all worth a shot. Open 24/7, the prices are reasonable and the staff are very friendly even when the orders come in heavy. 

To me, this place represents the true feel of a sunny local cafe terrace, perfect for reading a book or ideating about your next project. Bring your pastries from the corner, order a mint tea and enjoy the atmosphere. 

My gateway to Casablanca of the past, the Habbous neighbourhood is a pleasant and magical area. The ideal spot for those who seek Moroccan authenticity in Casablanca, aimed at an idealised version of the old Medina, located in one of the most ancient districts in town, its narrow alleys are charming to stroll around in. You can follow the arches and they will lead you to neat open-air markets, bookshops and bazaars. With such a serene aura, time spent in is assured to prevail over the bustling city life. 

Established in 1950, this place never disappoints, I've been coming over since my childhood. They offer a fabulous selection of ice cream and desserts in an impeccable context and beautiful decor, inarguably the best in town. The menu is extensive but, I don't think they have a bad flavour. 

My favourite spot to watch sunsets and sunrises from in Casablanca. 

A record store that knew how to portray the spirit of the city, "DISQUES GAM" was more than just a music store, it was the leading institution that generously served Casablanca, and the country as a whole with music for over 50 years, a goldmine for any record collector. Established by a very passionate and resilient man, "Boujemaa" was the last survivor of the many record stores Casablanca had back in the day, he always believed in vinyl as the best format, and he was right.

"Boujemaa" passed just a few years ago but his legacy will live on forever.

The 7 Best Places to Visit in Casablanca with Polyswitch

Casey MQ

Toronto

Fresh pressed juices and cold cut bánh mì sandwiches from this local restaurant. A gem in Toronto and the owners are incredibly kind. Plus their instagram is amazing.

A great beach spot to suddenly feel a little removed from Toronto while maintaining a view from the city. There is a clothing optional area as well.

I do not drink coffee but if I did, from what I’ve heard, I would purchase from The Common. I regularly get a tea and croissant from there though. Currently takeout but in the past I have spent a lot of time hanging out in there.

This family run restaurant in Parkdale makes excellent Momos. Lovely place!

TECHNICALLY you could ride your bike from Leslie Spit through to Don Valley Trail but it would be a mission. It’s a beautiful bike ride though and Leslie Spit takes you to an outer point of Toronto where you end up looking right back at the city by the end of the epic trail.

The Lightbox is not open at the moment but I’ve always loved the programming and have gone on solo dates there many times!

This is a lovely fashion store in Toronto. Tightly curated selection of clothing and publications. The store really has it’s own demeanor.

A great place to find preloved books. There are three locations at this point in Toronto but most of my purchases have been at the Bloor location. I basically stand around the recommended reads for a little too long.

Which brings me to the Toronto Reference Library lol. Last year I spent a lot of time at this library on the fourth or fifth floor. The inside is gorgeous. I actually spent a lot of time working on ‘babycasey’ at this library.

I have only been here a few times at night but if you hope the fence which is not a particularly easy task - you can maybe get a few laps of swimming in!

Casey MQ takes us around Toronto

Portland

Owner, Ian Williams, offers sneaker-themed coffee + 👟 detail shop ☕️.

🎧 The NW first & only Hip-Hop winery created by Bertony Faustin.

Delicious, authentic west African cuisine cooked by a native west African girl.

They serve authentic Jamaican Cuisine in the heart of Portland. And yes, they cater events!

A contemporary soul food restaurant that provides career development opportunities and is non-profit.

Based in Portland, this pop-up vegan supper club is curated by two Black queer artists, Chef Salimatu Amabebe and artist, Annika Hansteen-Izora. It was founded on the premise to rail and dance against the erasure of Blackness in the food and art worlds.

A mellow Ethiopian spot offering yummy traditional food.

A unique cultural experience where you can come learn how to cook African food or order some for dinner!

Fresh and delicious Haitian and Caribbean meals.

Everything to make you salivate: baby back ribs, brisket, chicken, cajun links, etc…

Private Chef/Caterer providing delicious food all throughout the PDX & Gresham area.

The BEST green juices and smoothies. Literally, the best.

Cannabis dispensary in the heart of Madison South neighbourhood.

Black co-owned florist. Flowers & weddings without rules.

Keeping it sweet and simple. Good coffee, good food.

Owner Anthony Brown and big smile brings unique food is unique in his bright blue cart with Southern and Mexican inspired fusion of just plain ol” deliciousness.

Home of custom cakes & elaborate cupcakes, cookies... you name it.

BuzzFeed Tasty's Top 50 wings in the USA!

Southern-style cuisine fused with their Oregon roots.

A fun and tasty twist on your average healthy snacks. Perfect snacks for kids.

A soul food cart serving heart-warming dishes.

This publishing company all started with a book written by co-founder and CEO, Jelani Memory. As a black father with a blended family, racism was an inevitable topic of conversation. The increasingly popularity of this book developed into creating more books about complex topics such as feminism, cancer, gratitude, belonging and much more.

Their work and activism includes direct community education workshops, supporting the outreach of their continued advocacy as first respondents, and helping community members contribute through direct engagement and legislative value. They are focused on shifting cultural and systemic discrimination.

An amazing initiative which tracks the progress of the federal, state and local legislation which addresses police violence.

Founded by Cameron Whitten, a local Portlander, who has more than five years of experience in non-profit leadership and donation accountability. Cameron has served as the Executive Director of local nonprofits such as Know Your City, Brown Hope, and Q Center.

Black-Owned Businesses in Portland

Izzy Bossy

Jamaica

Winifred beach has to be my favourite beach its one of the last beaches which hasn’t been bought by foreigners a hub for the community to come and cool af, if you go you must go up to Cynthia’s and get some food just ask for her down on the beach!

Blue lagoon holds a special place in my heart one of my favourite place to swim its hot and cold under and has a magic in the air, if you go down make sure to get a raft trip ask for Beena with the bleached hair and go over to monkey island.

Obviously, I had to put some music-related tings. If you know me you know how much DANCEHALL IS MI EVERYTHING and the best way to keep up with the new music is to get a CD from Junior on William Street.

Boston is the home of jerk. You can’t come to Jamaica and not try it. There are a few amazing places, but you must go to its home, Boston. Go to Mickey's - the first place on the left (if you are facing it). I also always get a chicken sausage from Bumpy as well; you will see him, he is right across.

Corey makes the best fruit smoothies in Port Antonio. He also makes peanut punch with almond milk which is quite rare here, but it’s super yummy. He is based in the back of the fruit market just walk through the shop to the back left corner and you will see him.

This is by far my favourite date night spot. The owner, Vanessa, is one of my good friends and cooks the most delicious food. Get the lobster! Actually, get anything its all amazing !! Also located on Long Bay Beach - you HAVE to go!

Have you ever had a burger with plantain and callaloo? Well then, you must go to Woody's in Drapers. Their burgers are literally so unique tasting and delicious.

If you are going to Rio Grande make sure you head out early as its a full day of rafting. I always drive up and start from Berrydale. You can stop the raft and swim in the river. Also, half way up if you call in advance, you can stop for food at Belinda. She is not there all the time, so you must organise in advance, but I promise you you won’t regret it!

Sanko Bay is a tiny local beach. There isn’t sand, but you can swim and the view is so beautiful. We are currently trying to re-build the community centre situated on this beach to support and give the Drapers community a hub for the locals. We’re also giving free workshops and equipment for our future generation to be able to bloom.

Everyone always talks about Dunn River, but there are so many hidden gems. Reach Falls is much quieter and you can walk down the back of the waterfall where there are holes you can jump through (this will make more sense when you reach). It’s way more chilled and private; take some snacks, drinks & lots of mosquito repellent with you in your bag.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOME VIBEZ YOU MUST GO TO MANNAS. You can also pre-order food for small and big groups. Hit up Jason. This is also a must-go!

Coconut shrimp curry to die for. Great for any celebration or just a lovely dinner. Make sore you ask the owner to tell you his story and why he set up soldier camp.

Explore Portland, Jamaica, with Izzy Bossy

Shawn Wasabi

Los Angeles 

I love this spot, it’s nearby across the street from Boba Guys and Justin is a such a fantastic chef, ultimate comfort food. 

There’s 2 in LA and this is my favorite Boba shop for sure. Andrew and Bin are the best!

LASA [Lasita] is legendary for Filipino food, nothing can or ever will come close

I tried this Filipino supermarket for the first time not too long ago and immediately it just reminded me of home. Super authentic and just feels great to be there

They have these in few spots in LA but it’s my favorite place for udon

Over in east LA, this area is consttttantly switching things up, you can find a lot of new businesses and food popping up so it's always exciting to visit 

Shawn Wasabi's Filipino Neighbourhood Guide to LA

Cami Layé Okún

Havana

I highly recommend a visit to the other side of the bay of Havana, the way to get there is by the “Lanchitas de Regla” (small boats). Known for being a town with a strong cultural tradition, especially with regard to Afro-Cuban religiosity and spirituality, it’s also a place known for its musicians.

The University of the Arts, built in 1976, is undoubtedly one of the city's architectural emblems. Twenty minutes from the centre of Havana, the ISA is a campus full of vegetation with domes and tunnels that from an aerial view, suggest breasts, fallopian tubes and vaginas. Despite having five buildings, you can only access the ‘artes circenses’ building that is currently abandoned. Ideal place to meditate, read or picnic with friends.

Exquisite live jazz club. Located in a basement of 23rd Avenue in the heart of the Vedado neighbourhood. A space where you can really get a feel for the musical talent found in the city.

The spot for fresh, natural juices. Ideal place to stop and cool down from the sun. It’s one of the few places I know where you can find a variety of juices without sugar, made in the moment with fresh fruits and vegetables. Only accepts national currency.

One of the best views of the city and sea. Admission is free for everyone, no matter if you are not staying at the hotel. Highly recommended spot for the sunset.

The greenest area in the city, where the smell of the earth is penetrating. With lush vegetation and trees brought from Africa, it is a space full of spirituality where many works of Afro-Cuban santeria are practised.

In the summer season there’s nothing better than swimming at Club Náutico.

This is a natural park where the facilities and nature merge in an enveloping way. Ideal to arrive by bicycle and enjoy the musical activities that are offered, mainly for children on weekends.

Havana would not be Havana without the Malecon. The Wall that protects the ocean and the place that gives us the best sunsets and sunrises from any point. It is the ideal place for all those things that make life more beautiful.

Havana with DJ, Cami Layé Okún

Ghetto Gastro

New York City 

Highbridge is a neighbourhood in the Bronx that's connected to Washington Heights in the Upper Manhattan by way of the pedestrian high bridge. The blending of cultures across this physical landscape is rich and the patties have a nice sweetness and a spicy punch. They also take some time, because you'll need to ferment the plantains for the filling for up to one week, which adds a tangy depth to the flavour.

For $4 or $5, any short-order bodega cook can style it how you like it, but the classic build is ground beef cooked down with white onions and American cheese, then topped with tomatoes and shredded lettuce on a hero or roll. Like a lot of foods that emerge from neighbourhoods and cultures where many are systematically deprived of wealth, the chopped cheese is a blue-collar dish, [with] it's social complexities. As the class makeup of the Bronx and Uptown has shifted to attract the richer, whiter populations in recent years, the chopped cheese found its way into the hands of folks who didn't grow up on it like we did but rather often "discovered" the sandwich, and, naturally, loved it. 

This place opened as Brother Roy's Green Garden in 1983 at a different location (it's always going to be Brother Roy's to us), but the juice bar is a beloved, Black-owned gathering place that promotes health and wellness. For youth used to seeing smoke shops and liquor stores on countless corners, this West Indian spot is where you find like-minded people knowledgeable about nutrition. Brother Roy's is across from an elevated train, facing the New York Housing Authority's Gun Hill Houses. The energy is chaotic on the streets. In the shop it's like an oasis. You smell fresh fruit. You hear patois that reflects Caribbean roots. 

The hood Chinese restaurant is ubiquitous in Black hip hop culture. For decades, references to dishes have appeared in song lyrics; there's even a brown and green Timberland boot that's been dubbed "beef and broccoli". The tan joints are called "sesame chickens". These are not the spots where you look for traditional Cantonese dumplings or classic Sichuan noodles. You're gonna find chicken wings next to egg foo Yung. Chinese sweet tea served in plastic quart containers. Everything comes in a to-go box because even if the spot is large enough for tables and chairs, you're probably not staying long. 

A popular seafood restaurant in City Island, across the street from Johnny's Reef, these restaurants have a serious cult following. 

Ghetto Gastro’s Top 5 Restaurants in New York City 

Vivendii

Lagos

Family owned gallery started by Ms Nike herself with some of the most amazing paintings, sculptures and other artwork in Lagos. Instagram heaven for all yall social media addicts. Real nice to just have reflective time away from the hustle and just appreciate art. It's fire

One of my favourite places in Lagos to go to. Pick a chilled day to pull up to the market to find amazing artwork, jewellery, painting, models, sculptures, leather products and a bunch of other fire shit. Cultural explosion all available for sale. Come with your bargaining shoes on because none of these cool pieces come without a fight

Exactly what it says it is, a centre promoting the welfare of the environment and its conservation. Monkeys and other animals running around and has Africa's highest foot path over the trees with amazing views. Great time with a bunch of people. Bring some food, drinks and have a picnic in the large open spaces

Amazing Italian/Peruvian (I think) fusion restaurant/chill spot/motel lol. Spot of a vibe and some of my best ideas have come just chilling outside enjoying their sangria. They also have a bakery with some of the best donuts in Lagos NO CAP

An authentic Nigerian beach experience. Pull up with a bunch of friends and enjoy the serenity away from the crazy streets of Lagos. Either go full local and take a banana boat from some of the docks such as Bonny Camp or BICS in Lekki or take a boat/yacht from one of the beach clubs and enjoy the vibe

Shrine is one of the most authentic spots in the city, a celebration of Fela's life and everything he was about. Fire spot you can smoke, drink, eat and watch some amazing performances from artists including his sons, Femi and Seun Kuti

Late food spot open nearly 24/7. Top 3 best chicken wings in the city. After nearly every night at the club, pull up to Maroccaine

Go on the day of exhibitions with great local artists. Get the tequila beer salitos with a slice of lime. SENSATIONAL in the heat. I think it actually tastes better in Lagos. Also, try 16 by 16's twist on zobo, a traditional blackcurrant drink

Vivendii's Top Spots In Lagos

Toumba

Amman

Hands down the best shawerma in Amman in my opinion. Kept extremely simple with just meat, sumac onions, tomatoes and their signature tahini sauce. It is borderline magical how effectively these sandwiches keep you wanting more and coming back to get it. At 1.25 JD (£1.42) for a regular and 1.75 JD (£2) for a large, between which the difference is the amount of meat rather than the size of the sandwich, you really can’t go wrong.

Open 24 hours a day, this spot on Basman Street in downtown Amman serving up amazing grills is our go-to spot for a late (or extra late post-night out) dinner. It’s a big four floor restaurant but I’d always recommend sitting at the top floor for nice views of the street. Staff are super friendly, the atmosphere is amazing, food is inexpensive and they serve alcohol. We’ve taken countless artists to this spot and it has become a staple in the scene. Big tip is to go for an assortment of their amazing salads before moving onto the meats.

One of the oldest falafel spots in Amman, Abu Mahjoob is the embodiment of a neighbourhood eatery. It’s a staple of Jabal Al Luweibdeh, one of the most vibrant and culturally rich areas in Amman, making it the perfect addition to your schedule while wandering the beautiful streets of the must visit neighbourhood.

Al-Thawaq is a no-frills sandwich shop that serves classic home-style sandwiches. However, the magic lies in the bread, the preparation and the sandwich selection. They prepare the simple home-style sandwiches in a way that completely elevates them without compromising their homely simplicity. The menu consists of everything from everyday staples like halloum, labaneh and zeit w za’atar, to more hardcore classics like spleen, tongue and marrow (which are a must try if you’re slightly adventurous).

Foron Rex is an artisanal bakery that makes some of the best bread in Amman. What I go there for, however, are the sandwiches. They use their outstanding bread to make equally outstanding sandwiches using 100 percent local products and produce. My personal favourites are the double decker (their take on a club sandwich with locally produced mortadella and beef bacon sandwiched in their gorgeous milk and butter toast) and the roast beef baguette or focaccia with horseradish sauce. Rex is also a great spot to buy delicious local products like cured meats from Jolly Man, artisanal jams and marmalades from Namliyeh; Tuneib’s amazing pickles, chilli sauces and tapenades. Half a baguette will set you back around four JD (£4.50) which is a bit pricier than what you’d expect for sandwiches in Amman, but it’s well worth it.

If you visit Amman without trying knafeh you’d be missing out on one of the most amazing desserts in the world (I might be a bit biased). The best place for me to get knafeh in Amman, albeit a mainstream spot, is Habiba downtown near the famous Hashem Restaurant. The place and the atmosphere around it is magnetising. It’s a small shop, barely fitting five to 10 people, so you order your knafeh (125 grams of knafeh khishneh for me) and eat it outside while it’s hot.

Tamreyet Omar is the perfect spot to hit after enjoying a sandwich (or two) from Reem; located just across the street and serving up one of the simplest yet mouthwatering desserts around. As the name suggests, the hole-in-the-wall spot specialises in tamreyat – an extremely light and fluffy fried dough dusted with powdered sugar – but it also serves awwamat and asabea’a zaynab. A single temreyeh will set you back 0.3 JD while the bigger tamreyeh extra will set you back 0.5 JD which makes it one of the cheapest desserts in town too.

What better way to start your morning than with fresh hot manaqeesh, and the best spot to get them in Amman in my opinion is Sabaho. While they do have a big selection of manaqeesh, I personally just go for either the classic akkawi cheese or zeit w za’atar, which isn’t to say that the other menu items aren’t just as good (the basterma is killer).

Floriana is a pizza shop next to my house in Um Uthaina. While their pizzas are good, it’s their sandwiches – particularly the Zinger – that keeps me going back. They use the same pizza dough to make the flatbread for the sandwiches and it’s baked in their pizza over fresh to order, which makes it extremely light, airy and slightly crispy in all the right places. After the bread is baked, the fillings are spread onto it before it’s wrapped and put inside the woodfired oven one more time to warm it up just enough to slightly burn the roof of your mouth on the first bite, but it’s so good that you end up finishing it before it even slightly cools down.

This sweets shop is where you can get the absolute best halawat al jubon in Amman. It’s definitely a must visit if you have a sweet tooth and you want to try one of the most delicious traditional desserts in Amman. It’s also located in downtown so it’s a perfect stop to stop by for a quick, sweet snack while you explore the city.

Shams El Balad has been my go-to for a drink for years. Its stunning architecture, timeless decorations and vibrant, welcoming atmosphere makes it hard not to turn into a regular. While it serves some of the best food in Amman using all locally sourced ingredients, the star of the show, to me, is their Gin O’tra cocktail: a gin-based cocktail with cucumber juice and sweet scented geranium. Depending on when you go during the day, Shams El Balad can serve as the perfect spot for serenity while you have some coffee or a nice cocktail, but also as a great night out with nicely curated music and an unparalleled atmosphere. The place also occasionally hosts some interesting events like the Honest Natural Wine Fair and the Palestine Supper Club. You can also find a selection of products by local designers that you can buy there!

Manara has been a recent favourite of mine when it comes to coffee shops. In addition to their nice coffee, they have an outstanding view of the city on their top floor. Its location in Jabal Luweibdeh makes it a hub for creatives and young people to come and work there, or just catch up over a nice cup of coffee. You can also check out their ever-changing selection of handmade goods by local designers which are often sold to raise funds for charity.

This fresh juice spot is located right next to Al-Thawwaq (big tip on the Al-Thawwaq/Beit El-Rumman combo). They serve what must be at least 20 different combinations of fresh fruit juice smoothies and they give you the option to custom make whatever combo you want. The selection of combos changes throughout the year to accommodate for what’s in season but it’s almost a guarantee that whatever you get from there is gonna be extremely refreshing and hit every spot it needs to hit.

Toumba on Where to Eat and Drink in Amman, Jordan

Junior Sealy 

Barbados

The smoothies here have gotten me through some of the longest days and always make for amazing hangout beverages. They also have great cold salads.

Five Gaits is where I go to get equine therapy and learn to really ride via Equestrian classes but the best thing is a trail ride through the valley with friends and then after grabbing some of the best ital/ vegetarian food from Ras Val's! The vibes are great all around and the food never fails! Oh, the moonlight rides with the roast breadfruit are something special.

In Martins Bay, St.John - this spot and the grilled marlin or snapper with rice and their sweet potato pie with Cole slaw...topping it off with a tamarind drink or coconut water from in the shop below. It's one of those places that when you are on east...you can get a nice meal and its never crowded on most days except Thursdays - thats their fish fry mini festival day with music etc.

There are many people selling juices on the side of the street but not like these...her combinations are special and the flavours are super interesting. I would stop by every Saturday morning religiously! Tell her Junior sent you! She is honestly the best!

A great spot for that mid morning ital vibes. Just check when they are open cause it's a bit of a drive if you not staying up in St.Philip.

Not only is the place beautiful with incredible views and you can take a dip in a natural cave swimming pool then come out order breadfruit tacos and maybe catch a whale passing by. It's right up north but well worth the drive plus Sue and Manny are great!

Up North, there isn't much but this gem hidden in a small community is a special place with a chilled vibe and really local food full of love. The owner is super nice and the food is great! The macaroni pie and the grilled fish - Slaps!!!!

In Speightstown, if you want something a bit more local and low key...this is the spot. I would come here with a close friend every weekend and get a full veggie meal or maybe add a bit of fish. One of those "yuh grandmother or mother cook that" feelings.

Okay, let's talk about this big box combo - it changes every day and with each day you just feel the energy put into it. The creativity of the vegan/vegetarian meals and the new mixtures are exciting plus get a kombucha - you can go wrong!

One of my favourite spots to chill for a drink and watch the sunset. The concoctions are the best and the finger foods mixed with the decor - all a big hit for me and my friends. The music is always great with special nights hosting incredible DJ's.

The South coast's newest hot spot. Owned by the same owner as one of the best night time spots on the island "Red Door" this is like a day party with good food and a good vibe.

Sometimes, I want to eat something different but it might be a bit hard if I don't want to eat fish so this place is perfect because almost every meal could be asked to be vegetarian. The staff and owner make

In the sea of spots to eat in oistins - this is my go to fish spot. I always get the grilled Swordfish with Rice, Grilled or Parsley Potatoes and all the salads. I am never disappointed and all my friends who visit me would tell you it's the one place I will always take them. This spot and everyone involved has become like a family to me.

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