Sueuga Kamau

Oakland

Sueuga Kamau's Guide to Oakland

David Hanes-Gonzalez

Mexico City 

Boxers from all across the city and state flock here every Saturday morning. Better known as La Casa de Sparring. Ask for Coach Chicano and you’ll be in good hands. Getting here is an equally thrilling experience. You must travel through 10-15 minutes of tianguis, passing hundreds of people, carnicerias, fruit and vegetables vendors, and eventually walk up a flight of stairs of a large warehouse.

Arguably the most scenic place to train in the city. Coach Tony Vega holds private and group classes early in the morning and every evening Monday to Saturday. A great place to train outdoors with a view.

A historic gym located in the Transito neighbourhood. If you are an amateur boxer fighting in Mexico City this place is a rite of passage.

Tucked in the middle of Tepito is another historic gym and home to many champion boxers. It’s open throughout the day with access to a soccer field as well. Come in early morning or around 4pm to train with some of them.

The centre for photography in all of Mexico. I'm very thankful that this institution exists. They have rotating exhibits featuring work from Mexican and Latin American artists, and frequently host workshops, portfolio reviews and other activities for artists of all ranges.

Looking to surround yourself with fellow photographers, develop and buy film, and work on your creative projects all from a rooftop? At Dichroic Lab you can do all that. My go-to place for my film developing needs and nerding out on all things photography.

Come for the coffee, stay for the music. Half coffee shop, half record store where the baristas DJ vinyl. A great space to edit photos or catch up with a friend. The music is so good that using headphones is almost frowned upon. At night they become a cocktail joint with rotating DJs. A must visit.

My perfect night out consists of live music. Former apartment-turned-jazz-club featuring music from local and international musicians. An intimate space, perfect for a date night or gathering with a group of friends. Make a reservation two days in advance so you can get a seat in the main room.

A good indicator of a classic taqueria is one that doesn’t have Instagram or accepts cards. This is my favourite in all of the city. If you need a reason why, read the 40,000 reviews on Google Maps or check out the line on any given Saturday or Sunday morning. Order the carnitas, you won’t be disappointed.

A small pulqueria and cantina located in Roma. A place I like to take visitors. Come here during the day or late night with a group of friends. Order a round of mezcal shots and pitcher of coconut pulque while listening to Mexican classics like Luis Miguel, Juan Gabriel and Los Angeles Azules.

A Guide to Mexico City’s Boxing Gyms and Cultural Hotspots

Jorge León

Oaxaca

My favourites are the taco de chorizo and the taco de chile relleno.

My favourite dishes here are garnachas, mole estofado del istmo and the tamal de camarón seco.

Get the taco de barbacoa and the consomé.

Amazing space showing works from local Oaxacan artists.

Oaxaca with Chef, Jorge León

I like to call this spot “A Mexican version of an Omakase”. No menu here, you just sit down and let them know about food restrictions (if there’s any) and let yourself be surprised by the parade of corn-based delicious dishes that roll out of their beautiful open kitchen. The head chef works directly with produce from Guerrero and cooks each dish thinking of seasonalities and taking influences from traditional foods from different regions of the country. 
No reservations available.


One of my favorite places to get to know a new city is through its markets. Mexico City is home of over 300 warehouse-looking mercados, one in almost every neighborhood. And I’d say each has a very distinct personality. Medellín is not only known being a favorite one-stop shop for the Roma neighbors with a meat & poultry section, flowers and plants, key maker, furniture and kitchenware but also for offering some soutamerican produce that would be hard to find elsewhere. 


Good coffee, amazing pastries and glorious breakfast in the mornings; delicious sourdough pizza and great wines in the evening. Has a very inviting, warm and casual atmosphere which makes it the perfect hangout spot for meeting both locals and visitors, or simply sipping on coffee. 

One of my absolute favorite projects in the city. La Rifa is a Bean-to-Bar place that works directly with Mexican cacao producers and turns the seed into the most delicious chocolate. From single origin bars to cacao and water based drinks, chocolate cookies, truffles and even kombucha and beer, it’s all delicious here. 

If there’s one thing you should try out when visiting the country is definitely its street food and tacos. This pop up stand has been serving the most amazing mixiote tacos since 1986. Here, the sheep meat is cooked inside little parchment paper sachets with a perfectly seasoned marinate with a mix of dried chiles, avocado leaf and even cinnamon. Top this double-sized taco with cactus, pineapple and one of their incredible salsas. Keep in mind they only open Wednesday, Friday, Saturdays and sometimes they show up on a random Sunday. 

If there is one place I like to spend my weekends at is this. Amazing music, guest dj’s, the most amazing daiquiris, natural wine, mezcal and incredibly delicious thai-inspired food. 
Only opens Saturdays and Sundays, so be patient as waiting times can get crazy long, or if you prefer, show up on listening Mondays which are way more chill and easier to get into. 


Street Food in Mexico City with The Curious Mexican 

Justice Wears Cool Pants

Los Angeles 

In LA, there’s really no Caribbean culture. So, the Jerk Spot is one of those places that I go to and it makes me forget that I’m in LA kind of thing. The food’s incredible, the area is like this little small, almost hole-in-the-wall type spot. I’m a big foodie.

In my free time, I’ve been taking photos. I’m like a fake photographer, for me it’s significant because it’s when you create memories and don’t take photos of them, you almost forget about them. So, when I go to that photo lab to develop my photos and I receive them, it almost feels like me reliving these memories.

The taco truck experience feels cultural, it feels like a good place to coagulate, sit on the block. Get some tacos, vibe out. It’s very communal, in like the most street-possible way. LA culture is completely different and i feel like that taco truck adds like a little bit more street-ness to Los Angeles. You gotta do the Carnita tacos with the green sauce.

For me, it’s all about trying to find different flavours in this city because like I said, LA is so spread out that sometimes it’s kinda hard to find pockets of things. But this spot has a very strong Parisian feel. It’s kind of like a little Paris hangout, it feels like you’re in the middle of Paris even though you’re in the middle of LA. And you know the drinks are amazing and the thought process behind that experience, again, like I said, I’m a foodie, so it’s kind of just where I hang out. The crowd there is more creative.

The thing about this spot is that it gives me a clash of culture and creativity. Because everyone that’s selling stuff there or goes there is usually from a lack of funds, it’s not a lot of wealthy people or people that are affluent that really go there. You just get to see what everybody’s taste is and how everyone’s trying to relate what they’re putting forward. It gives me a sense of a melting pot.


Eating in LA with Justice Wears Cool Pants

Tyler Henry

If you only eat one thing off the street it should be this. It’s a spot on Colima for quesadillas during the day. The huitlacoche and queso is incredible, so is [the] chicken tinga. But the green mole with chicken and cheese is otherworldly. A great entry point to street food as it's approachable, delicious and fairly simple. I probably eat here more than anywhere else in Mexico City. One mole verde con queso, one huitlacoche con queso.

Yucatecan home cooking. Soulful, spicy and hits the spot. I will often be here eating alone, relaxing to good music with a book. My go-to order is the sopa de lima followed by panuchos de cochinita, an agua de chaya and a few beers. Run by a lovely woman, Jocyln, who started the place using her mother's recipes. One sopa de lima, four panuchos de cochinita, one whatever else is inspiring.

Tacos of chargrilled meats. I love, love, love the poblano con bistec with a side order of chiles toreados. The alambre de pastor is very good. Poblano de bistec.


In centro, this is an OG taco spot open late and serving the best suadero and campechano tacos in Mexico City. I often bike here late at night to crush a few tacos. Be very, very careful walking around the surrounding area after dark. [Order] four campechano, two suadero.

A tiny little taco joint in San Rafael with only standing space. It pains me to include this spot here because I want to keep the tiny, flavourful taco joint all for myself. The al pastor and the tripas tacos are perfect. The torta with pastor and queso is awesome too. The whole experience of eating tacos here is perfect. I'm here at least once a week. Four pastor, one tripas.

An old-school joint cooking northern Mexican staples, and a great place to sit in a booth crushing beers and tacos for a long lunch. I often find myself here with chilaquiles on a slow Monday morning.

Easily a top five spot for me in Mexico! The coldest, best beer in Mexico! OG joint serving just birria, side of avocado, side of queso, amazing beers and tequila. Get the beer “campechano” – it’s a mix of their dark and light drafts in a huge, ice-cold mug. Live music, photographer running around. A celebratory place, great for groups and rowdy fun. Go here! Birria, side of queso, side of avocado, at least three campechano cervezas.

Commonly referred to as the best al pastor in the city. During the daytime it's an autobody shop; at night it turns into a massive al pastor operation that is not just delicious, but an awesome experience and vibe to eat at with giant, ripping pastor spits and people from all walks of life. Four pastor, one gringa.

The Best Tacos in Mexico City Chosen by Chef Tyler Henry

The most approachable market around – a small market in Roma Sur that’s easy and a quick hit, but still has a bunch of great produce. Fantastic oaxacan puesto. A good Cuban ice cream spot. On Saturdays and Sundays the butcher, Meche y Rafael in the meat section, does awesome carnitas tacos. It’s the only spot with a seating section.

A perfect market for a visitor who wants to see a larger Mexico City market, but isn’t quite ready to hit La Merced. Jamaica is best known as the OG flower market, and it has an insane selection of flowers. But it also has very good food and a very good selection of ingredients. I often go here for more special things, like wild mushrooms or kefir limes or weird spices. My friend, Francisco, runs a chile shop there and does a very cool market-slash-food, make-your-own-salsa or mole and mezcal tour that is a great experience.

A fun market in centro with a great diversity of good produce and some awesome stands to eat and drink at. Tourist-y and overpriced for most chef shopping purposes, but excellent nonetheless. I get some specialty ingredients from here and love to just hang and drink.

Chaotic Mexico at its best! Merced is the largest traditional retail market in the city and one of the oldest. It's been going since the 18th century. It's located in the eastern part of centro. Let me just say, it is not in any way safe. The market is also a giant labyrinth that’s easy to get lost in. I would not recommend going here without someone who knows the market, and I would also lay off your cell phone anywhere near or within the market. That being said, it's magical, mind-blowing and endlessly inspiring! There is an extraordinary selection of good street foods within the market. I think it's best at 9am in the morning.

4 Markets You Need to Visit in Mexico City

London

This year, I went on a mission to create a soul food fusion concept, Bando Belly with co-founder Alex Sintunayake. London is the world’s biggest melting pot and living in the capital means fusion is everywhere - food, music and of course the people. How many places in the world would an English, Turkish and Indian man all know the appropriate response to wagwan?!!
Bando Belly is about taking that exact energy and putting it on a plate; I have created a menu to highlight a diverse selection of flavours from all around the globe to reimagine London’s soul food.

A cute cafe serving classic Vietnamese dishes, they know me here as the woman who orders a table full of food. Don't miss the BÁNH XÈO Crêpe filled with pork or chicken, prawns, onion, bean sprouts and salad. CÁNH GÀ CHIÊN BƠ chicken wings with garlic butter and lemongrass. All their Pho are delicious or BÚN TÔM XÀO king prawns on rice. 

A Filipino food truck station outside Peckham library. They have been serving banging tender beef in adobo and marinated grilled chicken over rice with green and spicy sauces. You can grab a large box for £7 I always grab two one for now one for me and brother to fight over later.

Two Nigerian sisters with food as bold as they are. Their spin on Nigerian classics will have your mouth watering and belly full. My go to is the beef suya and prawn fried rice but grab a mixed plate for a taste of everything. 

A family run business with warm friendly service. Serving an array of South American food from tacos to arepas. I always get the beef chachapa, a sweet corn pancake with shredded beef and soft cheese.

A Mediterranean fusion kitchen inside a new bar that has a banging playlist full of amapiano bangers. Their portions never leave you hungry, there’s a tapas style menu and some great mains. I’ve had the thick sea bass fillet several times but I’m dying to try the confit duck and bean puree.

A traditional Eritrean restaurant serving vegan/ veggie delights tasty fish dishes and my favourite kulwa, which is lamb fried in ghee, onion and green chilli. Everything comes with Injera, a teff flour sourdough pancake. For first timers I suggest the combos based on how many people you're with, selections picked by the chef made for sharing. Great for date nights or group visits, make a night of it by trying the traditional honey wine and end with the authentic coffee ceremony.

Huge Peruvian restaurant with great outdoor seating for a spot of people watching. The cocktails are strong, and food packed with flavour. I have unashamedly ordered the same thing every time, grilled beef heart in aji amarillo and cod ceviche. The softness and deep flavour of the beef heart is unforgettable.

Master Chefs 2011 winner’s Japanese fusion restaurant serves great Japanese classics with sprinkles of Caribbean flavours. My go to is the Leopard ramen, a super thick creamy pork broth with parmesan and scotch bonnet or the extraordinary lazy goat ramen boneless curry goat with noodles, that one is a spice girl for sure!

This hole in the wall in Brixton a mother and daughter serving Colombian street food. Seeing a girl walking down Brixton high street with a massive snow cone piled with fruit and I had to stop her to ask where I could get one. Think fruit salad in fruit juice covered with a mountain of shaved ice and condensed milk and syrup. There's a lot going on but oh my there's a lot more to love. A super sweet summer treat. If its a hot day be ready to wait up to 30 mins.

A great fun Korean BBQ restaurant, a huge menu to choose from. This place you can take anyone, and they will enjoy. Don't go too crazy with the starters the wings and beef short ribs are my favourite or you'll have to come back twice like me to try the BBQ. Always order a bottle of soju and a pot of makgeolli, the milky, off-white, and lightly sparkling rice wine, get a cab home you will need it!

The Best Food in South London with Naz

Tai Verdes

This beach is a secret hideaway. Less people more waves and sand. That might be cheesy but this beach is still great. There are cliffs overlooking the water where people are constantly taking pictures and even engagement photos. It’s towards Malibu so you also get that nice lil PCH drive towards this beach.

Monty's is a late-night burger place that is all vegan. These burgers vegan or not are some of the best in la. The milkshakes too are the cherry on top. If you want a real introduction of vegan food then go here and have your mind blown.

The sandy dunes in Malibu are kind of jaw-dropping to look at. I used to work out there twice a month when I was training for college basketball. That’s the type of workout you should look forward to when you’re climbing to the top of that sand. The reward is an amazing view of Malibu beach and you get to run down like a maniac.

This is where I get all of my clothes. Okay not all but most. This spot is overrun by people who love fashion. I don’t blame them. So many great vendors come to sell dope shit there. Every time I go there I find another staple of my closet. If you walk into the trading post you will walk out with something.

Where I performed my first show ever. I released my album on the night I played at Winston house. It’s a great venue where great artists come to make memories. I’ll never forget this place. You should definitely check it out if you’re looking more live music in your life.

This hilltop is for Instagram professionals only. You will get some pictures that might be cooler than all the pictures you’ve ever taken in your life. Sometimes if you go at the right time you will see a line of people waiting to snap the perfect shot. I think you should go get in line.

This is a very interesting museum in LA that I go to when people visit me. If you bring someone to this spot you can say that you have taste but your not too boujee. I love the creativity of all the modern art in this spot. Maybe one day I’ll make something that ends up in there.

This wall is iconic in LA. It’s right by the skate park in Venice and artists are always marking it up with amazing unique pieces. I’ve been there a bunch of times and almost every time I’ve seen an artist working on the wall live. I don’t think I could ever be a graffiti artist. Those people are so talented.

Bowl, double black beans, double pinto, a small amount of fajitas, mild salsa, guac, lettuce, orange vinaigrette, with an extra tortilla (NO MEAT). This was my order every single day for a year. The downtown chipotle next to staple centre in Los Angeles. This is the best chipotle in LA. I’ve never had anything stale or had anything missing in my order at this place. When I was going through some hard times the workers there even let me have some free chips because they knew me. This place is golden.

Secret Beaches in Los Angeles with Tai Verdes

Miguel

The Short Rib ravioli is insane. Not sure if it's still on the menu, or maybe a special, but I've had an Arrabbiata there before that was fire. It's the best pasta in the game, perfectly cooked noodles, which they make by hand onsite. They also have an excellent bar there and you can order Mescal which is rare at an Italian spot. Great vibes in there all around any night of the week.

This is our favorite weekend spot hands down. The food is so good. If we could eat like THAT every day, it would be our every day spot, but we save it for weekends. I personally LOVE the French toast but everything is bomb. Ask for Jason, he's the Chef. Always takes good care of us.

We love the lamb chops and the whole Branzino fish here. It’s so insane. They use some sort of a sweet peppery marinade on the fish that’s next level. It's in downtown LA Arts District which has a really good energy to it.

It’s right by the airport, so you can hit it as soon as you land. It’s a very low key local legend spot. All the tacos are excellent. Loads of cheese. Can’t go wrong in my opinion.

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