We're heading back to the beautiful island of La Réunion for this conversation with food content creator Jennie Léonie.

Located in the Indian Ocean, La Réunion is a small island known for its warmth and dedication to preserving Creole culture and history. Jennie grew up in a family that shaped her strong connection to the island's culinary culture.

On her Instagram page and YouTube channel, she shares easy, accessible recipes designed for active women in La Réunion, helping them bring their cultural identity into everyday cooking through small, creative twists. Her approach highlights modern, practical cooking that stays rooted in Réunionese ingredients and heritage, while documenting food experiences across the island, the Indian Ocean, and beyond.

If you are looking to learn more about what make this island so special and a must-visit, you'll want to listen to this episode.

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Diaspora Food Stories is produced by The Global Food and Drink Initiative, a 501c3 nonprofit. Together with your generous donation we can continue to preserve the oral history and culture of Black food and drink stories both in English and other languages spoken throughout the African diaspora. To donate, visit globalforgood.org.

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We're back for part 2 as we follow Chef Russell Jackson from California to New York and the opening of his first restaurant Reverence NYC, which he closed in February 2025.

However, as a chef who knows how to innovate, he is on to his next projects, Unity Market and Reverence Phoenix, which are set to open in New York's iconic Central Park on June 20.

Check out the second part of our conversation and if you haven't listen to part 1, you'll want to do so because it is just as good.

You can also follow his work on social media and support his projects with a donation.

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NYC-based chef Russell Jackson doesn't do things like others when it comes to his work and how he looks at food. The industry veteran of 49 years has worked in some of the best restaurants from West to East and also developed his own concepts in between to present food the way he feels it should be; in its simplest form, yet delicious.

We're talking with him in this 2-part series that starts in California and ends with the soon to be opening of Unity Market and Reverence Phoenix in New York's iconic Central Park on June 20. Along with sharing his story, he is sharing his vision for the next chapter of his impressive culinary career.

Enjoy part 1 and then come (June 10) as we release part 2. You can also follow his work on social media and support his upcoming projects with a donation.

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