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Pivoting Your Brand: What is Cooking Travel Talks?
FoodMy Breaking ViewsTravel

Pivoting Your Brand: What is Cooking Travel Talks?

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Pivoting your brand was and still is essential to many travel content creators. Many of us can agree that during this pandemic we have had to think and find new ways of travelling.

This was and still has been a very difficult time for travel content creators. Cancelled and delayed trips, not being able to travel has really weighed in on many of us. As a travel blogger, everyone knows and understands how much I LOVE to explore the world. So what does one do when you are not able to travel and visualise the world? 

You pivot. 

Instead of surrendering to uncertainty, I decided to create my own way of travelling and experiencing the world and this had to be through food. I have always enjoyed trying new food, especially when travelling so it only made sense for me to tie food and travel together and it is why and how the Cooking and Travel Talks live show began.  

What is Cooking Travel Talks?

Cooking Travel Talks is a live show via Instagram. During the one hour segment, I cook a dish from around the world and encourage others to join in with me by sharing the ingredients. The idea is simple. I want to take my viewers through a journey to taste and learn about a destination around the world in less than an hour. 

So far we have learnt and tasted to make a dish in the following destinations:

  • Nigeria – Suya
  • Asia – Salt and Pepper Prawns 
  • Singapore – Nasi Goreng 
  • Jamaica – Saltfish Fritters
  • Latin America – Arepas, Plantain with Mango Salsa and Black Beans 
  • Barbados – Bajan Bread and Butter Pudding with Vanilla Rum Custard 

If you have missed the lives head over to my Instagram and you will be able to make and taste these dishes yourself.

There is no right or wrong way on how to pivot, but while you are here I wanted to share a few tips on how to pivot your brand/s. 

1. What are your passions?

I remember being at my first ever travel conference at WITSummit and Lola Akinmade giving a speech on discovering our true passion for travel. At the time I wasn’t sure why I really enjoyed travelling, I knew that I loved to experience the culture and explore. The idea of escape was something that dawned on me a lot but it wasn’t the right answer.

The idea was to find my true passion and answer the question – Why do I love to travel? Lola explained that finding our true passion for travel would enable me to discover my niche. At the time I didn’t know the answer when I was asked, which truly annoyed me – lol! It only took a whole lockdown for me to discover that one of my other passions and love for travelling was tasting and discovering new foods. 

cooking travel talks
Use this time to find and discover new ways of experiencing travel without actually travelling. #CookingTravelTalks 

2. Listen to your audience when pivoting

During the lockdown, it was much easier to speak to your audiences – through various social media tools (Twitter, Instagram being my personal faves).

When a close friend of mine suggested to me to go ahead with food and travel thing I didn’t know where to start. The first response was for me to put in in prayer and write in my journal about it. I then decided to ask relevant questions to my audience. This helped me decide how to strategise my new project. I asked simple questions such as, how often, what dishes and the time I should do my live. Asking these questions was extremely helpful not only did it give me the tools to make the right decision in developing my new pivot – Cooking Travel Talks but it also let me know what my audience was looking for. Now that I have finished season 1 I plan to gain feedback from my audience. 

Find ways to engage and listen to your audience. After all, they are the most important people when trying to pivot your brand. #CookingTravelTalks 

3. Don’t be afraid to learn something new 

For those of you that have been watching my Instagram lives, I am sure you can tell I do not come from a food background nor do I have any qualification in this area. And if I am even more honest I haven’t always been the most confident person in the kitchen. I didn’t allow this to stop me. Every time I bring someone on to my live I not only learn about a new dish and a bit about the destination but most importantly I learn new techniques of how to cook when I’m in the kitchen. 

Feel the Fear and do it anyway. #CookingTravelTalks 

4. Be prepared to pivot again 

Although we are slowly coming out of the so-called ‘lockdown stage’ we are still in unprecedented times and none of us really know what lies ahead. Even though MyBreakingViews has technically pivoted, it doesn’t mean this will be it. I am still constantly thinking of new ways of how I can make Cooking Travel Talks better and more appealing to my audience.  

I have many ideas already which I have jotted down. Some of them include purchasing tools such as lighting and a camera, but honestly, I have other plans for my new project and I can’t wait to grow with you on this! Take out a journal and write down what you love and what you would like to do with your brand. 

Continue to pivot even when you have already pivoted. There is nothing wrong with change. #CookingTravelTalks 

I hope you enjoyed reading this post and if you are still figuring out how to pivot your brand send me an email info@mybreakingviews.com. Two heads are better than one and we might think of something mindblowing. 

Otherwise, stay tuned as I will be sharing short write-ups of the destinations I have tasted! Oh, and did I mention there will be a Cooking and Travel Talks Season 2! Hahaha yes, stay tuned! 

Below I have shared some of the dishes my audience have made with me.

  • Bajan Bread and Butter Pudding
  • Hurricane Cocktail
  • Salt and pepper Prawns
  • Suya
  • Nasi Goreng
Have you pivoted your brand? Do you have any tips you can share? Leave in the comments below.
  • how to pivot your brand and cooking travel talks

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Would You Consider Relocating For a New Role?
My Breaking Views

Would You Consider Relocating For a New Role?

By Posted on 6

We are slowly falling into our new ‘normal’, and I’m beginning to think many people will need to start thinking about what’s next? Some may even be considering relocating for a new role. 

Relocating for a new job/career can be a major decision. Honestly. I’ve done it. I can’t say that I enjoyed it much, but looking back now I can reflect and say relocating has certainly helped with my career progression. 

When did I relocate? 

70 radius relocating to Northampton

Back in 2013/14, I had just finished University and like many, I struggled to find or even secure a job. I had already worked in John Lewis, Harrods and as a Youth Worker, but I wanted to now move into something related to my degree – International Politics. 

The plan was to secure a role that would help me gain some experience. After a few months of consistent rejections, I decided to apply for roles out of London. Lucky for me I secured a role in finance – Barclays to be exact. This was quite a good opportunity for me. However, I had one problem, and that was the role was not in London. It was in Northampton. 

I contemplated for ages whether I wanted to leave my loved ones and move 70 miles away from London. It was a tuff one. I only knew a handful of people in Northampton, so understandable was worried about being alone. After debating for a while I decided to make the move and relocated to Northampton. Looking back now I’m glad I decided to relocate. It not only built characteristic skills, but it made me overcome my fears as a person and understand people. 

If you are looking to relocate for a new role, or have recently lost your job then this is the post for you. Below are four pros and cons to consider before relocating for a new role: 

Cons 

Moving can be expensive. 

The cost of moving can be a deal-breaker especially if your company/firm doesn’t offer to cover relocation expenses. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t relocate. It just means you may have to start from scratch. When I decided to relocate I knew I would not be receiving any relocation expenses, but it didn’t stop me from making the move. 

Some employers may negotiate relocation packages, so it is worth asking and inquiring about the costs associated with travel expenses, moving corporate or temporary housing. 

You may have to learn a whole new transportation system. 

If you move from a big city to a rural area as I did from London to Northampton, you may need to learn a new public transportation system. For me, this wasn’t too bad because it meant that I just needed to buy a car. Consider how you may want to get to work. When I relocated I had to factor in the cost of purchasing a vehicle, gas/petrol, maintenance, etc. and although it was costly – it was certainly worth it. 

You might experience culture shock. 

Learning a new city and culture can feel overwhelming and lonely, especially if you are moving alone or internationally. If possible, try to visit the area a few times before you move to ensure it is an environment you will be able to enjoy. For me, I was so desperate to start working that I didn’t take the time for this. 

Remember you don’t have to relocate forever, once you have been in the role for a while you can easily ask to relocate or even apply for a role back home. 

You can make new friends 

I get it social integration can be difficult and is especially challenging for those who are introverted or moving alone. Not to mention social distancing. But this is the time to build character and meet new people and make new friends. 

Pros 

Builds character, personal development and new experiences. 

Relocating can build character for real and can create new experiences. I recall being able to use my financial experience to get my first role to move back to London. I was so hyped! 

It can be an opportunity for career advancement. 

Relocating can allow you to excel, and even gain promotions. I recall feeling that the move I took would mean I would be there forever! Looking back now I know now that it took me to the next level and set the bar for others behind me. Depending on your new role, you may have the chance to build a new team or project from the ground up which is always a great opportunity.

You can make new friends. 

Bear in mind you will be mostly making friends at work. This for me is a BIG no, but some people can. 

Making friends as an adult is not always easy. However, when you’re pushed out your comfort zone you will make friends easily. It’s almost like travelling solo you will meet people. And if you meet friendly people then you have long time friends for life. 

I hope my points above have been of some help. Have you considered moving for a role away from home?

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Where to clothes shop for your holidays…
EuropeFashionLifestyleTravel

Where to clothes shop for your holidays…

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I can’t remember the last time I shopped for my holidays. Can you?

In a few weeks, a few countries are now opening their borders and we will be able to start travelling again. I have been meaning to write a post on holiday shopping for a while (as requested). Please see below a list of retailers where you can shop for your holidays.

Pretty Little Thing

I like Pretty Little Thing (PLT). The clothes are reasonable and if you’re like me – don’t like wearing the same thing too many times (I am trying to grow out of that habit) then it’s a good place to shop. They also have the next day delivery so when I am shopping for a holiday, I usually bulk buy a load of holiday clothes.  

The only thing with PLT is that their prices reflect their quality sometimes. When I was at Coachella (2018), I went crazy with PLT and bought into their festival wear, wore a pair of their shorts and can you believe they broke on me!   

Zara

I do love me some Zara. My friend has always said if you’re not a big fan of big labels – Zara is the place for you. Zara has pretty good quality and their sales! Let’s just say the sales are on another level.  

The only thing I dislike about Zara is their website. The models are always bending all over the place so I find it difficult to see the full outfit properly. I would say the website, in general, is not overall friendly.  

Oasis/ Warehouse

If you like lots of floral prints and bright bold colours this is the place for you. Anytime I get a chance to shop in Oasis or Warehouse I am so excited. I put these two retail shops together because, for me, they are quite similar. Another good thing about this place is that they have a good website which is presented with good modelling. 

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???? ??? ???? ?????????? ????????? ? ???? ????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I'm afraid I have never really ever explored a country I've lived in except Singapore ?? (pictured). ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ It's funny how I've lived in England all my life and have never thought to take a day trip to another city close by. ⁣?⁣ ⁣⁣ It's why I'm happy to announce my first [#gifted] trip to Brighton tomorrow with @VisitEngland and @traverseevents ⁣? ⁣⁣ ???? ?? #?????????? ? ⁣⁣ It's a #MyMicrogap trip where I will be experiencing the best bits of a gap year in one day! ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ It's a trip for me to switch off from my usual routine and simply relax and unwind in Brighton @Visit.Brighton ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I'm really excited to see what #MyMicrogap have in store for me. I will be sharing stories, posts and a cheeky blog of my day out in Brighton so please stay tuned. ?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #MyBreakingViews #gifted #visitengland ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣

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My problem with these shops they don’t seem to have any of retail shops anywhere close to other retail stores. 

N.B Both Oasis and Warehouse are currently rebranding.

Primark

I know there may be some people that might read this and turn the nose up! haha! But honestly, I do love a good old buy at Primark AKA as P-Unit. I like Primak for basics, you know vest, socks etc. And to be honest with you they do have a few stylish items of clothing. As I mentioned before if you are someone that doesn’t like wearing the same thing twice and you want to shop for your holiday. Primark is the place to go – the clothes are very reasonable too! 

The thing I can’t stand about Primark is that the shop is a complete mess! It is like sitting in a teenager’s messy room! To avoid the mess I usually write a list of things I want to buy and go at the crack of dawn when everything is nicely folded.  

ASOS

Asos saved me for my only holiday shop I was able to do this year! Hahaha! Asos has such a great selection of clothing and they even collaborate with so many other brands that you can select from. They also have a tool that allows you to be notified when an item has been restoked. It’s how I got my ski-clothing!

Only think about ASOS is they only are online! I would love for them to have an actual store. 

ISawItFirst

I recently stumbled onto ISAWITFIRST on my holiday shopping last year and decided to buy a few items. Again, another reasonable online store for holiday shopping. 

I can’t say much about them as I have purchased a few bits and bobs. However, what I will say is, they don’t seem to have a huge selection to choose from it all looks to me like it is tailored for college students – sorry! 

And there you have it a few places to shop for your holidays. I am always discovering new retailers to shop for my holidays, so do regularly check back for updates. 

It’s time we start getting ready to shop for our holidays…. do you have any plans to shop for a holiday. What about yourselves where do you enjoy shopping for your holidays? 

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10 Black-Owned Restaurants To Visit
Black History MonthFoodLifestyleMy Breaking ViewsThings to Do

10 Black-Owned Restaurants To Visit

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So today is our first Black Pound Day (Saturday, June 27). With everything that has happened in the last few weeks, I think this is a day that we can and should take the time to support our community. And I think the best way to do it is through food! Why? Because everyone enjoys eating. 

What is Black Pound Day?

Black Pound Day (which will be a monthly event) encourages people to buy products from Black business owners in the UK. It was set up by Swiss a former So Solid Crew member! 

Below I have put together a list of Black-owned restaurants that are currently open for takeaways and delivery in the UK. 

 10 Black-Owned Restaurants to Visit in The UK 

1. Adian’s Dining – Birmingham 

A Birmingham Black-owned la carte restaurant that focuses on using amazing ingredients from all over the world that emphasises on the Caribbean, Asia and India foods. I will be certainly trying out this restaurant if I’m ever in Birmingham. 

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#ackee #riceandpeas #lobstermacncheese tropical fusion ?

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Location: 310-312 LADYPOOL ROAD, BIRMINGHAM, B12 8JY

2. ENISH – London

London wide Black-owned restaurants with a branch in Dubai. Enish serves a diverse range of Nigerian food.  I visited this restaurant at the beginning of this year and enjoyed it. If you are going, I would suggest trying some pepper soup or even the suya!

Location: 228 Lewisham High St, London, SE13 6JU

3. Caribbean Croft – Bristol 

A Black-owned restaurant based in Bristol. It servers traditional Caribbean comfort dishes. I’ve personally never been, but it looks like a good shout for whenever I may be in Bristol.

Location: 30 Stokes Croft, St Paul’s, Bristol BS1 3QD

4. Young Vegans Pizza Shop – London

A London Black-owned business that makes vegan mozzarella, mock meats and dough pizza. I usually do vegan for a month every year so at least now I know I have somewhere to try.

Location: 393 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9RA

5. Cafe Caribbean – London

A London based restaurant that makes all types of Jamaican food. Her recipes have been influenced by Content District, St Catherine, in Jamaica. 

Location: Pavilion Building, Old Spitalfields Market, London E1 6EW

6. Issa Vibe – London

A London Black-owned restaurant based in Peckham, serving all American food such as WingsWaffles, Fish, Burgers and Mac Cheese.

Location: 181 Rye Ln, Peckham, London SE15 4TP

7. Chukus – London

A London based Nigerian Tapas Restaurant. I haven’t yet been to this restaurant, but I will certainly be visiting after the Lockdown. 

Location: 274 High Road, Tottenham, N15 4AJ

8. Crepes & Cones – London 

A London based restaurant that offers a mix of savoury soul food with creative desserts & cocktails. Despite leaving so close to this place I still am yet to visit and enjoy! 

Location: 24-26 S End, Croydon CRO 1DN

9. TRIBE – London 

A South London based restaurant that serves healthy drinks and snacks from their juice bar. This restaurant is worth visiting for the vegans. 

Location: 22 Streatham High Rd, Streatham Hill, London SW16 1DB

10. Leilanis – London

A London based restaurant that serves Halal Caribbean food and other cultures. 

Location: 14 Lavender Hill, Battersea, London SW11 5RW

And there we have it! Which one of these Black-owned restaurants will you be attending? Do you know of any other Black-owned restaurants?

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Cooking & Travel Talks: How to Make Nigerian Suya
FoodMy Breaking ViewsThings to DoTravel

Cooking & Travel Talks: How to Make Nigerian Suya

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Last week I had my first Cooking and Travel and Talks Live where I made suya. I have to say despite all the nerves I think it went very well. I shared stories of when I have visited Nigeria, had the afrobeats in the background and engaged with all my audience. All in all, it was an hour of just good vibes. 

What is Suya?

I would say that Suya is a spicy meat skewer, like an English Kebab (but spicey and sexier). It originates from the North of Nigeria and is a popular dish in the West of Africa. Suya is usually thinly sliced meat marinated in various spices and then grilled or barbecued. The dish is served with extra helpings of dried pepper mixed with tomatoes and sliced onions in a newspaper.

I was impressed to see how many people joined in with me to cook on my first live! Many people missed the first live and have asked for the recipe, so I have jotted down the ingredients and instructions with some clips of the live on how to make suya. 

When did I first have Suya?

Believe it or not, the first time I tried Nigerian Suya was when I was a vegetarian. Yes, some vegetarian. I travelled to Nigeria as an adult and was constantly looked down on for not eating meat, but for some reason, I was swayed by the smells of Suya and ever since I never went back again.

Ingredients you need for Nigerian Suya

  • 1kg Beef or chicken
  • 1tsp Paprika
  • 2tsp Salt
  • 2 Maggie Cubes
  • 2tsp  Garlic Salt
  • 15 Wooden Skewers
  • 2 Tomato
  • 1 Onion
  • 3tsp Oil

You can buy your suya spice (suya pepper) in an African food store. I would always suggest washing and seasoning your meat with paprika, salt Maggie and garlic salt overnight. Below you can watch how I prep to make my suya.

The next day… 

First things first:

  •  Pre-heat your grill for about 180 degrees Celsius (375 Fahrenheit)
  • Soak your wooden skewers in cold water (this ensures that the sticks do not burn during the roasting of the Suya)
  • Add your oil and massage into your meat (this ensures that the meat doesn’t burn during roasting). 
  1. You may want to cut your meat if it’s too big. I would suggest to cut them into small pieces so that when you thread them on the sticks, they will not flap too much.
  2. You will then need to thread the fillets of beef onto the skewer sticks.

  1. Add your suya pepper/mix into a wide dish and dab the threaded fillets of beef into the spice so that the beef takes up as much of the spice as possible. Note: If you’re not keen on spice only add a little bit.  
  2. Place all the now spiced beef onto the oven rack and put in the grill to roast. As you will see in the clip below.
  1. You will then need to twist your meet regularly to ensure it doesn’t burn. The meat should take around 20-30 minutes to cook but do bear in mind that this depends on how thick your beef meet is.  
  2. While your suya is roasting, cut your onions and tomatoes and place them into the newspaper. 
  3. Remove meat from sticks and add to the newspaper
  4. Finish off with adding some more suya spice to the meal and enjoy! 
suya cooking and travel talks

Below are some pictures of people that cooked with me on my first Cooking and Travel Talks Live! I would like to thank everyone that joined in and cooked with me!

I hope you enjoy your suya – if you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask me! And if you would like to cook with me on my next live then follow me on Instagram where I will be sharing what I will be cooking next!

Reads: How to Make Your Own Quarantine Brunch – Blog Brew Collab

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Working From Home Successfully During LockDown Tips
LifestyleMy Breaking Views

Working From Home Successfully During LockDown Tips

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7th week on lockdown and 7th week of working from home.

I’ve been working from home for 7 weeks and I can honestly tell you it’s been a difficult one. I’ve been working from home before COVID19 since my first role in Central Government in 2016. So I feel like I have some idea of the expectations of how an organisation would expect you to work.

5 Tips on How to Work From Home Successfully during the Lockdown

So we are still under lockdown and although measures are starting to be lifted in some countries. I think for many businesses working from home may still be in action for a little while longer. Some people may be struggling with working from home (WFH). So I have helpfully jotted down a few points on how to work from home successfully during a lockdown.

1. Create a Working from Home To-Do List

lockdown working from home

I started doing this recently and it changed my life! Start your day with a to-do list. It can be done in 10 mins. You just need to jot down a list of things you want to achieve in a day. This will help with structuring your day.

Don’t be afraid to get excited when you’re able to tick off your tasks throughout the day. Without office-based distractions, you may actually be more productive with a to-do list!

2. Take Breaks from your laptop

working from home take a break

Please take breaks. Sitting on your laptop all day can become exhausting and mentally draining. I’m currently working on a couple of scoping projects. So it’s essential to take a break from all the reading I do during the day. I always take a 10 min break after long meetings. It can be quite challenging to go straight into a new task.

Take breaks, go for a walk or check your social. Just do something, anything that will get you away from your laptop for 5 mins.

3. Get ready to work from home

Back when working from home was a luxury. I used to literally roll out of bed at the last minute and log in. Shhh, don’t tell my manager. However, now in lockdown, I am starting to realise having a shower in the morning and wearing work clothes sets my day. Going for a walk in the morning is also helpful with getting my headspace ready for work. Of course, I don’t do this every single day. But when I am struggling the most with working from home – this structure can help me and might help you too.

So no more setting up from your bed or from your sofa. Get yourself in the zone and sit at a table and maintain a good posture.

4. Do some exercise

exercise during lockdown

Right at the beginning of the lockdown, I was so into exercising. I was sometimes squeezing in two workouts a day. I loved it.

Go out for some fresh air – please maintain social distancing. Get some fresh air, walk, cycle run do whatever you think will help clear your headspace. If you’re like me you will be used to commuting to work, so you will need to make up for the time. Anything is something even if it’s only 10 mins.

5. Stay connected with others

We are very fortunate to be able to work from home in this political climate we are in. Working remotely or working from home doesn’t mean working in isolation. Interact with others throughout the week. Have meetings, there are lots of different types of technology you can use Zoom/Microsft Teams, Skype and more. I recently organised a lunchtime session with my colleagues to feel like we were having lunch together.

Working From Home Successfully During LockDown Tips

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