Yolanda Evans

Hear about poitín’s mischievous past and how to get your hands on some.
By Yolanda Evans
There are countless stories of shenanigans when it comes to poitín. Once banned in Ireland, the alcoholic beverage is a bit like Irish moonshine and has caused all kinds of mischief. Take for example the island of Innis Murray, off the coast of Sligo, where the inhabitants went rogue and declared themselves a kingdom so as to continue distilling the drink after it became illegal.
Or there’s the tale of Ur...

I use my Miniso Bento Box for everything and take it on the road with me
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
This post is part of our 'This Is Fire' series, where our editors and writers tell you about the products they can't live without in the kitchen.
As a kid, I never really had a lunchbox. My lunches were either packed in a brown paper bag or the many plast...

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
This post is part of our 'This Is Fire' series, where our editors and writers tell you about the products they can't live without in the kitchen.
One thing about me is if I like a product, I’m very loyal to the brand. And I have faithfully been using Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning as my must-have seasoning for over 30 years....

The Newness Mini Cocktail Shaker is so small it easily fits in my handbag
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
This post is part of our 'This Is Fire' series, where our editors and writers tell you about the products they can't live without in the kitchen.
I’m an avid collector of barware, especially vintage. I spend a lot of time searching the web and local thri...

Black women have always had diverse palates and an often unacknowledged hand in shaping the culture at large—A new generation of Black bartenders, academics, producers, and creatives is re-centering the conversation and changing the drinks industry for the better.

These sights, museums, and memorials amplify Black stories and voices.

No garlic allowed.
It’s fair to say that Dracula’s Castle—practically teetering atop a steep cliff in Transylvania—is dramatic. It's true name is Bran Castle, but the fortress gained its nickname and legendary status when writer Bram Stoker based his famous vampire novel in this location. And though the Irish author had never been to Romania, he chose the home of Dracula simply by looking at a photo—it’s that good. Which means the castle’s underground passages, narrow winding stairways, and s...

They should call the reality show Love Ireland.
Modern dating is a wild ride. Catfishing, ghosting, and scammers can leave any of us somewhat wary of online apps. It's almost enough to make us wish we could ditch the Hinges, Tinders, and Bumbles of the world and go back to a simpler time when people you knew would set you up on dates to find your future boo. But IRL introductions don't have to be a thing of the past. If you're really ready to roll some dice and see what blind dating adventure...

The history of the spirits industry is notoriously one-sided. Key facts and figures are often overlooked. And the impact of marginalized people is either dramatically downplayed or erased completely. (For example, you’re probably familiar with the infamous Prohibition-era gangster Al Capone, but what about Stephanie St. Clair?)
There have been countless times that marginalized groups have been left out of history only for it to be found out later when someone takes the initiative to do their ...

Eat + Drink
Barbados is thought to be the birthplace of rum in the 1600s, so it’s no wonder that Barbados and the spirit are intertwined. And when locals are keen to enjoy a tipple, their first stop would typically be their local rum shop — the Barbadian equivalent of a typical British pub.
To outsiders, these shops mark an interesting and obscure aspect of this tiny Caribbean island’s culture, one that’s nearly as old as rum itself. For more than 300 years — dating back to the days of slaver...

Some are calling Crush Global the modern-day Green Book.
The idea of the “great American road trip” has often been romanticized as the best way to travel and see impressive sights around the US. But navigating the road as a Black traveler is not always an easy task, as we’re often met with racism across the country. The Negro Motorist Green Book, aka the Green Book, was first published in 1936 by Victor Hugo Green to provide Black people with safe places to eat and sleep while road tripping a...

Like many craft cocktail bars, Velvet, in Berlin’s Neukölln district, focuses on seasonality; fresh vegetables, fruit and herbs are sourced from in and around the city. Unlike other bars, though, Velvet calls on its staff to forage many of the items found in their intricate cocktails, and the menus (which change every week) depend on what head bartender Ruben Neideck and the team find on any given excursion.
On Velvet’s weekly “lab days,” each member of the close-knit team—in addition to Neid...

The May/June 2022 Issue
Located in the ultrahip Neukölln district, Berlin-based Velvet is a 5-year-old, 55-seat cocktail bar that serves elaborate drinks made from vegetables, fruit, flowers, and herbs that grow in and around the German capital. Together, Head Bartender Ruben Neideck, who’s also Velvet’s primary forager, Bar Manager Filip Kaszubski, and Bartenders Sarah Swantje Fischer, Matt Boswell, and Benjamin Hanke develop a weekly menu centered on ingredients from wild carrot seeds, sea ...