How To Run A Restaurant on Instagram | On the Job | Priya Krishna | NYT Cooking

Meet Lyana Blount. She owns Black Rican Vegan, a Puerto Rican food delivery service based out of the Bronx and Harlem, New York. It started during the Covid-19 pandemic as a way for Lyana to share her passion for traditional Puerto Rican foods on Instagram, but it quickly grew into a full-scale business. Customers place orders weekly for dishes like vegan pastelón, empanadas, and even a coquito tres leches cake. But orders can sell out in as little as five minutes, and Black Rican Vegan delivers across four boroughs. So Priya travels to Harlem to find out: What does it take to run a virtual restaurant?

Our new series, “On the Job With Priya Krishna,” is about labor and the people who shape what we eat and how we eat, whose jobs often go unseen. Tune in.

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About NYT Cooking:
All the food that’s fit to eat (yes, it’s an official New York Times production).

[insanepoet]

Something I really like about Priya's interviewing skills is that she validates how much labor the interviewee is doing. I feel like we've been conditioned to see food service as unskilled, and it's really cool to see Priya push back against that.

[grapes]

I absolutely love this series. It's a great exploration of the DIY/"make it work with the tools you have" food culture that isn't often given a platform to share what they do. I get tired of the high profile chefs/restaurants always getting prioritized in food media and this is an excellent way to showcase worthy food entrepreneurs and home-trained cooks working with that they have! Great reporting and investigating Priya!

[garybarawidan]

I’m living for this series! Telling the stories of Culinary POC in NYC is something I’ve been yearning to watch. This series is incredible and shines the culinary spotlight on people who would be overlooked by the culinary intelligentsia. Extraordinary Talent and great food exist in diverse areas of the food industry.

[zeta.x]

Man it’s videos like these that I’m glad Priya and other POC from Bon Appetit get to create content on a more inclusive platform. Even small things like “we may not be able to try the best food because they don’t have the savings to start a whole business” and especially understanding that from an immigrant or first gen experience. I love this concept! I buy from IG businesses too and all the ones I know are from WOC. I’d love to see more from this series

[muhlaynee]

Caribbean people are so smart & talented. She niched down in this huge market of vegan food. I pray her wish comes true to have her food in stores.

[DuyNguyen-yxvd]

There's so much passion here. Passion for the work. Passion for the food. It's incredible, and even enviable, to have so much love for food like this.

[replicasurfaces]

Lyana! This is Mandy, founder of Replica Surfaces. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this! The way you and the Black Rican team turned a hardship into a runaway success so quickly and creatively is incredibly inspiring for all of us. Your passion for food, business, and creative marketing jumps off the screen. Selfishly, I wish I was within your delivery range since I'm plant-based too! I found this video because one of our Facebook VIP Community members spotted our Surfaces in it and told me about it. It's an honor that our Surfaces have played a small role in your success (emphasis on small), and I'm really grateful that you chose to show them off here. Thanks for sharing your story - I know it'll help jumpstart the creativity of anyone who's losing theirs right now

[amyhoang]

this was in the last video too, but one of my favorite parts was priya straight hyping up lyana and ALL the roles she's fulfilling (while also working a full time job??). we love to see it!

[kate]

I love this series and I love Priya! She seems to be in her element with these style of video and I'm into it.

[republicoftexas]

One great thing that came out of the pandemic: people found new grooves, everywhere. One story that really stuck with me: that lady selling bomb ass food out of her window in New York. Power to the people.

[VICTAAAA]

Love this series, it’s giving people more perspectives on how hard it really is to feed people.

We depend on restaurants for when we celebrate and commiserate (and everything in between), we love them, we love their food but we must come to cherish those who prepare our food and make sure they are also taken care of.

[Dreamysunshine]

I've definitely experienced the sold out in 5mins trying to order for myself lol... I had to start setting an alarm to keep me on point to order b4 sell out lol💯💯💯... I totally support BRV not only for the great food but also wonderful customer service... Lyana is a hard worker that cares about her customers and its very much appreciated 🙏💞

[karmeeleon]

watching priya do food journalism and see her ask questions is just so captivating. She understands what questions to ask and shows a great deal of empathy when interviewing people.

[almavelazquez]

Came here for the food and stayed for the stories of amazing people. This woman is a force!!

[kathyerickson]

This might be a strange shout out...but loved the music highlights...scaled just right! As for the chef and the food and everything...WOW! You are amazing! Cheers to all the folks who make the leap and start via social media, festivals, food trucks etc. And thank you to NYT and Priya...for staying up late and getting up before dawn.

[angieacevedo]

I love this! As a Puerto Rican, it’s so cool to see a different take on classic favorites and still have it be so delicious 😋 Dying to try!

[eltaninD]

It's only been 2 videos so far but I am obsessed with this series. I love how Priya and the production team approach this entire topic. Priya herself is a great food journalist - she speaks with a lot of passion, care and thought, and that dedication and knowledge really comes through in the way she interviews them and interacts with each profile so far. Super excited to watch the rest of the series now!

I'm not American, but in my country, home-based businesses are really commonplace. Lots of our local home cooks, bakers and chefs thrive on social media and they rely on a network of word-of-mouth advertising (and occasionally get featured on popular food review sites/social media accounts). It helps that my country is pretty small, so access to these different home-based food businesses is quite convenient.

[dondehuevos]

Love that Priya takes time to ensure that the people are recognized for their hard work.

[chrysafinE]

SHE IS AMAZING! super smart and super talented, absolutely insane that she can pull all that off ! i hope she gets everything she deserves

[kristinechen]

OMG this is such a great series :') thanks to Priya and the staff for making this possible and hilighing POC in the culinary world. it's so refreshing and inspiring!