Cookbook Live with Kiano Moju
- The Crawford, 474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
Cookbooks don’t just provide instructions for recipes; they connect food with storytelling, both visual and narrative, and are your kitchen guides to help create delicious memories with family and friends. Cookbook LIVE takes these stories from the page to the stage. Hosted by LAist’s associate editor of food and culture, Gab Chabrán, each event will feature live demos of recipes, in-depth conversations, and tasty bites for everyone to try. Cookbooks will be available for purchase from an onsite pop-up bookshop from our friends at Now Serving, with chefs available to sign copies. Join LAist and the James Beard Foundation for three nights of culinary connection and exploration.
Our September chef is Kiano Moju. Kiano is the author of the new cookbook “AfriCali: Recipes From My Jikoni,” which teaches home cooks how to transform everyday pantry staples into delicious meals celebrating the flavors and culinary traditions of Nigeria, Kenya and California. Kiano will demo one of her recipes and chat with host Gab Chabrán. Everyone in attendance will get a sweet treat afterwards and can enjoy a tasty pita from Kismet Rotisserie before we get started.
Everyone in attendance will get a full-size sample from our friends at Graza Olive Oil.
OTHER COOKBOOK LIVE GUESTS
June 26 - Nicole Rucker, author, “Fat + Flour: The Art of A Simple Bake”
November 13 - Roy Choi, owner, Kogi BBQ, Chego!, Best Friend at Park MGM Las Vegas, and LocoL, author, “The Choi of Cooking”
This series is presented in partnership with The James Beard Foundation
ABOUT KIANO MOJU
Kiano Moju is a Kenyan-Nigerian American chef (Jikoni) and author of “AfriCali,” named one of the best cookbooks of 2024 by The New York Times, Bon Appétit, and the Los Angeles Times. Her Jikoni pop-up brings the book’s bold, African-meets-California flavors to life through a rotating series of dining concepts.
ABOUT GAB CHABRÁN
Gab Chabrán is a lifelong resident of Southern California. He grew up in Whittier, where he attended Whittier College. He began his journalism career writing for the local music rag L.A. Record where he wrote album and live music reviews. He became a regular contributor at L.A. Taco, where he was part of the James Beard Award-winning team. His monthly music column "Taco de Sonido", profiled up-and-coming artists from the Latinx community. He's been a regular contributor to LAist, Eater LA, Thrillist, Los Angeleno, KCET Artbound, and The New York Times.
My approach to coverage is to discover how food connects us to the ever-so-layered social fabric of Southern California and how food tells the region's story. Every dish has its historical significance. A taco is not just a taco; it's a window to the Mexican Revolution. Pizza is not just pizza; it's the vehicle for immigrants to enter the restaurant game. Noodles aren't just noodles; it's the personification of generational conflict and perseverance. My framework for writing and assigning stories aims to highlight the rich cultural histories of the L.A. region and broaden the LAist platform further to include, but not exclusive to, previously overlooked populations that exist beyond the confines of the city-area proper yet remain vital to its existence.
This event is sponsored by Angel City Brewery, craft beer by design, including seasonal exclusives and year-rounds like the Angel City IPA and Little Tokyo Super Dry.
This event is sponsored by Center Theater Group
Experience Jaja’s African Hair Braiding – On stage October 1 – November 9.
Jaja’s African Hair Braiding | Comedy | Center Theatre Group
Step into the vibrant world of Jaja’s African Hair Braiding in Harlem, where West African immigrant braiders work their magic on the locals’ locks. But beneath the surface of this riotous comedy lies a current of uncertainty, pushing this close-knit community to confront the challenges of being outsiders in their own neighborhood.
Thank you to our partner bookstore.
ACCOMMODATIONS
LAist is committed to providing access and accommodation for individuals with disabilities at our events. To request accommodations, please email events@laist.com or call us at (626) 583-5222 at least 7 days in advance of the event.