Janelle Monae's rise to prominence came in three phases: she was born and educated in Kansas, took a scholarship to New York City's prestigious American Musical and Dramatic Academy, and then moved to Atlanta, Georgia to pursue her career. Strangely, she says that one of her earliest musical influences was the central character of Dorothy in 'The Wizard of Oz,' although we're less than clear on what Dorothy has to offer to a rap and hip-hop performer!
It was in Atlanta that Monae met Big Boi from OutKast, who was impressed by her raw talent and acted as both a mentor and sponsor for her early years in the music industry. Big Boi referred her on to Sean 'Puff Daddy' Coombs, and Coombs then signed her to his notorious Bad Boy record label in 2006. As a fan of the classic movie 'Metropolis,' Monae took on the alter-ego of an android called Cindi Mayweather. Nobody knew there was a gap in the market for science-fiction crossed with R&B, but Monae created it and ran with it. She's since moved into acting.
For the past few years, we've been seeing more and more food halls dominate the retail industry. The craze has swept Los Angeles and New York by storm and is now making its way to Miami. In Magic City alone, ten of these food parks have opened just recently. The mania is even set to triple in size by the year 2020.
Now more than ever, more people have been adopting a vegan lifestyle. A survey in the United Kingdom reveals that 3.5 million residents have turned vegan, while 20 percent have at least tried the concept. People are now wanting to cut down on meat, and the food industry is giving in to the demand. Even wineries have started stocking up on vegan wines.
Due to increased awareness and desire to help the environment, companies have become more committed to eco-friendly food packaging. Previously, companies didnt care much about producing a ton of waste; but now, efforts to reuse, reduce, and recycle are much more apparent. For instance, PepsiCo has committed to creating completely recyclable packaging by the year 2025.
Who would have thought that young millennials would be into rum? These barrel-aged, small-batch rums are the latest trend in booze, and now even British companies such as Essexs English Spirit are joining in. The spirit is one of the most popular and versatile forms of alcohol, whether it be sweet or strong, dark or white, neat with ice or served with coke.
Nowadays, people have become more accepting of imperfection; when it comes to fresh produce that is. Imperfect Produce is just one of the grocery delivery companies that serve physically flawed fruits and vegetables. This effort is geared toward reducing waste, and the disfigured foods are often turned into hummus, crisps, and juices.
Various Asian restaurants have been popping up recently, and Sri Lankan cuisine is slowly making its way to the western palate. Sri Lankan dishes such as kottu roti, pol sambol, coconut relish, and hoppers, are being introduced to the market, and people are loving it. Unlike before, the Sri Lankan flavor is finally being recognized as an individual cuisine, separate from Indian food.