4: How this Food Video Producer is changing food media representation w/Kiano Moju

Kiano Moju is the owner of Jikoni, a culinary creative studio in Los Angeles, and previously worked as a food video producer at BuzzFeed’s Tasty. Kiano talks about:

• Her journey as a food content creator and how she opened a food studio in California
• Plans to create food shows and travel shows to sell to streaming platforms
• The importance of underrepresented people in food telling their own culinary stories

Timestamps 

[1:29]: What it means to be a Recipe Writer and Food Video Producer. 

[8:08]: How media representation, the food scene in London, blogging and more led to Kiano making a career out of food video production and culinary education.

[13:53]: How Kiano’s experiences traveling influences her cooking and baking.  

[17:09]: Dealing with reactions from viewers who aren’t used to seeing Black people represented in food media.

[21:53]: Kiano’s favorite video is the one she directed with Wolfgang Puck.

[25:37]: Kiano made cheesecakes as a side hustle in college.

[26:04]: Jikoni, a culinary creative studio in Los Angeles, has kitchen studio space available for rent, and specializes in creating editorial food content and food programming/events. 

[29:49]: How Kiano is working to help people tell their own culinary stories with Jikoni.

[33:57]: Research on food studios was a time-intensive but essential process in building Jikoni. 

[35:01]: The importance of getting help from your network when you’re building a business.

[36:04]: Kiano is interested in creating food and travel shows to sell to streaming platforms, like Netflix and Hulu.

[38:45]: How can you help? Kiano is on the lookout for food stylists, recipe developers, camera operators and other food production talent.

Mentioned in this episode

• Chapati (Kenyan flatbread)
• Agua fresca
• Emeril Live
• BuzzFeed’s Tasty (website and YouTube)
• Behind the Scenes with Tasty (on YouTube and on Hulu)
• Chocolate Ripple Cheesecake video and How to Make Ripple Chocolate Cheesecake with Kiano video
• Jikoni
• Delicious Magazine
• Keturah King (website) Jollof rice workshop at Jikoni

Connect with Kiano Moju & Jikoni Culinary Creative Studio

Website: jikonicreative.com and kianomoju.com

Instagram: @jikonicreative and @kianomoju

Facebook: @JikoniCreative

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