Meet Evi Aki

We had the good fortune of connecting with Evi Aki and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Evi, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting Ev’s Eats came from my love of storytelling through food. I’ve always seen food as a way to connect people, and I wanted to create a space that celebrates bold, soulful flavors while sharing my personal food and travel experiences.

I didn’t see enough platforms highlighting rich cultural food—especially from a Black woman’s perspective—so I built one. What began as a blog has grown into recipes, travel content, a newsletter, and my cookbook Flavors of Africa. It’s all about building community through food and inviting others to take a seat at the table.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
At my core, I’m a storyteller and food is my medium. Through Ev’s Eats, I bring together bold, flavorful recipes, travel inspiration, and cultural storytelling that reflects both where I come from and where I’ve been. What sets my work apart is how personal it is. I’m not just posting recipes, I’m sharing memories, flavors, and traditions that connect people across cultures and kitchens.

I’m especially proud of my cookbook, Flavors of Africa. It brings African food to the forefront and celebrates the vibrant, diverse dishes of the continent in a way that feels approachable and full of love. It’s a love letter to the food I grew up eating and the stories behind each bite.

Professionally, my journey hasn’t been a straight line. I’ve worked in everything from content creation to marketing to project management. Each role taught me something; how to build systems, stay organized, and take creative ideas from concept to execution. That blend of creative passion and professional structure has been key in building my brand.

There were definitely challenges. Moments of self-doubt, burnout, and wondering if my voice would cut through, but I learned to stay consistent. trust the process, and lead with purpose. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that consistency beats perfection. And no one can tell your story the way you can.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about me and Ev’s Eats, it’s that this is about more than food. It’s about culture, connection, and creating space for stories that deserve to be told—through flavor, joy, and soul.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This city is so great because there is just SO much to do. If my best friend came to visit LA for a week, we’d definitely have to start day 1 off with a good brunch at Salt’s Cure for some amazing griddle cakes and perfectly cooked soft scrambled eggs. And probably visit LACMA , and spend the day there. Tacos are MUST, and I would take them to one of my favorite taco trucks, Leo’s for some tacos and drinks back at my place. A beach day is another must, Venice and Santa Monica with coffee/breakfast at Gjusta, lunch at El Harique for one of my favorite chicken sandwhiches ever, and drinks and dinner at Élephante.

We would do a food crawl in DTLA at Grand Central Market and also visit LA Fashion District. Since we’re downtown we’d defintely have to go Howlin Ray’s.

For hiking, there’s endless options in LA but I love to go to Kenneth Hahn. Definitely hitting up Earle’s On Crenshaw for a hot dog and just spend some time in Leimert Park. For some Nigerian food, my favorites are Aduke Nigerian Cuisine and Mayowa Nigerian Cuisine.

For more shopping, we would also go to the Fairfax district and grab the best samosas from Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant. You have to get the green sauce to go with them. We are also grabbing dinner at Jon & Vinny’s for sure.

I’d definitely end the trip on a Sunday with a trip to the Hollywood Farmers Market and visit Melrose Trading post. LA’s energy, diversity, and food scene are truly unmatched. You never run out of something new to discover.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to give a big shoutout to my family—especially my mom—for always encouraging me to lean into my creativity and culture. So much of Ev’s Eats is inspired by the food and memories I grew up with.

Also, major love to my community— every person who’s tried a recipe, read a blog post, or shared kind words. It really keeps me going.

A book that inspired me, I’ll never forget reading On Rue Tatin by Susan Loomis. It was the first time I saw someone build a life around food, storytelling, and a sense of place. I had just moved to Los Angeles and that book lit a spark in me, and made me believe I could go after my food dreams too.

Website: https://www.evseats.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evseats

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eviaki/

Twitter: https://x.com/evseats

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evseats

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/evseats