About

Welcome to Sweet Joi, a space dedicated to sharing the sights, scents and savors of my favorite destinations at home and abroad. After visiting 30+ countries, 30+ US states, and a decade spent living in New York City, I'm excited to create a platform where wanderlusters like myself can find inspiration, resources and travel accessories to take on their next adventure.

I didn't have many opportunities for international exploration until 2009, when I caught the "travel bug" during my NYU study abroad semester spent learning Spanish and art history in Madrid, and I haven't recovered since. That experience was the launchpad for an ongoing journey into parts unknown. Here, you'll find the juicy details of my latest escapes: recaps of roadtrips through the Alps, must-see suggestions for layovers in Africa, Asia and beyond, and best of all -- my favorite places to eat. 

For me, food is a hobby and a passion, and the central doctrine of my faith is that a good meal should never be rushed. I've been living a gluten-free (and 90% soy-free/dairy-free) life since my Celiac disease diagnosis in 2010, which finally came after years of various mis-diagnoses and trips to the hospital. As a middle child of four born to a Nigerian father and Bajan mother, our upbringing centered around mealtime and a deep love of eating, so one can imagine that the Celiac news was, at the very least, mourned as a human tragedy. At the time, my 21-year old self received the diagnosis as being relegated to purgatory.  

But good news, there is redemption to be found. I've turned my curse into my gift and will be sharing my favorite specialty eats on Sweet Joi, covering everything from restaurant reviews, weekly sweet treat columns highlighting gluten free desserts, to tips on my favorite dim sum spot in Chinatown (yes, gluten-free dumplings exist #blessed).

This platform was first conceptualized in 2016, and while it a took a year (and a few months) before I finally turned the vision into reality, Sweet Joi is finally here. Be on the lookout for the Style and NYC Life sections coming to the site in September and the full travel accessories line launching Fall 2017. In the meantime, check out the Sweet Shop for merchandise, and welcome to Sweet Joi.