Latest news with #Yewande
New York Times
30-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- New York Times
A New Go-To Tofu Dinner
Lately I've been spending more quality time with tofu, having made it my business to find out how to give it the crispiest, most burnished skin. Broil or roast? Coat in cornstarch, potato starch or leave it naked? Press, poach or freeze to get rid of excess moisture? These are the questions that keep a food writer up at night. (Well, some of the questions.) Of course, I could have saved myself from a lot of sleepless nights and just asked Yewande Komolafe — she knows all of the soy secrets. She sears slabs of tofu in ghee in her latest recipe for masala chickpeas with tofu and blistered tomatoes, letting their surfaces get deeply browned, then tears them into pieces and layers them with chickpeas and onions cooked with garam masala. Tearing the tofu allows for a craggy surface area that better absorbs the flavors of the tomatoes and the spices. Yewande suggests rice or a poached egg with this, and I think it would also be terrific spooned into a bowl of baby spinach, some of which will wilt on contact. Half salad, half stew, 100 percent weeknight delight — it's a food writer's dream. Once she gets to sleep, that is. Featured Recipe View Recipe → Lemon turmeric chicken salad: Based on the earthy flavors of Afghan murgh kebab (chicken kebab), this sunshine-hued chicken salad is elegantly spiced with turmeric and garlic, and creamy from a dill-speckled dressing that's equal parts mayonnaise and yogurt. Use it with pitas or other bread for a chicken salad sandwich with an herby edge. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Metro
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Watching Blu reject Alima, it's obvious Love Island has failed Black women
A sigh left my lips the second I saw the lineup – 10 new faces, and only one Black woman and one Black man amongst them. And it wasn't long before another disappointment that would have been a gut punch to Black women like me watching – when Alima was dismissed in minutes by her new partner Blu, who bluntly told her she 'wasn't his type on paper'. Blu's line wasn't just cringeworthy – it was downright heartbreaking. As a Black woman, it's hard not to feel a surge of frustration and sadness when you see yet another Black woman on Love Island being relegated to the sidelines. It's not just about one comment; it's about a pattern of erasure and the constant feeling of being an afterthought that I recognise from my own life. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. It reminds me of all those times of not feeling good enough, or feeling like I had to always be 10 times better than white counterparts just to get half of what they are getting. Or all those compliments about my 'strength' and 'resilience' while peers received comments on their beauty. So not only does the ITV show need to up their game in terms of recruiting Black islanders, they need to be wary of how they are treated. Because Love Island's persistent failure to appropriately look after Black women – by failing to uplift them (whether that be because of lack of suitable romantic matches or, as in past seasons, placing them among people who have disrespected them) – isn't just a casting issue, it's a reflection of deeper societal biases. This has been a recurring theme across almost every season of the ITV show, with Yewande saying her name was mispronounced in 2019, Samira from 2018 being overlooked and feeling like she was the 'token' Black woman on the show, and Kaz Kamwi, like other Black female contestants before her (Yewande and Samira included), was chosen last in the initial coupling up during her stint in 2021. These incidents reveal a consistent pattern undermining the experiences of Black contestants, and the show's producers need to take a long, hard look at the messages they're sending. Are they actively seeking out diverse contestants who are genuinely attracted to Black women? Are they providing adequate emotional support, and representation and diversity behind the scenes, to ensure these women don't feel isolated? Until Love Island moves beyond surface-level diversity and tackles the underlying issues, it will continue to perpetuate harmful stereotypes and fail the Black women who dare to enter the villa. Yewande, a scientist, was often overlooked and found it difficult to form meaningful connections and has consistently spoken out about the lack of representation in the show, recounting her own experiences of men's 'types' on the show invariably being Eurocentric ideals of blonde hair and blue eyes. Love Island needs to do better – not just for the sake of its Black contestants, but for the sake of its viewers, who deserve to see a more authentic and inclusive representation of love. The UK is a melting pot, a vibrant tapestry of cultures and backgrounds. So why does Love Island insist on serving up the same tired narrative year after year where Black women are forced to ask why they aren't doing more. Meanwhile, across the pond, Love Island USA is displaying a cast as diverse as the country it stands for. Watching that version, there are a number of Black contestants, all are celebrated in their own unique way. It gives viewers a sense of representation and a welcoming feeling. Olandria and Chelley are given more options and respected and found attractive in a way it often seems UK contestants aren't. The conversation between Blu and Alima felt like a painful reminder of the narrow beauty standards that still dominate the show – and, let's be honest, society. I don't think Blu would have told a blonde white girl that she wasn't his type within seconds of meeting her. For me, Blu's comment, and the wider issues with Love Island, just reinforces the idea that Black women are somehow less desirable, and that is a damaging message to send. More Trending Love Island needs to do more than just tick boxes. It needs to create a space where everyone feels valued and has a fair chance at finding love, regardless of their background. So with six weeks to go, let's bring in some bombshells who actually appreciate Black contestants. It's not about forcing anything, but about creating a space where everyone feels seen and desired. Love Island is viewed by millions, and it is off to a bleak start for Black women after last night. View More » But it has the potential to be more than just a manufactured drama fest. It's time to ditch the tired tropes and create a season that's genuinely exciting, inclusive, and full of surprises. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: Fifa's controversial blockbuster may be a summer hit but Club World Cup scepticism remains rife MORE: The latest Doctor Who rumours give me hope the series won't die MORE: I won't risk my safety by seeing Charli XCX at Glastonbury 2025
The Irish Sun
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Omg how unreal' gush fans as Irish Love Island star teases new show with RTE star in ‘full circle moment'
LOVE Island star Yewande Biala has teased a new TV show with an RTE star. The Meath native, who appeared on the fifth season of the hit reality dating show, took to Instagram today to share her new project she's been working on. 4 Yewande recorded a new project with Darragh McCullough Credit: Social Media Collect 4 Yewande teased her new show over on social media Credit: Social Media Collect 4 Yewande posed for some snaps in Headfort Arms Hotel Credit: Social Media Collect The 29-year-old posed while driving a golf cart wearing a black wind breaker, black thigh-high socks and knee-high black lace boots. The reality star also took a stunning snap with RTE's Ear to the Ground presenter Darragh McCullough. The pair looked happier than ever while sitting on a tractor. read more on rte Darragh wore a navy hoodie, red zip-up jacket, denim jeans, a paddy cap and muddy welly boots. Yewande captioned her post: "Filming my new show in Ireland, "Where I grew up, such a full circle moment." The influencer reflected on her life since her Love Island stent saying: "Moved to London six years ago and now I'm back for a while, showing some very cool people all the fun, charm, and chaos Ireland has to offer. read more on the irish sun "Day one dusted, went to the farm, because duuuh?! Played a bit of (questionable) golf and had meaningful conversations. "Next few months are going to be so much fun." Love Island's Amber, Yewande and Anna say they are hesitant to watch the next Winter series set in South Africa on GMB Yewande's friends and fans all flooded the comment section with praise and support. Ireland AM star Katja Mia said: "Irish treasure." Aisha wrote: "Omg how unreal!! Congratulations girl!!" Dennis commented: "Soo proud of you." Tara remarked: "Omg can't wait to see it!" OH NO After admitting on a podcast years ago that she She said it was something she immediately turned down. Yewande revealed: 'I said 'absolutely not because I am so embarrassed, I don't think I am the right person for it and it's not going to happen'.' But over a year later, when she was asked again, she decided to give it a go in 2023. The show, Secrets of the Female Orgasm, followed Yewande as she looked to see what the blocks are for her pleasure-wise, or if she is in the one per cent of women who will never reach an orgasm. Throughout the show, she learned her upbringing, her culture and religion were emotional blocks for her. 4 Yewande's fans all sent her support for her new project Credit: RTE
New York Times
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
An Electric Chicken Breast Dinner With the Salad Built In
Wherever the cook extraordinaire Yewande Komolafe goes, I will absolutely follow — even if it's to boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Normally I'd prefer literally any other part of the bird (thigh, drumstick, wing, neck, liver, giblets, tail or feet), but I know from experience that Yewande works magic with everything she touches. And that includes the meek and mild chicken breast. I'm thinking of her ginger chicken with crisp napa salad, where she pounds chicken breasts until thin, so they have more surface area to absorb the assertive seasoning mix of grated fresh ginger, cilantro, lime zest and a not insubstantial amount of cayenne (Yewande doesn't play when it comes to chile). After a quick sauté, she finishes her chicken with a ruffly napa cabbage salad, brightened with fresh mint and chives. Who knew white meat could party this hard? Featured Recipe View Recipe → Now that Yewande's recipe has used half of our head of cabbage, what shall we do with the other half? Enter Ali Slagle and her bubble and squeak. A combination of bacon, leftover mashed potatoes and vegetables (usually cabbage), this traditional British recipe is named for its sizzling, popping cooking noises, as the moisture evaporates noisily from the pan. The key here is to cook the mixture until the bottom and edges get brown and crisp, adding texture to the silky vegetables. Vegetarians can omit the bacon, and anyone who loves an egg can slide a poached or fried one right on top. The runny yolk makes this classic dish even better. Perhaps you're in the mood for a garlicky, lemony shrimp scampi? Lidey Heuck reconfigures the scampi ingredients in her 25-minute spaghetti al limone with shrimp. The surprising note here is tarragon, which gives the dish a snappy licorice freshness that's unexpected and exactly on target. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
