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Lauryn Azu

@laurynazu

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Writing about the Loop’s latest Hawaiian food sensation @dalocalboy this month was a real treat — not only because I love poke. It means a lot to me capture one family’s efforts to share their culture and foodways with Chicagoland. Read my mini review for @chitribfood at the link in my bio.
📸 1) Poke Bowl with POG drink
📸 2) Aloha mix plate with lumpia and lava flow drink
📸3) Lava Flow Drink
📸4) Da OG Plate by @laurynazu

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10 days ago

Thank you to our photojournalist panelists @dontediesel @candace.dane @anfchicago ✨ for an insightful conversation on the power of visual storytelling, capturing truth in real time, and navigating the industry with purpose.

We’re grateful for the perspective, the honesty, and the inspiration.

We appreciate our sponsor @cbschicago always.

Have a great weekend fam!

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#chicago #nabjcc #blackjournalist #photojournalist by @laurynazu

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3 months ago

Really proud to host an engaging conversation with three talented photojournalists to share their insights and experiences with the @nabj_chicago community tonight.

“Photojournalists on the Frontlines” was a labor of love and an overdue conversation recognizing the work of Black Chicago photojournalists.

Thank you @cbschicago for hosting and @candace.dane, @anfchicago and @dontediesel for being wonderful panelists! We learned so much and we appreciate each of you.

#photojournalism #chicagojournalists #blackjournalism taken in CBS Chicago by @laurynazu

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3 months ago

Happy Birthday to our Board Member, @laurynazu 🎉

We’re proud to celebrate you for your dedication, reliability, and commitment to our organization.

You consistently show up when it matters most, helping us cross the finish line and strengthening our team every step of the way.

Have an adventurous birthday! We appreciate you. 🥂

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#chicago #nabjcc #birthday #boardmember by @laurynazu

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6 months ago

I reviewed the latest opening from @iidonije’s Pangea Restaurant Group, @sipbuttercup — a daytime cafe and an amaro bar at night. Amaro cocktails here are creative and a few can be made NA. The menu has stellar hits like a crispy cheese crusted croissant and a luscious pistachio olive oil cake. Idonije says he’s won over fans of the previous tenant 16th Street Bar & Coffee Lounge, and to expect more to come from his restaurant group in the South Loop in 2026.

Read more of the review, part of our mini review series where my colleagues visited the restaurants @kanin.chi and @restaurantnadu, at the (free!) link in my bio.

#chicagobars #chicagofoodreviews #chicagofood #southloop #amaro taken in South Loop, Chicago by @laurynazu

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7 months ago

The city showed out at the first ever Chicago broadcast of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve @rockineve 🥳🎆 Even in 20° weather this is how we do it in Chicago!

#chicagocontentcreator #chicago #chicagonews #newyearseve taken in Chicago, Illinois by @laurynazu

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7 months ago

I was asked to contribute to @chicagotribune @chitribfood’s Best Things We Ate and Drank list for 2025, on newsstands today. It was truly difficult to narrow down my favorites because I had many great meals across Chicago this year. A few standouts:

🍞 Capirotada from @santamasachicago. @jhoananais steals the show here. This dish was beautifully presented and delicious with layers of banana, pepita and caramel drizzle. I split this dish with my sister and we battled for every bite of it.
🇹🇹Trini Doubles from @diaspora_chicago were doughy pockets of flavor and spice that blew me away, plus with oxtail that I can never get enough of. I went to multiple pop ups by @the_carteriii, who is making really interesting food using flavors from across the Black diaspora.
🥯Mexican everything bagel with labneh from @bkdrosca, which was one of my favorite openings this year. Bagels are very fresh and crafted with care, plus I love the twist with labneh instead of cream cheese.

Read more at the link in my bio 🔗

Thank you to Chicago chefs and hospitality workers for creating memorable meals every day. Looking forward to 2026!

#chicagofood #foodjournalist #chicagofoodreviews by @laurynazu

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7 months ago

🍵 MATCHA MADNESS 🍵

I had so much fun reporting this piece for @chitribfood and being on the matcha beat this summer! What was supposed to be a fun food feature on new pop up cafes in Chicago morphed into a dive into the matcha supply chain and the associated matcha shortage going on right now. While I was reporting this story I actually found out about two more new pop up matcha cafes here in Chicago. As a longtime matcha lover myself, it seems like people are starting to match my excitement for matcha and I’m loving all the creativity. Special thanks to @homebody.chi, @matchamootea, @mokomatea and @feinmatcha for answering my questions. Thanks also to @ksamoytribune for the edits, @alysonmorris for the design and @emeslar for the awesome photos. Check out the story at the 🔗 in bio.

What do you think? Do you like matcha? Has your favorite Chicago cafe been affected by the shortages or rising prices for matcha? Talk to me! ⬇️🍵

#matcha #matchalover #chicagofood #foodie #foodjournalist #chicagomatcha #homecafe by @laurynazu

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10 months ago

It feels like a pivotal moment to be writing about Tricia Hersey and @/ thenapministry right now, especially as we enter the holiday season where so many struggle with fatigue from overwork. Hersey celebrates the liberating power of rest through her messaging online and wrote the bestselling book “Rest is Resistance.”

She was at @semicolonchi recently to talk about her latest book “We Will Rest: The Art of Escape,” and lead a collective daydreaming exercise with the music of @bsa.gold. I wanted to capture that in the story. If you aren’t familiar with her work, and curious about more, tap the link in my bio.

#chicago #chicagoauthors #wewillrest #restisresistance #napministry #chicagobooks taken in Chicago Loop by @laurynazu

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2 years ago

Finding myself on the cover of this Sunday’s @chicagotribune paper was a real treat! I never thought I could be this vulnerable with my writing, but I realized this: when you spend your time telling other people’s stories, you miss out on telling your own. Thank you to @saleema_syed to empowering me to share my life changing experience running the @chimarathon. I hope my story inspires someone to begin their own journey of self enrichment. Read for free at the my link in bio!💗 taken in Chicago, Illinois by @laurynazu

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2 years ago

Running my first @chimarathon was an experience I’ll never forget. I dedicated this run to myself for my commitment to training — I didn’t run at all until a few months ago — and to every single person who encouraged me along the way. The triumph I felt at the finish line was worth all the pain and discomfort in the end. Thank you to my friends and family for showing up for me. I’m resting up, but I feel so loved and so grateful to do this in the city I call home! ❤️🏅

#medalmonday #chicagomarathon taken in Chicago, Illinois by @laurynazu

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2 years ago

We are on a roll @chitribfood with our summer dining guides! 🧺⛱️ To close out the season, I wanted to do a picnic and park pairing story because I’ve had so much fun exploring Chicago’s parks since I started training for the marathon this summer. My ideas for food guides really just come out of things that I would do with my friends 💜👯‍♀️💗 Hopefully it gives you ideas on how to make the most of the last few warm weekends we have. ☀️ I visited @nhulanbakery in Uptown and @spokeandbird in the South Loop. Thanks @staceywescott27 for the fab photos and @ksamoytribune for the edits ☺️ Read at the link in bio!

#chicagofood #chicagosummer #foodie #chicagothingstodo #foodjournalism by @laurynazu

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2 years ago