Amir Ismael is an editor on Business Insider’s Reviews team specializing in men’s style and grooming products. He joined the team (then called Insider Picks) in 2017, initially covering a wide range of subjects, including deals of the day, clothing, phone cases, headphones, and more, before leaning into his true passion — men’s style.

Experience

Amir began his journalism career at Complex Media in 2015, working as an intern and freelance writer for Complex Sneakers and Sole Collector. He joined Business Insider in July 2017. During his time on the Reviews team at BI, he’s covered all aspects of menswear and footwear, including the latest startups you should know about, brands focusing on sustainability, where to buy affordable work clothes for men, outerwear, watches, and more. He’s also continued to lead on style deal coverage for multiple key seasonal events each year, such as Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday.

Why you can trust Amir

Amir’s expertise in style is rooted in his personal love for collecting fashion, from vintage finds on eBay to new, innovative designs that spark his interest. Some of his favorite brands include Ralph Lauren, Timberland, The North Face, Nike, and Air Jordan. His enthusiasm focuses less on the materialistic side of consuming fashion, as he prefers delving into the stories behind them, be it their cultural significance, sports history, or impact on the outdoor/adventure space.

Amir’s a passionate sneaker collector (and can tell you how to clean and restore them so you’re always looking your best), and he has you covered head-to-toe for everything you need to know in men’s style and grooming. He’s extensively tested glasses, wallets, watches, razors, skincare, and both casual and formal wear.

For Amir, hunting for deals goes far beyond his coverage during shopping events like Black Friday. He prides himself on always being able to find great deals and attributes most of his personal collection to his deal-hunting prowess. If he says it’s a good deal, then it is!

Expertise

Men’s street fashion

Footwear, including significant release dates, design history, construction, and materials

Menswear staples, including workwear, casual clothes, underwear, T-shirts, and more

Brand founder or designer interviews

Men’s grooming and shaving products

Prescription eyewear

Education

Amir graduated from William Paterson University with a BA in print journalism and public relations.

Outside of work

Amir has been a lifelong resident of New Jersey. When he’s not working, he enjoys working on and driving his small collection of classic BMWs.

Black History Month — a time to acknowledge, understand and celebrate the contributions African Americans have made throughout history — also provides an opportunity to appreciate the work of local Black entrepreneurs in our own communities.

In celebration of Black History Month, we’re highlighting a few of the minority-owned businesses here in Montgomery County and Bucks County to support this month and all year long:

The Burgerly, New Hope

Owners: Chef Mark McLean and Zach Glover

Chef Mark McClean and Zach Glover opened The Burgerly in 2021 with the hopes of taking the classic burger joint to the next level, offering flavorful and eye-catching handhelds inside a cool and casual restaurant that fits the feel of New Hope’s thriving downtown.

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“It’s more of an experience we try to deliver,” said McLean, who also owns Fres Café and Remarkable Cuisines, both in New Jersey. “The look and the feel, it just really combines some really simplistic techniques to make something complex and delicious.”

The Burgerly offers upscale, handcrafted burgers with unique touches, such as The Wonderful, made with a beef patty dressed with savory onions and their special burger mop, Havarti cheese, tomato, fresh microgreens, griddled mushrooms, house Canadian bacon, sweet onion aioli and a spicy BBQ sauce.

Other favorites include the Salmon BLT, Veggie Legendary and Shrimps’ Time to Shine, a spicy shrimp burger made using Argentinian wild red shrimp, cherry pepper, muenster, pickled cabbage, micro parsley and amaranth, tomato, local jerk BBQ and serrano aioli.

The Dam Hotdog is another big seller, which comes topped with pulled BBQ brisket chili, pickled cabbage and spicy mayo.

Go: 137 S. Main St., New Hope; 215-693-1198; theburgerly.com

Honoring Black History Month in Bucks: Bucks County celebrates Black History Month. Here are the special events

Harper & Penny’s, Doylestown

Owners: Chef Jamal Harper

Inspired by the food of his youth combined with more than 30 years in the restaurant business, Chef Jamal Harper delivers Southern fusion dishes, inside a laidback, yet stylish bar and bistro-style restaurant in downtown Doylestown.

“I wanted to bring forth the food I was brought up, the food my parents were brought up on, to introduce my ancestral food in a community that maybe has had anything like it before,” said Harper, who parents are from the South.

The menu includes customer favorites, such as their generously sized chicken wings slathered in a housemade Carolina barbecue sauce, sautéed shrimp tossed with H&P hot sauce served over creamy grits, or French onion fries topped with mozzarella and caramelized onion gravy.

Tucked away inside the Main Street Marketplace, this cozy spot, while small, has a lively feel to it any night of the week, with a mix of customers coming to enjoy a full meal or simply savor glass a local wine, craft beer or specialty cocktail with friends.

“This is something I’ve wanted to do all my life. I want the people that come here to be happy and enjoy the food and feel a sense of community,” Harper said.

Go: 22 S. Main St., Doylestown; 267-454-7638; harperandpennys.com

Cyrenity Sips, Hatboro

Owner: Shakia Williams

Step inside Cyrenity Sips and you’ll quickly notice it’s not your typical winery.

From its window seat lined with plush fabric and funky little pillows to the back lounge with chic, post-modern seating and a pink floral photo wall, the space has a whole different style and vibe than what some would expect from a winemaker.

And that’s exactly what Shakia Williams wanted — a place where she could create new and exciting wines and share it with others in a way that was approachable.

Black-owned wineries account for less than 1% of all wineries in the U.S., according to the Association of African American Vintners. And for Williams, who said Cyrenity Sips is the first Black women-owned winery in Pennsylvania, she felt it was important to create an inclusive and diverse space in a white male-dominated industry.

“Representation is everything. People, they don’t know they can do it until they see someone who looks like them doing it,” William said.

With the help of her husband, Cliff, and her 22-year-old daughter, Cyan, Williams has produced more than 40 different types of wines since opening in 2022, many of which are named after close friends and family members.

Top sellers include La Peach, a sweet peach wine with edible glitter; Antonio Maurice, a chocolate raspberry dessert wine; Evelena, sweet Riesling; Carr, cabernet sauvignon; Cliff Notes, a shiraz; and Pink Jawn, a Catawba wine with edible glitter.

Go: 31 S. York Road, Hatboro; 267-387-8405; cyrenitysips.com

Daddy’s Kitchen, Pop-ups across Bucks County

Owner: Marcus Knox

Even though this food truck got its start in Philadelphia, Daddy’s Kitchen can primarily be found rolling its way through Bucks County and cooking up regional favorites with unique spins, which Knox calls “Philadelphia fusion.”

“We use fresh ingredients and a quality you’d expect from a full restaurant, while pushing the envelope a little more,” Knox said.

His menu offers a selection of tacos, burgers, cheesesteaks, fried rice, chicken tenders and fries, with top sellers like the Birria Tacos, Teriyaki Fried Rice Pineapple Bowls and his signature Jerk Chicken Cheesesteak, made using finely diced marinated jerk chicken, pepper jack cheese and mixed bell peppers served on an Amoroso roll and smothered in jerk sauce.

Other top sellers include the birria tacos and teriyaki fried rice pineapple bowls.

Daddy’s Kitchen makes regular appearances at Warwick Farm Brewing in Jamison, Neshaminy Creek Brewing in Croydon, Aristaeus Craft Brewing in Langhorne and Forest & Main Brewing Co. in Ambler, as well as at food truck festivals and other events around the Philadelphia region.

Go: Pop-up locations vary. Follow them on Instagram @daddyscuisine for their latest schedule.

More Black-owned businesses to support in and around Bucks County:

Food & Dining

1 Love Jerk Hut: Products available through its online store and at farmer’s markets; 267-580-9884; 1lovejerkhut.com

Products available through its online store and at farmer’s markets; 267-580-9884; 1lovejerkhut.com Mamie Colette: 202 S. Main St. in Newtown; 215-550-6110; mamiecolettebakery.com

202 S. Main St. in Newtown; 215-550-6110; mamiecolettebakery.com Menagerie Foods at Brass Collar Brewing: 100 S. Front St., Souderton; menagerie-foods.com

100 S. Front St., Souderton; menagerie-foods.com Nutz About Popcorn: 119 S. York Road, Hatboro; 215-907-3191; nutzaboutpopcorn.com

119 S. York Road, Hatboro; 215-907-3191; nutzaboutpopcorn.com Paradise Jamaican Cuisine: 1 E. Trenton Ave., Morrisville; 215-758-0592; paradise-jamaican-cuisine.business.site

1 E. Trenton Ave., Morrisville; 215-758-0592; paradise-jamaican-cuisine.business.site Rosetta’s Jazz Café: 826 W. Bridge St., Morrisville; 267-799-4183; Rosetta’s on Facebook

826 W. Bridge St., Morrisville; 267-799-4183; Rosetta’s on Facebook So Fresh So Green Juice Co.: Available online and at local retailers, like Rise and Grind Café at 1 N. 7th St; sofreshjuiceco.com

Available online and at local retailers, like Rise and Grind Café at 1 N. 7th St; sofreshjuiceco.com The Jerk Hut by Menagerie Foods: 275 E. County Line Road, Warminster; 215-909-3919; menagerie-foods.com/jerk-hut

Soul food and jazz: Rosetta’s Jazz Cafe is a vibe on this Morrisville corner. Step inside

Retail

2 No End Vintage and More: 212 Bristol Pike in Bristol; 215-458-7049; instagram.com/2noendvintageandmore

212 Bristol Pike in Bristol; 215-458-7049; instagram.com/2noendvintageandmore The Black Reserve Bookstore: 319 W. Main St., Lansdale; 267-221-3090; theblackreservebookstore.com

319 W. Main St., Lansdale; 267-221-3090; theblackreservebookstore.com Kay’s Cigar Sensations: 280 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 267-287-8161; kcigarsensations.com

280 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 267-287-8161; kcigarsensations.com Wax n Scent Studio: 15 N. Main St.; New Hope; 215-648-1987; waxnscentstudio.com

Services