When did you start Greenwich Foody and why?
Greenwich Foody began in July 2019. During high school, I realized my love for photography, traveling and showcasing the many different meals I had the pleasure of experiencing while on vacation. I wanted to share my love for dining out with other people who might be interested.
What is the best part about running your account?
I have the unique opportunity to try a great deal of different restaurants and menu items from around town. I also get invited to private media events where I am able to taste the food and drinks prior to a restaurant opening to the general public. I truly enjoy helping get the word out about local businesses – new and existing. No matter where I go, I make sure to take aesthetically pleasing photos in case the food is good enough to get posted on my stories or feed.
What is the best part about finding new places to explore or try around town?
I love finding new spots, especially in Greenwich because I find myself always going back to my usual "go to" restaurants. Although when something new and exciting comes around, I love sharing it with my followers to get them excited as well.
How did it feel to hit 10K followers?
FINALLY! For quite some time, it felt like I was at such a standstill, so I started to shift gears and began changing up my content by incorporating more lifestyle content, my own recipes and cooking videos. It helped push me to that 10K mark and now I am nearing 11K after only a few weeks.
In your opinion, what are some of the best hidden gems in town?
· Pizza Post, Cos Cob
· Island Fin Poke, Cos Cob
· Greenwich Pizza, Riverside (so delicious and very convenient for the Cos Cob side of town, especially for delivery)
· Neil’s On Wheel, Greenwich (served smash burger style, the owner Neil is always playing around with a fried pickle recipe because he knows how much I love them! I even asked him to make pickle spears, which he did just for me)
And second to that, what are some of the best dishes at these places?
· Pizza Post: The pasta dishes and paninis are my absolute favorite, which is on their special’s menu a few times every month. The Spaghetti Zucchini and Toscana Panini are to die for and you can't forget their whipped ricotta.
· Island Fin Poke: Build your own bowl with half shrimp, half chicken and a variety of different toppings, just pick your favorite.
· Greenwich Pizzeria: Delicious pizza across the board, you can’t go wrong with the classics or their special pies.
· Neil’s On Wheels: Neil's Way Burger and fried pickles.
Tell us the must-try for each category below.
· Coffee shop: Lenny’s Bagels and order the Hawaiian coconut iced coffee
· Breakfast spot: Upper Crust Bagel
· Lunch spot: Grigg Street Pizza
· Deli: Makerie Café
· Dessert spot:Gofers Ice Cream
· Dinner spot:Miku or Terra
Tell us about some secret menu items or menu items that you made go viral.
The Pickle Sandwich at Makerie Café, Sicilian Vodka Pie with Tell Em Mike Sent You and the Italian combo sandwich from the menu at Old Greenwich Butcher shop is the best ever.
Describe the time your movie theatre popcorn video went viral on TikTok. What did it feel like being on Ridiculousness?
That was crazy! I am definitely a salty over sweet girl, so I randomly went to the movie theater to get popcorn. It happened to be closing, so one of the employees brought out a huge garbage bag filled to the top with popcorn. I was in shock and decided to make a random TikTok about it. The next thing I know, Barstool asked to post the video, as well as many other viral Instagram pages. A friend texted me saying that she saw me on Ridiculousness from MTV and my response to her was, "I think you texted the wrong person!" A minute later she rewound the TV and sent me the clip and there I was!
Is the behind the scenes, filming, taste testing, photography, etc. as glamorous as it looks?
Not at all, sometimes photoshoot after photoshoot gets super tiring and it's always nice to eat a home-cooked meal. Eating out every day/night takes a toll on you but I try to plan a few days a week where I can enjoy a cooked meal from myself or my family.
How do you make your account stand out from others?
I have been trying to incorporate more lifestyle into my food account, showcasing what it's like during "summer in Greenwich" or "summer at Tod's Point" for example. I am looking forward to creating new videos about fall activities, places to go and do fun fall things, etc. but every video will have some food aspect to it.
Who would be your ultimate collaborator?
RAOS! My dream is to dine there, not only for the food, but the overall experience. I would also love to collaborate with hotels to create a travel itinerary for my followers if they are looking for a weekend trip!
Describe the experience of working with Guy Fieri.
I’ve had the very fortunate opportunity to be a Productive Assistant with Guy Fieri for three weeks while he was on the road filming “Guys All American Road Trip” last summer. This all happened after I was asked to be a customer when Diners, Drive-ins and Dives was filming at Corbo’s Deli in Stamford. I had zero experience but was able to travel with Guy and his team to South Dakota and Wyoming where we filmed for endless hours a day. His team loved my work ethic and invited me back to shoot other shows of his along the way, including Triple D Nation. It has been an experience of a lifetime that I will never forget.
What is your job/occupation outside of content creation?
I have my own social media management and content creation business and manage mostly food-related accounts across Fairfield County. And secondly, I work part time at J. Bond Septic Service, which is my grandfather's business.
The best advice for starting a food account? JUST DO IT! Don't let anybody stop you, no matter what.
My two favorite spots outside of Greenwich are Cafe Silvium for the Fettuccine Mascarpone, but substitute shrimp for chicken cutlet in Stamford and the Latusion Food Truck for Lomo Saltado in Harrison.