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Meet Koko

One of the most Successful and Influential Women in the Digital Era

Article by Roslyn Bond

Photography by Haley Plotkin of Ready Set Jet Set

Originally published in Austin Lifestyle

According to the January 2019 We Are Social report, 45% of the world’s population is on social media, and users have become notorious for craving social media influencers who, not only guide them with their decision making, but also inspire them to express their creative freedom and find their own individualistic gifts that we were all born with. 

One influential leader that will never be forgotten during this modern digital age of history is one of our very own Austinines, Jane Ko of A Taste of Koko. She has dedicated her gifts to inspire the masses which has earned her the title of being a best selling book author, successful blogger since 2010, and mega influencer on Instagram where her loyal following continues to build at an astronomical rate irrefutably due to her marketing ingenuity, authenticity to her fan base, and precise knowledge of her niche she has acquired. 

Jane’s zeal and acquired expertise in the food industry led her to create different avenues of featuring the hottest restaurants and weekend getaways in the Austin area. 

When the city of Austin mandated all restaurant dining rooms to close on March 17, 2020, there was a domino effect of hundreds of restaurant owners and service industry that took it upon themselves to ask Jane for assistance. She mentions how she felt absolutely devastated during this time; because, she too was at a loss of what the next steps were for rebuilding morale and change when the rapid and overwhelming shutdown of restaurants became unbearable and out of anyone’s control. The historical effects of this particular pandemic, which continues today, has caused financial strain on local restaurant owners with no relief in sight. 

This catastrophic downturn caused local businesses to suffer and thousands of people in the service industry were forced to be furloughed and laid off. Jane could not sit back and watch the local restaurant industry desempate right before her eyes without taking some form of proactive action to help her fellow industry leaders. 

This is when Koko took it upon herself to launch ‘Hundred For Hospitality’ with Mylk Collective which enabled them to raise $15,000 from the community and provide 4,000 meals to service industry workers that were laid off by a restaurant in Austin affected by COVID-19. Their noble endeavor included donating 100% of the funds back into the restaurant economy which once again proved Koko’s unceasing dedication to the food industry, which has stood the test of time as being a monumental industry for growth and economic development in the Austin community.

Another achievement that Koko has attained amongst the Austin community and across the world is her well respected and popular blog, A Taste of Koko which was launched in 2010. A Taste of Koko has been voted Best Local Blog by Austin Woman Magazine, the Austin Chronicle, featured in the O Magazine, InStyleMagazine, OWN TV Network, and The New York Times. Her blog has succeeded in photographing and writing on hundreds of local Austin restaurants since 2012. 

Just when you thought this self made, pioneering foodie enthusiast had made it to the top with her monumental influence of gaining a prolific, loyal following, Koko pushed it to the limit and went on to self-publish her own guidebook to Austin called, Koko's Guide To Austin, which features over 300+ local restaurants and businesses. 

There is absolutely no doubt in any Austin resident’s mind that this inspiring and influential leader in the restaurant community birthed a movement like none other, and she will be forever recognized as someone didn’t allow obstacles to stop her sole purpose of informing the masses of how important local restaurant businesses are to not only the growth of our economy but also the diversity and culture that lies within it as well. 

atasteofkoko.com

KOKO’S GUIDE TO AUSTIN: Jane Ko - Author of Koko's Guide To Austin, a pocket-sized guidebook to Austin Texas.

Koko’s Guide To Austin is a pocket-sized travel guidebook to eating and drinking your way through Austin, TX with Austin's top food blogger, Jane Ko, of A Taste of Koko. Jane Ko launched A Taste of Koko in 2010 and has featured the hottest restaurants and weekend getaways from Austin. A Taste of Koko has been voted Best Local Blog by Austin Woman Magazine and the Austin Chronicle, and has been featured in O Magazine, InStyleMagazine, OWN TV Network, and The New York Times.

In Koko’s Guide To Austin, you will find:

•Insider’s guide to Austin, Texas by a local Austin blogger

•330+ local restaurants and businesses

•3 hand-drawn illustrated maps of Austin

•Pages of beautiful, original photography of Austin

•In-depth restaurant section that breaks down the best spots for breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch,date night, tacos, margaritas, Tex-Mex, and more

•Neighborhood section featuring the popular neighborhoods of Austin with the best spots for coffee,breakfast, lunch, dinner, shops and more

•Calendar listing of iconic events like Austin City Limits (ACL), South by Southwest (SXSW), etc.

•Weekend getaways from Austin

•Austin bucket list that you can check off!

This is the ultimate guide to Austin, Texas for both locals and visitors.

Amazon.com

A Taste of Koko launched Shop Koko in August 2018 - a line of cute, foodie t-shirts that benefit local charities in Austin like Central Texas Food Bank and Austin Pets Alive. shop.atasteofkoko.com

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