Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriella Menendez.
Gabriella, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I actually came across sdfoodies by happy accident. At the time, I was already running another Instagram called SupportSDlocal.
I started SupportSDLocal -which supports local San Diego businesses and events- because my best friend (who I had moved to SD from LA with) had recently given up her job working a 9 to 5, making lots of money- to make it as an entrepreneur/business owner in San Diego. She’d purchased her own packaging company and had spent the better part of a year trying to get it off the ground and make it profitable. While I lived with her- I was able to see the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. It really made me respect entrepreneurs and want to learn more about their individual stories.
As I started connecting with more business owners, I came up with the idea to start SupportSD. I wanted to create a platform so that more people could hear their stories and learn about the importance of supporting their local businesses and in turn, their own community. I also wanted a place where entrepreneurs could connect with each other and build themselves a community. People responded really well to it!
Little by little, we started gaining traction and getting invites to events and soft openings for restaurants and pop-up shops. I spent time interviewing chefs and people who’ve worked in some of the best restaurants in SD. After a while, I realized that most of my friends were food bloggers and photographers who worked in the industry. And that’s when I realized that I had a passion for food & the culture surrounding food.
I love talking about new chefs and new food concepts and going to food events. I love meeting new foodies. I love going out and finding all of the secret, new foodie spots. And, I want to help other people do the same. I’m a firm believer that in order to really be able to appreciate your city, you have to take advantage of what it has to offer. There’s so much available out there. The San Diego food scene has grown in the past two years and is continuing to grow. People are really starting to recognize San Diego’s potential as a food capital.
We contribute a lot of our success to our hashtag #sdfoodies which was has always been a really popular hashtag in SD. Also, being able to collab with other foodies to collect and share all of the best images of food/cocktails/coffee in SD. Sdfoodies is all about trying to elevate the foodie culture. There’s a saying on the side of Ironside Oyster Bar, “a rising tide lifts all boats”. That’s what we want to do. Support other foodies, photographers, chefs, etc. etc. so that we can draw more attention to the sdfood scene and make sd famous.
I got the account in October and since then, we’ve been able to reach over a 1,000 organic followers by just posting and sharing. We were also recently featured in Feb. issue of San Diego Magazine and well, you guys. The next step is that I want to be able to write more articles for magazines in SD in SD.
* The funny part of my story * I found sdfoodies because of an app. I was wondering why my numbers kept fluctuating. This app told me what followers had unfollowed me & why… well, one day I got a little notification from the app that told me that sdfoodies- who had recently had over 100k followers and who I had tagged pretty religiously in all my food posts, had unfollowed me. I was pretty bummed. So, I clicked on it to find out why and it said the account had been deactivated. Whoever was running it had decided to just shut it down. So, I created a profile for a new SDfoodies and that’s where it all started.
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I was looking for a good name to build a foodie Instagram with and I found it “by accident”. My goal is to continue to build sdfoodies and contribute somehow, some way to the food culture.
Has it been a smooth road?
Not always. The most difficult challenge was probably learning how to use social media. Haha Before I moved to San Diego and started SupportSDLocal- I had never really used Instagram or Facebook (even for my own benefit). So, I read books, watched videos, and asked lots of questions. The other thing that I would say has been difficult is keeping motivated- there are times when you want to give up because it takes a lot of time and energy to create quality content. And, since you’re not getting paid- it’s easy to want to stop cause you don’t necessarily know if what you’re doing is actually helping someone, or making a difference. But, something would always happen to keep me moving forward.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Sdfoodies/ Support SD Local – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Sdfoodies was created to draw attention to and elevate the food culture of San Diego. That means the food itself, as well as the chefs, Instagrammers, food bloggers, and foodie events that make it what it is. We’re proud that we’re able to do something in support of our city. And, that we have a platform that people are responding to.
We just want people to be a part of what’s happening. I think that’s what makes us different. We’re not just in it for the money/events (although the events are cool). I want people to experience the best that San Diego has to offer and just have fun with it. That really goes for both of my Instagrams.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I like most about San Diego: Where do I even start? I pretty much love EVERYTHING about San Diego. That’s why I love doing what I do. I love the food. The people. The culture. I’m originally from LA. And, though they have many similarities, I think San Diego is superior to LA in a lot of ways. It’s more down to earth. The people here are motivated to support each other and build community.
There’s a very tangible entrepreneurial vibe that’s present in San Diego- it makes you want to think outside the box and pursue more than just stability. Something I like the least: Maybe the daily sunshine. Haha I know that’s a strange thing to say. But, I’ve lived in California my entire life and I love experiencing the seasons. As I’m writing this, it’s overcast outside and I’m digging it.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4133 Kansas St.
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/sdfoodies/
- Phone: 619-432-9782
- Email: gaby@sdfoodies.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sdfoodies/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/supportsdlocal/
Image Credit:
James Tran, Adrienne Hulme
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
