Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Malave Pasquali.
Julia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It all started in 1996… no, but really, I grew up in a foodie family. From my grandfather who was almost a chef and made gourmet chocolate boxes every December to my mom who would fill entire bookcases of cookbooks. I took culinary classes during the summer and cooked homemade meals from as young as I can remember, but the world of social media appeared only three years ago. When I look back to why I started my blog, it almost seems inevitable that I would end up in this field.
I opened my food account while on vacation in Venezuela. At first, it was just an outlet to post the photos my dad would send me whenever he would go to a restaurant abroad. So, I guess this account was probably more my dad’s than mine. At the time, I was going to college in Boston so the food blog took a back seat. I would only post random healthy snacks and old photos my dad had once sent me, so coincidentally, my follower growth was barely nonexistent.
@WhereJuliaEats (formerly known as @foodyourappetite) started ramping up while doing my last semester of college abroad. I was studying in Madrid so the opportunities to showcase food were in every corner. The only issue was that I was posting food in Madrid and other European countries so I would get random followers from every place I visited. It didn’t feel like a community, but more like a photo album with random spectators.
Then, I graduated and moved back to Miami where I started working as an ABA therapist and using my Instagram as a hobby. But soon after (two months later), I was invited to my first Media Dine-in Sushiato. And the rest is history… I haven’t stopped going to events, and restaurants since that first dine.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I really can’t complain. To me, it has felt like a smooth road because the struggles are usually personal. Like why are my followers not growing? Why are people not liking this photo I loved? Why am I not being invited to X or Y event? With time, I have learned to be thankful for all the opportunities I’ve had and for friends I have found along the way. This food page also offered me a change in career path and I see things differently now. The professional side of this industry has allowed me to view my page from a more objective standpoint and to see my journey as a unique one that does not need to be compared with others.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about @WhereJuliaEats – what should we know?
@WhereJuliaEats is meant to serve as a tool for the South Florida community to connect with the foodie world. I want people to get to know this city one bite at a time and get to know what it has to offer. Food is in everyone’s lives and it is up to each person to decide what connection they want to have with it. Because I live my life from a culinary viewpoint, I want people to find everything food-related on my page. I offer tips on where to find fresh fish, recipes of homemade meals, the best restaurants for each occasion and budget, the latest news on upcoming events, and now I even created a separate page where people can contact me to buy baked goods and other foods. (@whatjuliabakes).
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Wow! where do I begin? I think the first person I have to thank is Andrea from @mixeats. Andrea helped me start a career path in what I wanted and I will always be grateful for everything she did for me. Andre, if you’re reading this, thank you for being the real MVP! I also want to thank Kristine from Honey, I’m Gouda because she is the second person who invited me to private dining where I was able to meet a lot of wonderful people that are still in my life. Then, in terms of support, I would have to write a huuuuge list of people who continuously have been supporting my journey, but I do want to make a special space for my grandfather who passed away recently. He taught me how to cook chocolates, Tarte Tatin, millefoglie dough and so many other recipes that inspired me to immerse myself later on in the foodie world. I think without him, no one in my family would be the amazing foodies they are today.
Contact Info:
- Website: Wherejuliaeats.com
- Email: feedingyourappetite@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wherejuliaeats/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Where-Julia-Eats-335180270525463/?view_public_for=335180270525463
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/wherejuliaeats
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/whatjuliabakes/
Image Credit:
Julia Malavé
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