BY ABIGAIL CRASTO
Have you ever been indecisive about where to dine? Or are you someone taking constant instructions from your mom on “how to cook”?
Instead of becoming overwhelmed with hard-to-follow lengthy recipes, take a look at these food bloggers on social media platforms who have created a niche for themselves.
THAT CHEESY GOAN
Looking for good restaurant recommendations in Goa? Check out That Cheesy Goan, one of Goa’s popular food pages run by Siya Shirwaikar, an engineering graduate and passionate food content creator.
What started as a hobby in 2020, has now become an integral part of her life. Her food-blogging content revolves around sharing details about authentic Goan food joints, restaurants, resorts, products and more.
Her attempt to support locals (Goenkars) and keep content to the point has garnered her tremendous love and support from her followers. She has won the Food Blogger of the Year 2022 title (Goa edition) by SIBA.
FOODEATZERS
Besides being a mechanical engineer and working at a private firm, Anand Raikar is also an ardent food blogger. He loves exploring different cuisines and simply sharing his love for food – his culinary adventures, experiences and insights.
His content ranges from food reviews, restaurant recommendations and other food-related stories. Through visually appealing photos and quality writing, he engages his audience and encourages valuable feedback.
Promoting lesser-known Goan food outlets/startups and providing expert tips from chefs at premium restaurants allows him to give back to his community.
SHRISHTI PRABHU DESAI
A pharmacist by profession but a content creator by passion, Shrishti Prabhu Desai believes “what you eat is what you become” – be it medicine or food. It was during the pandemic in 2019 that she started her journey to create content on Instagram and inspire her audience to cook some simple homemade food.
From sharing authentic Goan recipes to promoting local food joints, her main aim is to let the current generation learn about the culinary history of Goa. In 2022, she was awarded for promoting regional cuisine in India by India Food and Beverage Association (IFBA), held at Jio World Drive, Mumbai.
MR KURKURIT
Popularly known as Mr Kurkurit, Ruben Rodrigues believes one needs to work hard to achieve dreams and not just sleep over them. During the lockdown, with some encouragement from his friends and support from his mom, he started his food blogging journey.
Although he initially faced some challenges, he remained consistent and authentic. With his humorous manner of speaking and his own take on recipes, he has been winning the hearts of many.
His content consists of some authentic Goan recipes, restaurant reviews and collaborations with chefs and more. Through his content, he wants to revive old- traditional recipes, put Goa on the food world map, and show how simple and fun cooking is.
He has won Foodie Icon of the Year 21-22 (Passion Vista), 30 Most Loved Influencers of Goa, Food Influencer of the Year 20-21 (SIBA) and Food Influencer of the Year Debut (India Food and Beverage Awards).
FOODIE ON A ROLL
If you are planning to eat out and are confused, @foodie_on.a_roll would help you to navigate some of Goa’s best eateries.
Hailing from the village of Agassaim, Shara Naique started her page in 2018 to pursue her passion for food. Her content features recommendations of budget-friendly cafés and street-side stalls to high-end restaurants and brunch places.
She likes to engage her audience through unique stories about places that serve out-of-the-box food and beverages. For example, trying the Ravan Thali, Niro Softy, etc.
Seeking an alternate career path like food blogging is challenging but, as they say, nothing in life worth anything comes easy. It requires one to be committed and consistent with content. These young adults are choosing to be self-employed while also striving to boost Goan traditional cuisine.