Feature Friday: Miss New Foodie

Happy !

This week our feature is all about… food! Clearly we aren’t the only ones who like food, as @MissNewFoodie, has tens of thousands of followers on her food-centered Instagram account. Since we now live 15 minutes outside of Manhattan, I always look at her Instagram to see which local restaurant or cafe I should hit up next. Miss New Foodie, otherwise known as Emily, definitely has a way of photographing the food she eats to look the most drool-worthy it can get. Keep reading to hear what made her want to start Miss New Foodie and how she manages to find all of these great NYC eats!

: Tell us a little about yourself.

: Hi, I’m Emily and I’m 19! I’m a sophomore at NYU and I’m obsessed with food and social media (obviously). When I’m not eating or taking pictures of food, I love walking around Manhattan, discovering new coffee shops and art galleries. There is something to be said about never getting bored in New York City—everywhere I turn there are new places to explore. Oh, and I also love to window shop. Shoes are definitely my weakness.

: When and why did you start Miss New Foodie?

: I started Miss New Foodie in October 2013 of my freshman year. I didn’t have any particular reason for starting the account; I just loved looking at other food accounts, and figured it would be fun to start my own. Never did I imagine it would become as popular as it has.

: How did your interest in food start?

: I’ve been interested in food ever since I can remember. I played competitive soccer up until college, so I was always conscious of what I was putting into my body. After I stopped playing, I was still really interested in different types of foods and flavors. This fascination has just grown and evolved into Miss New Foodie. Now, every chance I get, I go around NYC eating different foods and taking pictures of all of my eats.

: You are based in NYC. How has this inspired or helped Miss New Foodie take off?

: I don’t think Miss New Foodie would be as successful if I was in any other location. NYC has so many different restaurants, cafés, and cuisines, that I can always find a new place to try. Even if I’m just walking down the block, I usually stroll in and out of random food shops and order the first thing I see off the menu. Whether it’s a coffee café or pizza parlor, it feels like there are an infinite number of places scattered around Manhattan. I don’t think any other city has so many different eateries in such a close proximity.

: After tasting so many delicious NYC eats, we’re all curious. What is your favorite food?

: Avocado toast, definitely. I don’t eat it often, but whenever I go to brunch, I always like to eat the restaurant’s signature avocado toast. Every place makes theirs differently, so it’s fun to try each one. It’s so simple, yet satisfying and flavorful at the same time.

: Name a few of your favorite places to eat in the city?

: For brunch I like to go to Jack’s Wife Freda, Two Hands, and Café Gitane. Sometimes their lines are long, but it is well worth the wait. Some of my other go-to places are Joe’s Pizza, Tompkin’s Square Bagels, and Grey Dog. When I have a craving for something sweet, The Big Gay Ice Cream Shop is also very fulfilling.

: Are there any challenges to running Miss New Foodie?

: In order to keep the account fun and interesting, I have to buy a lot of food! This is both time-consuming and expensive. I have to plan my day around where and when I’ll go get food, and I have to properly budget how much I spend each week. It doesn’t seem like much, but sometimes it’s difficult to balance time between Miss New Foodie and schoolwork, especially when working on Miss New Foodie is 10 times more fun than writing papers.

: What camera/techniques do you use to capture the most delicious sides of all your food?

: Lighting is the most important part of getting a good picture. Natural light is always best, especially during the time right before sunset. I also like to play around with the different angles of the food—going up close to capture the texture of the food, or from high above to get an overall view of the table. It really depends on what type of food I’m photographing. My camera has actually been broken for about two months now, so sometimes I have to hit the lens against my knuckles until it goes in focus.

: What are your future goals/dreams?

: I’m switching into a media major at NYU, so I’m hoping to work in the food media business in the future. I look up to food personalities like Guy Fieri or Giada De Laurentiis because they’ve made successful careers out of doing what they love. As I am only a sophomore in college, I still have time to figure out what I’ll be doing after I graduate… which is good because right now I have no idea what to do with my life.

: Any advice for aspiring foodies?

: I think an important tip is to never be afraid to try new foods! I always thought smoked salmon/lox was disgusting whenever I saw it in the deli shop window, but I never actually tasted it for myself. Then I tried it one day, and now I love it. As for the best way to grow a social media following, I think it’s really important to post frequently and to post original content. Create your own style and spend a lot of time connecting with your followers. Also, tell your friends and family about it, whether it’s a blog, an Instagram, or a YouTube channel! They are the first people that will spread the word about your account.