Fab Foodie: Arizona Foodie
Born in March 2014, Arizona Foodie has since evolved into one of the most well-known food blogs in Arizona—and arguably around the country too. Diana Brandt, the creator behind the famous brand, has been credited as being the most acclaimed Industry Instagrammer, and has also received recognition in the form of a Zagat award, a nomination for Food Writer of the Year and state-wide acclaim as the best food blog by Phoenix Magazine.
Best hidden food gem in Arizona: Check out @azfoodie on IG, and I’m sure you’ll find a ton of them.
Advice for someone looking to build a meaningful digital following: Stop trying to force it. People are either drawn to you or they aren’t but the people that are, those are the people you want to connect with. Just be honest, be genuine and stop worrying about what you think your following should look like. I’m grateful for the community we have around Arizona Foodie and many of these people I’ve never met but I engage with on a regular basis and that’s one of the greatest gifts.
A Valley-based chef or restaurateur who inspires you and why: To be honest, I’m inspired and I admire all of my people in the community. I love that they share many of their experiences with me, good and bad. It’s very real and it’s very raw and it keeps me grounded. So many of them go through so much on a daily basis just to survive and make it through. I see how passionate they are about what they do, even when times are so rough, they couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Being in the industry is tough, and I think many people on the outside don’t realize the constant struggles that they go through.
What would you like to see more of in the Arizona food scene: Going off of the last question, I’d love to see people treat our industry workers with more grace and compassion, especially during this time. It’s been hard for restaurants to find good workers, prices are sky rocketing, they’re trying to get back all that they lost during COVID. Let’s cut them some slack, let’s help them up instead of kicking them when they’re down. This is an adjustment period, I hope, back to the norm.
For more information, visit www.arizonafoodiemag.com.