Meet Jordan Williamson | La Gringa Jo – Atlanta Foodie and Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jordan Williamson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jordan, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m from Atlanta and from a young age, my mom often spoke to my brother and I (or I should say scolded us) in French. I started studying French in high school and was OBSESSED. I stopped taking French classes eventually and I only really became interested in Spanish at the end of my undergraduate studies. I also studied a little bit of Mandarin Chinese during undergrad, but none of it really stuck.

In college, I studied Applied Linguistics & teaching English as a foreign language and right before graduation, I went on a study abroad trip to Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico with the linguistics department to get real teaching experience. And let me tell you, this ended up being such an incredibly important experience in my journey. The people were so kind, the food so tasty, and the culture so vibrant and unique. It was very memorable, and it made me curious enough to go back in 2020, right before the pandemic started, to study Spanish more seriously. During that time, I learned a lot about Oaxaca’s unique heritage and history, its culinary wonders, and its delicious, smoky agave spirits. I’ve always been curious about languages, and I’ve been taking photos of family, friends, and food since I was in high school, but these first two experiences in Oaxaca really were so special and I think they were very important catalysts that brought me to where I am in my life today.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think on a surface level, I would say that I’m a content creator and internet foodie. On a more serious level, I think I would describe what I do as story telling. At least, that’s what I hope to accomplish. I get to try some delicious foods and learn about other parts of the world that I haven’t yet discovered. But the part I enjoy most is learning the history and cultural significance behind the foods and drinks I’m tasting. I’ve met some incredible people in the food world who have shared their culture, their stories, and their passion with me. That’s the part that I hope to share with others.

At first, it was just trial and error. I knew I wanted to share the foods I was trying, but I didn’t have any real rhyme or reason to what I was doing online, from recording to editing to posting. But later, I started studying more about social media and content marketing and equipment. I’ve taken so many online courses, I watch so many tutorials, I study other creators in my niche and in other niches. I try to learn as much as I can in order to improve and grow as a creator and as a brand.

The journey has been challenging at times but it has been so, so rewarding. When you create something for social media, you get your feedback in front of everyone online and that isn’t always easy. I try to use any positive or negative feedback I get online to learn and improve. I’ve invested a lot into my professional development on this adventure as La Gringa Jo, and I continue to grow, learn, and carry the improvements into my next ideas.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh my gosh, I LOVE this question! Here we go:

Starting with food, one of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta is Patria Cocina in Grant Park. Amazing, authentic Mexican dishes, a huge selection of agave spirits, great vibes, cute restaurant. I also love Pepitazo in Duluth or Doraville. They’re known for their Venezuelan sandwiches and burgers, they have excellent service, always great music, I cannot speak highly enough of Pepitazo. Polanco Taqueria in Sandy Springs is AMAZING. The entire restaurant is a work of art, from the food to the decor, and the people there are so warm and welcoming.

I also really enjoy places like the Chattahoochee Food Works and Colony Square, especially when I’m dining with friends and family. There’s literally something for everyone and I love trying something new every time I go.

For the sports fans, obviously you should try to catch some kind of Atlanta sporting event. I love basketball and baseball, so I’m always down for a Hawks or Braves game.

For the nature lovers, Atlanta’s nickname is “City in the Woods” because of all of the nature we have, despite being a city. Stone Mountain and Kennesaw Mountain are great places for hiking, though I myself have only hiked Stone Mountain. I like walking in Piedmont Park occasionally, too.

There are many great nightlife spots in Atlanta, also. I love Latin nightlife, so I love events hosted by Miramar Pro all throughout the city. Tongue & Groove and Havana are great clubs – they have different rooms with music for everyone, from Latin to pop/rap hits.

Any time my dad is in town, he likes to rent scooters and ride along the Beltline. We usually rent them close to Inman Park. For food over there, I love Victory Sandwich Shop and Beetlecat, SO good. I also like to rent scooters around Centennial Park sometimes – that’s perfect for hitting the world of Coca-Cola (which I love, no matter how many times I visit) and the SkyView ferris wheel.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family and friends have been incredibly supportive of me since the beginning of this whole journey. My grandmother always listens to my ideas and she is always excited to see the content I’m working on. My grandfather has always given me lots of great business advice, even if he doesn’t quite understand the social media part of what I do. My brother and my father are always sending me restaurants to try and they are always willing to sacrifice a few extra moments of hunger so I can record their food. And I have so many amazing friends who encourage me and love to watch me grow and succeed. I truly have amazing people in my circle. You really can’t beat that.

And of course, I would not even have a platform without the people who support me online. I started this because I wanted to share some really beautiful cultures with people who may have never experienced them. Now, I have this amazing online community that enjoys like what I do and support and encourage me. And not just on my foodie journey, but also in the other little parts of my life I’ve shared online – for example, my Spanish speaking and learning, the little bit of fitness content I’ve shared. I really would not even be doing this if it weren’t for those people, and I can’t thank them enough.

Website: https://www.lagringajo.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagringa.jo

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lagringa.jo