Meet Simone Smith | Foodie: Lover of delectable moments

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

Hi Simone, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’m inspired by my mom whom once owned her own business and the desire to show my daughter the importance of pursuing your passions… the things that being instance smiles to your face. I have always been a lover of good food. I get excited about the experience from beginning to end. It could be the exterior packaging of my favorite ice creams ( I have a few) to the smell of my entree being brought to my table. All five elements associated with food and drink excite me. Combine that with the fact that I always take photos of my food which is a nod to growing up in the 90s and early 2000s.. a time when we would still develop pictures… It just seemed like the next step in the magical journey. I really enjoy a great meal/drink and I figure why not share my loves with the digital world.

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.
My work is truly more than work to me. It’s a passion that I have had ever since I was a child. Im most proud of the fact that I have taken a chance on me and executed on a passion of mines. I got to where I am today based on a combination of things. I look to Anthony Bourdain as my inspiration. The way he described the cuisines that he savored drew you in even if you were not familiar with what he was savoring. People like that are my inspiration behind sharing my love of food in a digital space. What makes me different and what I want the world to know is that I’m not a chef, I’m not a professional photographer, I am the everyday individual that just loves great food. That the everyday person’s viewpoint is just as important as the hires critic. The pictures I take are candids and are there to highlight a savory moment in time, because I want to highlight the in the moment experiences we have with food and drink. Like with anything that we do, there are the challenges. I’m currently attempting to balance working full time, being a full time student, and a mom to a beautiful eleven year old, amongst other things. As a result it can be a challenge to post as often as I would like since I truly take my time with creating my posts. I’m still early on my journey and so I know there are more challenges to come, but I’m embrace them for that is how we truly grow.

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.
Hmm depending on what kind of vibe we are going for, I would start out with breakfast at the Atlanta Breakfast Club. Known for their chicken and waffles, what makes them a gem to me is how well seasoned the chicken breast is. The waffle is just a bonus. They are quite busy, but a tip is to get on the waiting list via Yelp. Then I would hang out at Ponce City Market, because they not only have a great array of food/drink options in the food hall, but they also have some great stores like Modern Mystic and The Village Market. From there we would walk the belt line which also offers great bites, drinks, and scenery. I would end it by grabbing a meal at Grana, which has amazing meatballs. Then my late night hang would be enjoy the tantalizing sangria at Church or vibing out at Dudley’s over in Stone Mountain known for their no frills welcoming atmosphere and strong but price conscious drinks.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would have to say it is a collective. Beyond my family, specific to this lane it would a combination of three people: Regine Auguste whom always inspires me to go for my passion. Jonathan Rogers, my partner that helps keep me align when I feel I’m all over the place. Lastly, Monica Thorpe, whom welcomed me into a group of amazing influencers in Atlanta.

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Other: Email: Jewelbeastie@gmail.com