Today we’d like to introduce you to Carmelo Melendez
Hi Carmelo, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in the small town of Ashtabula Ohio. I was raised by a very hard-working, single mother. Although she sometimes struggled to stay afloat, she was sure to put delicious meals on the table. A lot of my inspiration for cooking comes from her. I also have wonderful memories of dining out on occasion. My town was mostly small businesses and Mom and pop joints. Immediately after graduating high school I moved to Toledo Ohio, and began my college career. I started this journey with a scholarship in vocal performance. I’ve always had a passion for music and acting. Unfortunately, I struggled learning music theory, since I was trained by ear. I then decided to switch my major to interior design.. I always knew that I saw myself in a more tropical warm climate so I decided to pursue my interior design degree in Orlando, Florida compared to my hometown. Orlando was like a giant melting pot.. here I am almost 20 years later still loving it. When I first moved here, I feel that most of the restaurants, etc. were big chains. I did not realize how much of a treasure it was having all of the mom and pops in my small town. This definitely made visiting back home a real treat. Although as the years have progressed, Orlando has gained many wonderful food options and experiences.. this is what has influenced my drive to become a content, creator and influencer. I started with making a random video one day just to try it out and haven’t been able to stop since. I absolutely love what I’m doing, and I absolutely love finding the best food and experiences and sharing that with everyone. I also love all of my interactions with my followers. I plan to continue this journey and hope to one day make it full time. I’m so excited to see what the future holds.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been smooth. I believe when you’re working towards something you’re always going to come across obstacles. When you really want something, you have to be prepared for rejection. I honestly do believe that rejection makes you stronger and influences you to become better at your craft. Before starting this journey, I was never really glued to social media . So I basically started from scratch, gaining followers,. We all know that most big opportunities come with having more followers,. So one of my biggest goals right now is to continue interacting with my current followers and gaining new ones. I get excited for every new follower just to know that person is interested in what I’m doing. Every day is a challenge and I’m working harder and harder to succeed.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve actually worked as a server in the food and beverage industry for about 25 years now. This has given me experience with many different types of food and different restaurant concepts. Not to mention gaining strong social skills by working with and engaging with so many people. I do believe that this does keep me interested and involved in finding unique and trendy establishments.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: MeloguyEatz
- Facebook: MeloguyEatz
- Youtube: MeloguyEatz
- Other: TikTok MeloguyEatz
