Today we’d like to introduce you to Tabi Ramos.
Hi Tabi, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
THE FACE BEHIND THE FOOD!
I’m a foodie, an explorer, and a Sagittarius – which should already tell you everything you need to know about me. LOL jk. I started my Instagram food account, @eatme_orlando, about one year ago when I moved back home after being laid off from my hospitality job in San Francisco. With the pandemic affecting so many people and their businesses, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to shop/support local and share all the exciting, diverse, and delicious food options around Orlando with fellow food-lovers.
A little bit about my background, I’m Brazilian but pretty much grew up in Orlando. My father was the one that got me to try different foods and have an adventurous pallet growing up, as he loved grilling and creating recipes from what we had in the fridge. My mom’s lack of cooking skills also played a part in my love of food, I guess, since she’d take us out to eat so often lol – thanks mom! When we moved to the U.S., my parents didn’t speak English so my dad started working at a restaurant as a cook – because good food is truly a universal language. Some of my all-time favorite and most memorable experiences have been around a dining table with family or old [and new] friends. I’m passionate about traveling and immersing myself into different cultures through food. I’ve made fresh pasta in Italy, went shopping for fresh ingredients and cooked up a 4-course meal in Thailand, had a proper afternoon tea in London and have been part of a peking duck table-side carving ritual and tea ceremony in China. Needless to say, food is my love language and I love sharing it with others.
To my surprise, it’s been well received and I’m so grateful for all of the unexpected blessings that my @eatme_orlando page has brought into my life! I’ve had the opportunity to meet other amazing foodies and business owners that make me feel overjoyed and proud to be part of this community and where it’s headed. So much so, that they have inspired me to start my own small business!
I’m SO excited to officially announce: K-CLUB – a Korean-style corn dog pop-up! For updates and news, follow along our Instagram page: @kcluborlando.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not to sound too cheesy but life is never a smooth ride, and that’s okay because bumpy roads usually take you to beautiful destinations [“end inspirational quote”]. As a content creator, there have been many times I’ve felt overwhelmed, uninspired, imposter-syndrome or just flat out frustrated. Sometimes you work on a piece of content for HOURS – taking the perfect shot, editing pictures, piecing videos together, finding the perfect song, trying to come up with a witty caption, researching the latest trends and hashtags – all to make sure your post is fresh and exciting. You feel like…ok, this is awesome, I’m proud of this post…and the likes/interactions end up being super low and you honestly feel like giving up and not posting anything else for a while. I feel like social media has very high highs and equally low lows so it’s so important to take a step back and evaluate why I started my food page in the first place. I love finding and recommending good food, I love connecting with people, I love supporting local businesses, I love sharing a story through pictures (and photography) and I love the creative freedom it gives me. All these reasons are enough to keep me going when I feel discouraged. And also taking breaks from it all when I need to.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We will be popping up around Orlando and will be offering a fun menu consisting of different types of Korean-style corn dogs. For those that don’t know what a Korean “corn dog” is, it’s not a corn dog at all – it just looks like one (and yes, hot dogs are also involved) but that’s about it. There isn’t any cornmeal in the actual batter. In fact, it’s not even called a corn dog in Korea and is simply called a “hot dog” or “hasdogeu”. It’s a popular Korean street food that has made its way to the States recent years.
I was first introduced to this delicious street food while living in San Francisco. I met and became close with another foodie who is originally from South Korea. I was BLOWN AWAY when I tried her family’s recipe and knew I had to learn how to make them.
What sets us apart is that all we will sell is Korean corn dogs. Since it will be our main focus, we have really taken the time to perfect the recipe and will be able to offer exciting and [“Instagram-worthy”] options that you can’t find anywhere else in Orlando! We can’t wait for everyone to share this irresistibly crunchy-chewy-sweet-salty experience with us!
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My husband and family have been my biggest supporters and constantly encourage me to pursue what makes me happy. All of the foodies and other small business owners I’ve met, and just the community here, have all been so encouraging and supportive of both my foodie page and new business venture and I just hope I can continue adding value and diversity to our city beautiful!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/kcluborlando/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatme_orlando/
