Our fellow online entrepreneur, Liza, is the definition of infectious. Her smile, her enthusiasm, her ability to tell a story - it all combined to make her the creator of a food lover's video mecca. If you're the type to spend hours clicking through YouTube clips, you might find yourself with a new addiction in Liza's website, food. curated. In fact, she's getting quite a lot of attention these days, and we think she deserves it. Liza was nominated this year for a James Beard Award for best video webcast, and is a finalist for Saveur Magazine's Best Food Blog awards.
What attracted you to a good food job?
The attraction was instant? It happened way back in 2003, when I first set foot - with a video camera, at dawn - onto fresh farmland in Eastern Long Island. Just me, the promise of sun closing in on the horizon, the smell of fresh dew peppered over the new summer crops, the sound of ground up earth crunching under my feet, and a sweet, hard-working, but shy, old farmer. I fell deeply in love with food on a whole different level that day. To witness the joy of farming, the pride of a food maker as he gathered his crops really touched me. I ate from the land. I tasted the bounty of greens and vegetables that grew from the fresh soil and, for the first time, I connected. I understood that knowing where your food comes from can paint a picture that stays with you when you are enjoying a meal at home, because you've seen the hands that touched your food - hands you trust, and want to support.
After that day, I knew I wanted to tell the story of food, to share the stories of farmers, fishermen and food makers.
How did you get your current good food job?
I created it myself!
The story goes: I launched food. curated. because everyone kept telling me "no". No one wanted to give me the job I wanted as a food storyteller. I met and wrote to many food publications and food media blogs about this idea I had to create short-form documentaries about the passion in the food movement. But no one was interested at the time. Video wasn't on anyone's radar back then. Maybe it was too expensive, or maybe my idea of 6-minute food stories wasn't proven yet, but I just knew I could convince people. I knew that I had the talent to make people fall in love with food. I proved it out on Long Island and I wanted to prove that I could do it on a bigger scale, in a more competitive environment, and still make an impact. So I set my goals, worked out a plan, went out on a limb, and food. curated. was born.
How did your previous work or life experience prepare you for a good food job?
People often think I just started telling stories with my video camera overnight. That's not the case. I know that food. curated. is only a year and a half old, so in that respect, my series is still in its infancy stage. However, I've been holding cameras since I was a little girl. It was my dad's favorite hobby, and he taught me at a very early age how to frame a pretty picture, how to make sure everything within a frame has a purpose and a balance. On the flip side, my mom taught me how to be good to people, how to treat others with great care and kindness. I think that's where my love of people comes from, and I think it really shows in every story I tell. Plus, we were a food-loving family to begin with. I have many memories of great meals growing up, meals that took place at home and all over the world, memories that still get created with my family to this day.
Prior to launching food. curated., I had been telling stories in this self-taught, mini-documentary style for seven years; perfecting my craft over hundreds of stories and interviews I'd conducted. So, I'd say, when the time came to launch my dream series, you better believe I was prepared. I think that's why I was so confident about knowing I'd succeed, because I knew in my heart I was good at telling stories in this format. When you watch my videos, you see all the things I love in life, translated into a little film. These all happen to be positive things, things that make you smile and feel something. I'm in there with you as you watch it. What you're feeling is me, what I love, and what I appreciate in life and in people. I think that intimacy is what makes them so fun.
What advice to you have for others in search of a good food job?
Trust your instinct. Know your palate. Meet as many people as you can who do the job you think you want before you make the commitment. Be sure about your choice. Know what you want to learn. Say yes to something that's going to fulfill you. Choose something that shares your values.
If you could be compensated for your work with something other than money, what would it be?
Well, I'd like to be compensated in free national and international airline tickets so that I can see the world, eat to my heart's content, embrace new cultures and tell the entire story of food from new and different perspectives. There's a whole lot of world out there to fall in love with, and I'd like to help in that process - pique curiosities so that people are encouraged to get out there, explore and seek out the magic around us. That would be my dream compensation come true.