Today we’d like to introduce you to Dominique Hazzard.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Dominique. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As a Savannah, GA native, good food and good vibes have always surrounded me. When I was younger, my mom would make dinner most days and we would go out to eat a couple of times over the weekends. Honestly, at the time, I did not appreciate food. I was your typical teenager, grabbing McDonald’s after school without a care in the world. My appreciation for food began in college when my mom was no longer available to cook for me and the cafe served only edible food, not good food. When I was able to go home or go out to eat, I would savor the moment and take pictures of my food. Fast forward a few years when I moved to Atlanta in 2015. The food scene is soo diverse in Atlanta, so I started to explore the city more for the sites and food, of course. One day, I was literally attempting to clean out my camera roll on my phone and came across sooo many food pictures. So I did some research on Instagram and realized food blogs were a thing! At that moment, Food Goddess ATL was birthed and I’ve been eating good ever since!
When I first got started, I had no idea what I was doing or posting, but I was determined and wanted to have fun doing this. Kristen (Atlanta Food Guy) reached out to me and gave me some tips on my approach. So I took the advice and ran with it! I am now a DiningOut Atlanta Ambassador and Yelp Elite member.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I believe that when you are passionate about something, there may be obstacles but your passion outweighs those obstacles. The road here has been a learning experience. Honestly, the biggest issue with blogging and social media is comparing your blog to someone else’s blog. I wanted to start this page for fun, to share my new food experiences, and things that I like and don’t like. You are your worst critic at times but you have to know how to navigate through that. It’s not about how many followers you have, or how many likes you receive on a post; it’s about influencing others and connecting with others through something that unites us.
Please tell us about Food Goddess ATL.
Food Goddess ATL is a food blog that mostly highlights restaurants in the Atlanta area but also restaurants that I find on my travels. I live OTP so currently, I am focusing more on finding hidden gems in my area but also traveling to the city for good eats.
Honestly, I am proud of starting and sticking with this blog. I have met a lot of amazing people on this journey. Food blogging has brought me a lot of happiness. I love connecting with people through my page. I get DMs all of the time from people who said they were inspired to try a dish that I tried for the first time after sharing my experience.
What sets me apart? I try to be honest in my reviews of restaurants. I give my opinion on what’s good or what needed some work. I’m no stranger to giving an unpopular opinion, tastefully!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
When I was younger, living in Savannah, I remember Fridays were Seafood Fridays in my household. Every Friday my mom or dad would go to our local fish market and pick up fresh seafood. My mom would make a feast! From shrimp and grits to fish and chips or a low country boil! I honestly grew up thinking that seafood was a major food group and still feel that same way till this day! Lol, I miss the good old days!
Contact Info:
- Email: foodgoddessatl@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodgoddessatl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foodgoddessatl/
- Yelp: https://foodgoddessatl.yelp.com
Image Credit:
@foodgoddessatl, Nick Lozoya @nickalozoya
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
