January 2, 2019

Meet Grace Mao Wong of Maothwatering in North Atlanta

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Mao Wong.

Grace Mao, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was raised in Taipei, Taiwan, where food is delicious, eclectic, and incredibly accessible. Growing up, I took a lot of pride in the culinary scenes of my country, because you did not have to try hard to find good food and eat well. However, such privilege was taken away from me when my parents decided to immigrate to the United States in my teens. I moved to a suburb of Atlanta in the early 2000’s, where fast food and casual dining chains filled the streets. I experienced homesickness to such an immense degree that I made it a mission to seek out the best restaurants and businesses around Atlanta. Fast forward almost two decades, Atlanta has grown into a massive melting pot of people from all corners of the world. The city’s rapid growth resulted in an influx of restaurants and businesses specializing in cuisines from a wide range of cultures. And little by little, I found places to cure my homesickness, and more! As I acquainted myself with the culinary scene of Atlanta, I became so inspired by the chefs, businessmen and businesswomen that I encountered along the way, that I decided to document their journeys. And that’s how I started blogging and sharing my dining experiences through social media. It opened up a whole new world of meeting incredible people, tasting fascinating dishes, and telling remarkable stories – stories that impact and change lives. I am now a proud Atlantan and I plan to continue sharing stories of the people that make this city so great!

Has it been a smooth road?
I have definitely experienced ups and downs throughout this journey. The world is changing and growing at such a fast pace that we all have to work to keep up. It took me a lot of effort to learn how to utilize equipments and navigate the internet. I did not go to school for marketing or photography, hence, everything I learned to do today came from hours of research and trial-and-error. Also, pursuing your passion on top of working a full time job is not an easy feat. I have definitely learned to prioritize and set up systems for myself to make everything work!

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Maothwatering – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am an Atlanta food blogger that promotes diversity in our city. I seek out restaurants that specialize in foods from a variety of backgrounds and promote their stories, their people, and their culture. I am known for colorful and mouthwatering visuals that urge people to go check out the restaurant being featured. My proudest moment through this blogging journey has to be when people approach me and express how satisfied they were after experiencing a certain restaurant that I’ve recommended. I believe what sets me apart is the relationship aspect of my business. I do not simply try out the foods and leave. I go out of my way to meet with the owners and the chefs to find out how their business came to be and why they are so passionate about what they do. That, to me, is the most rewarding part of what I do.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the seasons; Atlanta does an amazing job of celebrating the different seasons. We have lots of restaurants that change menus seasonally, and it just boosts my desire to live in the moment and enjoy the city as it is!
My least favorite part of Atlanta has to be its public transportation system. I dream about the day that I can hop on Marta to grab a bowl of ramen without having to drive to the Marta station.

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