Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Hadi.
Hi Lisa, 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?
I started food blogging/vlogging back in high school about five years ago, consistently uploading videos and pictures to Instagram every single day since. I initially launched the account simply because I love food; I wanted a personal log of where I’d been and hoped to share great local spots with others.
When I moved to Austin to attend UT Austin, I started posting more dining hall content and local food spots. Because I’m a student myself, a lot of my peers found the content relatable and valuable for finding spots around campus. It is incredibly rewarding to see people actually taking my recommendations, and I always love it when someone comes up to me to chat about a spot they discovered through my page. It has been a long, slow journey, but it’s been an absolute blast, and I plan on keeping it going for a long time to come.
Alright, 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?
Building my page to 10k followers over the last five years definitely hasn’t been a smooth, overnight-viral kind of road. If I’m being completely real, taking five years to hit 10,000 followers might seem like a long time to some people, but I’ve loved every single second of it. I’m not in this for the fame or the followers. I genuinely love connecting with others, and food is the best way to do exactly that.
Because I’m living that student budget life, I’m always keeping it real about finding spots that won’t break the bank. It’s not a limitation for me; it’s just my reality, and it makes finding a hidden gem even more exciting. At the end of the day, this is a passionate hobby for me. My audience knows I keep it 100% authentic, and building that trust with them has been the coolest part of this whole journey.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I recently graduated from UT Austin with a degree in Finance and a minor in Economics, and I’m currently transitioning into the corporate world. But outside of my 9-to-5 life, my passion is running @the.foodie.patootie across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. It started as a way to share the best local food spots and college advice, but it has since then evolved into a space where I can document my journey through life.
What I believe sets me apart is that I’m not just a traditional food vlogger stuck in a niche. I like to dabble in a bit of everything—whether I’m grinding through finance internships, working in a research lab, traveling the world, rock climbing, running, or just hitting up new spots with friends. I’m love trying new things and bringing my community along for the ride, showing them that you can absolutely balance an ambitious work/student career with a vibrant, adventurous lifestyle.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I’m always open to brand collaborations, local partnerships, and creative content collabs! Email is the absolute best way to reach me at lisa@helpingchildrenusa.org. I am also responsive in my Instagram and TikTok DMs (@the.foodie.patootie). Don’t hesitate to reach out—I’d love to connect and see how we can work together!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.foodie.patootie
