On May 3rd, 5 years ago, I embarked on a journey that began with a simple, delicious dish: Paneer Kofta. Little did I know, this humble start would grow into a community of food lovers, movie buffs, and passionate cooks who share the love for all things culinary.
The Beginning: From Kitchen to Instagram
The idea for FoodieMoviGoer was born during the challenging days of the COVID-19 pandemic. As everyone around me was posting about their newfound kitchen skills, I felt an urge to share my passion for cooking with the world. Cooking had always been my hobby, my go-to way of unwinding, especially on weekends, when the kitchen became my favourite room of the house. And so, I decided to take a picture and share it on Instagram.
What started as a small hobby quickly turned into a larger platform, with the addition of a website and plans for a YouTube channel. The name FoodieMovieGoer wasn’t just about food; movies were always a part of my life too, and I wanted to reflect both passions in the name.
A Place for Food, A Space for Movies
Though food remains the heart of the platform, my love for movies is never far behind. As I continued posting recipes, I realized I could blend my two passions, food and movies, into something unique. It’s not just about cooking; it’s about experiencing food and films together. This mix has resonated with so many, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Milestones and Community Growth
Reaching 9k subscribers was a huge achievement. Of course, the ups and downs of social media came with it, and I learned that some things are out of our control. When Instagram’s fake account deletion hit, I lost over 1k followers overnight, but that’s just part of the journey. Even with 6k loyal followers, I’ve realized that it’s not about the numbers, but the community we’re building.
One of my favorite moments has been seeing how the community engages, when people ask for recipes, share their cooking experiences, or even comment, “I want to try that!” The excitement that comes from people trying the recipes is something that keeps me going. And yes, sometimes I get food orders too, which cracks me up! Followers even ask for prices and delivery, I’m flattered, but sadly, I’m not yet in the food delivery business!
From Hobby to Learning
What began as a way to feed my family on weekends soon transformed into an avenue for continuous learning. As I started posting regularly, I found myself researching recipes, learning about different cuisines, and diving deep into food culture. It’s been such an exciting journey to try foods from around the world, from staple dishes to hidden gems. The more I learn, the more fascinating it becomes.
Challenges Along the Way
Of course, no journey is without its challenges. The first one? Taking the picture before we eat! It’s hard to resist the temptation when the food is ready and just waiting to be devoured. Sometimes, I forget to capture the final dish entirely.
Another challenge? Taking the perfect picture. There’s so much pressure to make every dish look “Instagram-worthy” and I’ve certainly gotten my share of feedback. Some followers have even sent tips on how to improve my food photography, which I appreciate, every day is a learning process.
The Future: A Recipe Verse for Home Cooks
Looking ahead, I’m excited about the future. My next big goal is to build a Recipe Verse—a platform that connects home cooks and home chefs, where they can come together, share their recipes, and grow a strong community. Most of the platform is ready, and while there are still some technical things to tackle, like privacy policies and security measures, I’m incredibly excited about the next steps.
The real challenge now is exposure. With so many people creating content, getting noticed is the biggest hurdle. But I’m determined to keep pushing forward, building the community, and helping everyone share their love for food and cooking.
I have already opened the registration and got nearly 100 registration requests. It is only the courage that is stopping me from approving those requests. I am sure some of them are genuine, and most of them are spam, yet I am already happy with the genuine responses.
Here’s to 5 years and beyond!
As I celebrate this milestone, I want to thank everyone of you who has followed, supported, and engaged with FoodieMovieGoer over the years. Your enthusiasm fuels my passion to keep cooking, sharing, and learning. The journey doesn’t end here, it’s just the beginning.
Thank you for being part of this delicious ride. Let’s keep growing, cooking, and sharing the love!
Happy 5th Anniversary, FoodieMovieGoer! 🎂🎉
