Meet Vina Vo | Food & Lifestyle Blogger

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vina Vo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vina, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
One of my favorite quotes that keeps me motivated is “ Focus on what you can control and make peace with what you can’t”. The reason this quote speaks to me is because despite the challenges that comes my way I should let life fall into place. Forcing and controlling every aspect of my life has always been a challenge for me. I constantly put too much pressure on myself for my food blog, and trying to get a perfect picture makes it hard for me to enjoy the content but rather hyperfixate over a photo for too long. I put this quote towards my everyday choices and when things don’t go my way I have learn to try to let it go instead of being too hard on myself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I never really categorized my photos as art when I first started out “it was more” of a quick snap so talking about this now is exciting. I love seeing what I can do with a photo to make it mine and others can tell that I edited it. What sets me apart from others can be the use of vibrant colors on my feed as well as my choice of backgrounds in which I take my photos. Relating back to my quote I use to be so upset when a photo turned out too dark and too bland for me, but as I grew I began to find my own editing style. Now I love seeing the before and after. I still have my old photos from when It was just random food photos I gathered from snapchat. It displays that I have come a long way both in displaying and producing photos that promote businesses. Today, I can say that businesses have reached out to me and I’ve actually had two paid sponsorships so far! I never really cared about monetizing my page but it is a nice perk — but supporting them is my priority (support small businesses!) It does come with challenges as my page became more serious I become more wary of what I posted and how it compared to others. But I realize its more about expressing who you are and what sets you apart from people doing the same thing. Just because someone else is posting the same content does not mean you can’t stand out as well. One thing I want to be made known is that I only want to share places/brands I truly find has potential or I would recommend. I also believe in transperancy but I will not put any business down, therefore my page is all about positvity.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This are a hard one because Dallas is expanding and so are other surrounding cities! I would say if a friend was visiting the area and wanted to do things all in one area, Dallas is defintely a good start. Some recommendations include:
Food/Drinks Rise No 1 Krio Cris and John Maple Leaf Diner Uchi Velvet Taco Mike’s Chicken XOXO Dining Room Sky Blossom (Rooftop Bar) Wabi House HG supply Co CrushCraft Thai Eats Hopdoddy Burgers YO Steakhouse Oak Cliff Trompo Terry Black’s BBQ Adding Hatsuyuki to the list but it is in Fort Worth — but a must try! Desserts/ Coffee Shop La La Land Kind Coffee The Berni Bean Botolino Emporium Pies Cauldron Ice Cream Picole Pop The Salty Donuts Val’s Cheesecake Le Bon Temps Aqua S Bowldega (healthier option) Hola Cafe Funny Library Coffee Shop Xaman Coffee Jaram Donuts Things To Do Visit AT&T District and dine at Jaxon’s Beer Garden Visit Dallas Design District Murals Walk around the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens Check out the Dallas Museum of Arts Enjoy a 360 degree view of Dallas Skyline on top of the Reunion Tower Stroll around Klyde Warren Park Go on a Picnic at White Rock Lake (get a chacuterie board from Amor Y Queso) RSVP your Tee- time at Another round Mini Golf There’s so much more to do in Dallas but with COVID still around activities are limited!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There’s not a specific person whom I can give a shoutout to because everyone had a part on this journey of mine. Whether it’s waiting for me to take the photos despite the food getting cold or making sure I get the best angles and lighting. When I first started out “it was more” of a quick snap here and there for the sake of memories than it became a hobby I truly enjoy and loved sharing it with my friends and family. So they play a big part in where I am today. From brunch to dinner plans they have always believe that I could expand and that’s what pushed me to post content consistently. Those whom have gave me positive response should know they do not just make my heart full but my tummy too!

Instagram: @explore.vina

Other: Tik Tok: @vinabobina