Meet Asiah Claiborne | Food, Drink, and Community Blogger

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

Hi Asiah, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

I never really thought my Foodstagram would end up where it is now. I started it to document my love for trying new things without flooding my personal page with a bunch of food pictures. I completed my Master’s degree in Illinois and missed Texas (especially Denton) so much. I took for granted what the DFW area offers and couldn’t wait to get back, so I made it my goal to try as many restaurants and explore as much as possible.

The name for my blog came pretty quickly. I was known as a foodie growing up, so of course, I wanted to encompass my love for food. From there, I wanted something somewhat catchy that indeed surrounded my vision of highlighting the experience restaurants provides. What to eat, drink, and, most importantly, what can I share that folks can love? Sometimes I feel that we breeze by in life, ready to get to the next thing. So little do we take the time to take in an experience and learn how a restaurant began, how they contribute to the community, meet those behind the scenes, what menu items are unique, etc.

I realized that I could have more of an impact in the foodie community. It truly lifted off when businesses were struggling during the pandemic. I saw so many businesses doing incredible work for their communities. What could I do that was different and highlighted this? Sure, I can post pictures, but what impact does that have? I began leaving thoughtful reviews and providing substance to my posts so people knew more than what I ate or drank and got to see the beautiful things I was. I balance a full-time job on top of my blog and various volunteer roles, but I hope to take my experience beyond Instagram to perhaps a website and start interviewing folks and providing a thoughtful experience to inspire others to try something new and want to engage more with their community.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

My mom always told me to find out what I love to do and then find a way to get paid for it. My full-time career is in Student Affairs. I love working on a college campus with students navigating their journies. Being a relatively new professional, I learned that although I am doing what I love, it is essential to have a passionate hobby when you need space from your 8-5 job. I honestly never really thought my Foodstagram would end up where it is today. I never thought that I’d consider myself a Food, Drink, and Community Blogger or any sort of influencer. I initially started the account for fun to have my food pictures in one spot and document my experience. But, as I brainstormed what my page would entail, I wanted something catchy that highlighted the experiences that restaurants provide; what to eat, drink, and, most importantly, what can I share that folks can love? I strive to leave thoughtful reviews and give substance to my posts to see the showcased food and drinks. In addition, I want folks to learn something extra that an average customer may not have known, such as a menu item that has a sentimental story or how folks give back to their communities.

There are many food accounts, so I want to continue developing my brand to provide something unique. Building my brand and providing a space that stands out from other food accounts has been challenging. I balance a full-time job and various volunteer roles, so I get to my blogging when I can. I dream of taking my experience beyond Instagram and Yelp or Google reviews one day. I’m excited to consider creating a website or perhaps a podcast to interview folks and showcase restaurants to share an experience fully.

Sometimes we breeze by in life, ready to get to the next thing. I hope to share with others the beauty of pausing to engage in conversations, getting out of your comfort zone to discover a hidden treasurer, and learning something you can’t find on a menu or website. I hope folks are inspired to try something new, engage more with their community, and share what they take away from their experience.

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?

Of course, I am biased, but I think Denton would be perfect to start a cute DFW staycation. You can’t go wrong in a city that refers to exploring our hidden gems as “dentoning” or has had its own palooza to celebrate all there is to love about Denton.

To get the ins and outs of Denton, I’d recommend checking out the Denton Guide from Lillia with The D. Diaries – https://www.theddiariesblog.com/, posts by Courtney with @local_small, or even messaging me to plan your trip. For a calendar view to see if anything local is going on, such as a Community Market, Wine Walk, Arts & Jazz Fest, etc., check out the Discover Denton Visitor Center or the Denton Main Street Association.

If I provided a detailed list of places I’d go to in Denton, I’d end up listing nearly every business. It would be easier for me to share where I wouldn’t go because Denton is foodie central. There are lovely places to eat, many great coffee shops, bars, shops, and breweries; you can’t go wrong! My favorite thing to do is bring stuff to work on in an establishment and converse with the workers or other customers. You could be speaking with a local Dentonite, the owner, or just someone passionate about what’s around. Regardless of who you cross paths with, you are bound to hear some of the best stories and recommendations.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I dedicate my shoutout to my family, the Denton community and influencers, and @DFWGrubClub.

Credit in my foodie journey for @Eat.Drink.Love_DFWTX starts with my family. Growing up, one of my childhood nicknames was “chowhound.” The running joke was that I would grow up to become a food critique. Although my journey went in a different direction, I’ve always loved adventure and trying new things and am fortunate to do so as a hobby.

Denton, TX, is where my love for supporting local ignited. The community is indescribable. It is a unique experience that even has its own word, “dentoning.” There is beauty in navigating this charming small town and learning the rich history from local Dentonites.

As I’ve explored Denton, I’ve realized that the Dallas and Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex is also right in our backyard to explore. That is how I came across @DFWGrubClub. We are an adventurous bunch with similar missions to eat, drink, and support local. We were once strangers, but now a community. We live in different areas and have different tastes, but we are quick to throw out a recommendation (or 20) when needed and shower each other with support.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eat.drink.love_dfwtx/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=xi99bHid3AmPuhoPXUDp0A

Other: Email: eatdrinklovedfwtx@gmail.com

Image Credits
All graphics were designed by Jason from @toon_artie24.