Today we’d like to introduce you to Dianna Berley.
Hi Dianna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It all started with a love of food. Growing up, food was how my parents showed they cared; it was always, “Have you eaten yet? Here, eat more!” In college, I was always photographing food and sharing my latest favorite restaurants with friends. When I moved back to Jacksonville and saw how much the food scene had grown, it was an idea in the back of my head – to start a food blog. It wasn’t until years later in 2019 that DuvalFoodies was born. The purpose was to create a platform where I could help support local businesses, highlight cuisines from different cultures, and meet people who were also passionate about food. Food brings people together and that’s what I hope for DuvalFoodies: to have a page where people can connect over food and find new places to try!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road, but I remind myself, “If it’s something you love doing, you make time for it.” Right now, my biggest challenge is balancing my food blog, working full-time, and being a new mom. I’m a planner by nature, but I’ve found that even a well-planned schedule can go out the window with a baby!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a content creator mainly focused on food and the restaurant scene in Jacksonville. I started solely with photography, posting food photos on DuvalFoodies. Later, I accepted a writer position for Jacksonville Restaurant Reviews. It was a great opportunity for me to brush up on my writing skills – and what better subject to write about than food? Currently, I am learning about editing videos for the page which has been a fun process. I am lucky to know a lot of talented creators in this city and we all try to support each other.
The best part about what I do is helping businesses grow. I love hearing feedback from restaurant owners and having the ability to connect the restaurant with fellow foodies through my posts. I enjoy engaging with my followers and I appreciate their trust in my recommendations. I’m proud of the growth of DuvalFoodies in the past couple of years and my main hope is that I can use my platform to have a positive impact on our community and local businesses while sharing my love of food.
What does success mean to you?
Success, to me, is about being happy: happy with yourself, the people you surround yourself with, and how you are spending your time. It’s about making a difference in the lives of others (no matter how big or small).
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Instagram.com/duvalfoodies
- Facebook: Facebook.com/duvalfoodies
