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Shortest month of the year is here (but somehow can feel the longest). These winter months can be some of the toughest times for local restaurants and retail spots as people recover from holidays and deal with crummy weather.
Fortunate for us, we have our new member, Tina Vo, to give us the heads up on the spots/ dishes we need to prioritize on our winter adventuring. Learn more about her work in medicine and her recommendations on making sure your phone captures the best of your next meal/ snack. Let's get to know her!
Member Details
Name: Tina Vo
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Worcester, MA
When did you move to the Worcester area: I was born/raised in Worcester
A fun fact about yourself: I love food, science, and astrology
What’s your favorite holiday to celebrate: Thanksgiving!
Local Recommendations/ Hot Takes
Favorite place to grab a coffee/tea: I have to be honest, I have an addiction to bubble tea. Lately, Gong Cha has been my home. Try the strawberry earl grey milk tea or the mango green tea…*chef’s kiss*
Favorite comfort food spot: My favorite comfort food spot is akra Eatery inside the Public Market. I can’t even describe in words how delectable it is, you need to try it for yourself.
Connecting while candling
Favorite YPWA event you’ve attended: My favorite event was probably the candle-making event. I love arts/crafts and DIY activities. It was so fun to personalize our own candles during a program that reminded us of the importance of self-care.
What inspired you to join YPWA this season? I was looking to network and meet new people. Doing this definitely boosts creativity and leads to learning new things from new people - which is always a good thing!
Advocating against the odds...
Occupation: I am a doctoral nurse practitioner working in primary care. I am also a food content creator on Instagram (shameless plug, follow @livetoeatfood)!
What do you enjoy most about your current role? The part I enjoy most about being a primary care provider is the relationships I build with my patients, and the honor it is to be an advocate/friend to my patients during the best/worst times of their lives. It is so humbling and rewarding.
What’s a challenging part of your job? The most challenging part about being in medicine is the power that large corporations (hospitals, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical companies) have on how we are allowed to care for our patients or what medications patients can/cannot get access to. Providers want the best care for their patients, and a lot of times these corporations get in the way of that.
What’s your favorite tip that makes work life easier for you? For me, my best tip would be to prepare, prepare, prepare. I am all about delayed gratification and putting in the work NOW in order to reap the benefits in the future. This could be from getting that morning work-out in, to meal-prepping, to getting ahead work/school assignments.
... To connecting followers to their next great bite!
What’s one thing that makes content creation enjoyable for you right now? I absolutely love that I can spread the word about new restaurants, deals, or dishes in the area to help businesses, but also to help people find a good bite! My favorite part is when I have a follower message me that they tried out a place they saw from my account, and loved the experience/food.
How do you foster community with your followers and/or local businesses? I always try to be honest in my recommendations/reviews with hopes that can build trust with my community/followers. I also try to partner with local businesses to host Instagram giveaways as a way of giving back - allowing followers to enjoy a meal without worrying about finances. This partnership also helps spread awareness of new or unknown local businesses to help them grow.
1-2 tips for getting the best food photo shoot before diving in. Lighting, lighting lighting - I can’t even tell you how many lights I’ve purchased from Amazon, but it makes a huge difference. I would also recommend trying different angles so you have plenty of pictures to choose from.
Thank you Tina for sharing your experience and insight! If anyone is interested in seeing more of Tina's local recommendations and heavenly looking dishes, give her handle a follow (@livetoeatfood). You can also connect on LinkedIn!
Did you know you can gift a membership to a friend or family member? Membership is a great gift for that keeps giving through connection, development opportunities, and fun local adventures. Connect with our Membership Director to learn more by emailing us (contact@ypwaworcester.com).