Meet Thanh Rasico of Sip Still Eat Pretty in Allen

Thanh, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2011, I started a food blog in Little Rock, AR. I had just left the pharmaceutical industry, so I needed something to occupy my time. I became obsessed with reading cookbooks cover to cover. I watched cooking shows all day, and from there the ideas and inspiration for recipes consumed me. I started taking pictures of food at restaurants, and as I shared them on social media, my following grew with every repost. When the invitations started coming from restaurants to preview their food, I began connecting with the others that ate alongside me. I loved the interactive Little Rock food community.

In 2014, I moved to Portland, OR. I was listening to Taylor Swift’s song Love Story one day, and it lead me to inventing Portland Love Story on Instagram. Once I started putting out my passion for the Portland food scene, the community was very welcoming to me. Well established bloggers and restaurants started reaching out to me join them. And eventually I was next to nationally acclaimed chefs like Chris Cosentino, John Tesar, and Sam Talbot, talking about their roles on Top Chef and other shows I’d seen them on over the years. A friend of mine told me she loved attending food events with me because I recognized all the famous people!

Has it been a smooth road?
In 2018, I arrived in the Dallas area. Once again, I had to start over. I averaged three restaurant events per week in Portland, and suddenly my calendar was very clear in Texas. But looking back at all the exciting opportunities I had in Portland, I know I have the same to look forward to in Dallas. So far, I’m pretty happy with the progress I’ve made in a little over a year. I’m extremely excited to be here in the Voyage Dallas community!

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Sip Still Eat Pretty story. Tell us more about the business.
When I collaborate with restaurants, I strive to take the very best photos that I can. I don’t stop until I get the best lighting, even if I have to take the food outside. Having worked in the restaurant industry during my college years, I know how much it takes from the front of the house to the back of the house and all together as a team to get quality food out on the table. I have a deep appreciation for the industry, and I hope my pictures tell that story.

The same goes when I have a paid partnership with a brand. I make sure I am compliant with every little requirement before I post, and I never put anything out there unless I love it with all my heart.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The opportunities to collaborate with restaurants and brands are not slowing down!

I feel like Instagram will continue to unite the food lovers, so I plan to continue growing my followers. I love meeting people who share my passion, and I’m always looking for inspiration as well. On my web site, I plan to publish more recipes and get back to monetizing it. I didn’t start it as an opportunity to make a business out of it, but I can see how that is really starting to flourish anyway!