Today we’d like to introduce you to Darren Knight.
Hi Darren, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
From the moment I decided to walk away from my corporate career, I knew I needed something to feed my creativity and help me grow. Living in the heart of Dallas’s Turtle Creek neighborhood, I turned to food—something we all share—as my outlet. What began as a simple hobby, a way to explore new flavors and challenge myself in the kitchen, soon became Turtlecreek Foodie.
For nearly five years, I poured my heart into every post—testing recipes at dawn, photographing dishes in the afternoon light, and sharing honest reviews of Dallas’s hidden gems. Growth was slow, and there were countless moments when I considered quitting. I took breaks to recharge, but something always pulled me back: the pure joy of creating and connecting with my little corner of the internet.
Then, almost half a decade later, one post went viral… then multiple posts started going viral. My content was picked up by major internet publications like Buzz Feed and Lad Bible to be seen by over 50 million eyes. In a matter of days, my community exploded, and brands began to take notice. What started as a passion project evolved into a full-fledged Digital Media Consulting LLC. Today, I partner with major food and lifestyle brands—producing content that blends authenticity with strategy—and help others tell their own stories online.
Turtlecreek Foodie now reaches over 200,000+ followers across all social media platforms, and I’m the very proud author of two cookbooks. My latest, SPOILED, debuted in Fall 2023 and reflects everything I’ve learned about indulgence, creativity, and perseverance. Looking back, the challenges—those long stretches without traction, the self-doubt, the urge to give up—were the very experiences that shaped my journey. If there’s one thing I hope Voyage Dallas readers take away, it’s this: passion isn’t always easy, but if you keep coming back to what you love, you never know where it might lead.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If the road had been smooth, I wouldn’t have the skill set I have to navigate like a boss! Nothing in business is ever “smooth”. Good business people understand this and even now, if there weren’t hurdles, struggles, obstacles, etc. then I get nervous because that means risks aren’t being taken and likely NOTHING is happening! To be good, you have to take the risk. You also have to be comfortable with failure and know that it doesn’t define you.
I wouldn’t be who I am today if I hadn’t faced many of the challenges I have faced.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I do so many different things. I mentioned that I left my corporate job and started Turtlecreek Foodie back in 2018, but more recently, I wear a lot of hats. After finishing my second book in September of 2023, I decided to learn Real Estate and I have been doing that for a little over a year now. About the same time that I became licensed in real estate, an executive role with Dolce & Gabbana Beauty fell into my lap through my network having worked for 20 years in the beauty industry and it was such great opportunity that I couldn’t pass it up! I have found over the past few years that one person should never rely on just one stream of income so I am constantly trying to diversify skill set and challenge myself to learn new things! By far, my biggest accomplishment and the thing that makes me the MOST proud, is that I have (hopefully) positively impacted so many people that tune into Turtlecreek Foodie!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
For anyone aspiring to be an influencer or content creator my advice is BE AUTHENTICALLY YOU. Be yourself. People love watching REAL people do REAL things. Be consistent with your posting schedule. Work very hard. Don’t give up. Create DISRUPTIVE and thought provoking content! Be cautious of the advice you buy- not everyone that gives you advice, has your best interest at heart; most of the advice that you’ll receive will be from people who have no idea what it actually takes to be successful as a content creator. Be nimble to changes in the market and how viewers consume content and adjust your style and cadence accordingly. If you need help, slide into my DM’s!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/turtlecreekfoodie
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtlecreek.foodie
Image Credits
Jeremy Jacobs, Rachel Toops
