2020 Gumbo Final - Book - Page 52
A Taste of Baton Rouge
Story: Masie O’Toole
Photo: Coutesy of Victoria Hines
Design: Mariah Graham
I
50
LSU alumna sharing local dining experiences and
interests, starts volunteering initiative
t’s no secret Louisiana is known for its food.
Boiled crawfish and home-cooked jambalaya
runs through the veins of any native, while
beignets and king cake warm their heart. For
most, this passion leads to little other than a full
stomach, but some have found a way to turn it
into a career.
Victoria Hines is one of those few. The LSU
alumna took her passion for food online in
2016, and has since amassed over 3,000
Instagram followers on her food blog, @
foodiestoforkwith.
Hines said her love for food grew out of
her Louisiana upbringing. Being constantly
surrounded by some of the best eats in the
country resulted in a desire to share, first with
friends and family, and eventually a more public
audience. She formed her page out of the blue,
but it quickly evolved into something more.
There, she shares anything good, from her
favorite juice from Main Squeeze to oh-sosatisfying Mid City Beer Garden cheese pulls.
Her page is about enjoying yourself but also
feeling good— finding a balance between
what’s good for the body and what’s good for
the soul.
“I love posting about healthy, nutritional
foods and the benefits of certain foods and
supplements, as well as mixing in some
seriously indulgent eats because we all know
Louisiana has a lot of it,” Hines said. “My blog
stresses everything in moderation.”
Some of her top recommendations around
Baton Rouge include Ava Street Cafe and
Gov’t Taco, as well as Inga’s and Rotolo’s Craft
& Crust for students on a budget. One thing
she feels is missing, however, is good Filipino
cuisine.
“I’m addicted to Asian food,” she said. “My
grandma is from the Phillippines so I grew up
eating Filipino food.”
Though she usually posts about restaurants
around Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Hines
also enjoys cooking. While at home she likes to
prepare healthy dishes, especially breakfast.
“I can whip up a mean avocado toast, egg
white casserole, three-ingredient pancakes
(recipe on the blog), and some fresh celery
juice on the side,” she said.
Hines also occasionally delves into the worlds
of fitness and skincare. She isn’t incredibly
concerned with fitting into a single box. Instead,
she chooses to embrace what she enjoys and
share that with her followers.
The foodie said her blog began to blossom
when she began posting for herself instead
of worrying about what others thought, and
encourages others to do the same.
“I worried a lot about what other people would
think when I first started out, and it wasn’t until
I put others opinions aside that it started to
thrive,” Hines said. “People will always have an
opinion about what you’re doing or what you’re
posting about but don’t let that hold you back.”
Now, the blogger is using her platform for more
than sharing local eats. Hines recently created
a project called Give A Fork, dedicated to
getting the community involved in feeding the
hungry in Baton Rouge.
“I felt a calling to take my platform and turn it
around in a way that helps people,” she said.
“I wanted to do something more than posts
pictures of food. I want to be able to give food
to those who need it.”
Above all, Hines stressed the importance of
chasing your passion and finding a way to
create something out of it.
“I absolutely love having this hobby of mine. It
gets my creative juices flowing, has allowed me
to meet new people I probably wouldn’t have
otherwise met and has opened the door to so
many fun opportunities,” Hines said. “If there’s
something you’re passionate about, go with it.”