Today we’d like to introduce you to Ogechi Anene.
Hi Ogechi, 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?
I started by simply having a love for food! From a young age, I’ve enjoyed trying new cuisines and have always been amazed by the process of putting great meals together. Fast forward to 2018—I began sharing my eating experiences on my Instagram and Snapchat stories. In early 2019, I eventually decided to create a dedicated account for posting about my dining experiences. Once I created @YourFaveEatery, it was up, as the kids might say—haha.
My friends were my first audience because I got everyone excited to see different restaurants through my honest reviews, crafty captions, and of course, pretty pictures. I soon realized there was an entire world around food blogging. There were pages for cooks, restaurant reviews, and even discovering hidden gems. The food blogging community, along with quickly gaining a following of my own, continues to motivate me to this day!
Many people approach me in social settings to ask, “Aren’t you @YourFaveEatery?” or “When are you posting again?” or “What’s the best restaurant for XYZ cuisine?” It feels good to know that what I do—even as a hobby—is valuable and interesting to people.
As far as creating a great experience goes, I’ve always strived to be able to cook just as well as I can critique someone else’s cooking. I imagine that’s a high bar to set for most people, but that ambition—along with my genuine enjoyment of the cooking process—led me to start @ChefGech.
With @ChefGech, I take orders of all shapes and sizes. Many of the orders I’ve fulfilled were new to me as a recently self-proclaimed chef. The novelty of my craft excites me! Even after making some dishes for the very first time, I’ve received feedback like, “The food was really good!! Gizdodo in particular was fantastic—I’d say one of the best I’ve had out here,” or that my “Meat pies are the best!” Having people enjoy my food excites me even more than trying other people’s food. For me, at least, the cost of labor and inventory pales in comparison to the satisfaction I get from giving people a great experience.
So yes, Ogechi maintains both @YourFaveEatery and @ChefGech simultaneously. This can be taxing at times, but I think my genuine passion for food eases the burden.
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?
It has not been all smooth sailing! Some of the challenges I face with this work include the demands of content creation, staying consistent with posting, and growing a following organically. When it comes to content creation, I am constantly learning how to better capture images, put together enticing videos, and post in a way that’s engaging yet genuine.
In terms of consistency, I’ve gone through many different seasons in life since starting @YourFaveEatery and @ChefGech, so the priority I place on this work has naturally shifted alongside my personal priorities. As for growing a following, that may be the biggest challenge of all. I’ve learned that follower count is not a true indicator of value or impact. All of my followers are organic, and I receive high engagement from them. Every person who follows me has either heard about me through word of mouth or seen my work and felt compelled to tap in.
With all these challenges, the only thing I wish I could change is being able to increase the priority of this work—so that I could be more consistent.
As you know, we’re big fans of @YourFaveEatery @ChefGech. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
@YourFaveEatery doesn’t focus on one particular food specialty, but I definitely have a bias toward eating good food—haha. I’m known for putting people on to the best food spots for whatever they’re craving! What makes my food blog unique is my authenticity and the fact that I don’t do it for the money. I’d say it’s authentic because I started by incorporating pictures of myself with the food and adding my own flavor to the reviews—something my audience truly craves. You didn’t see much of this in my social sphere before 2019.
With @ChefGech, I’ve mostly specialized in cooking Nigerian dishes, though I have no plans to limit myself to just that. Most people don’t know that I’m half Nigerian, one-quarter Texan, and one-quarter Louisianan—this mix of cultures definitely informs both my eating and cooking style. As a native Houstonian and Southerner, I have a deep love for soul food, Cajun, and Creole cuisine. And as a first-generation Nigerian, I can tell you a thing or two about Nigerian food as well!
I’m proud to say I’ve received many rave reviews since launching in July 2024, and I share those publicly on my Instagram page.
With both of these ventures, I’m proud that I started and put what was on my heart out into the world. I’m incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to share what I love with others.
What are your plans for the future?
@ChefGech is still relatively new to the space of offering food-based services but is definitely open to broader growth opportunities. I’ve been working on collaborations with local events and hosting different types of eating experiences.
@YourFaveEatery should expect more of everything, honestly—more upscale restaurants, more reviews from my travels, and a wider variety of new restaurant features! Stay tuned.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/yourfaveeatery?igsh=MjFnNWU1dGU5eTh3
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefgech?igsh=aW95bHY0bjh5b2Fn
