Today we’d like to introduce you to Marxanndra Claudio.
Hi Marxanndra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always been a foodie, even long before I became a food blogger. Growing up in the Philippines, my friends and I would use our lunch allowance to try different restaurants instead of eating in the school cafeteria. Exploring food was something I genuinely loved. When I first moved to the United States, I remember looking around at all the restaurants and thinking, “I’m going to eat at all of these someday.”
I always say that food is my love language. It’s how I express love and connect with people. As a Filipino, food is deeply rooted in our culture. So many of our memories, celebrations, and traditions revolve around meals shared with family and friends. Growing up, birthdays meant our family’s famous carbonara and a house full of classmates. Christmas meant lechon. New Year’s meant baked macaroni, fruit salad, ham, and pineapple. When someone was sick, there was always sinigang. My mom’s birthday wasn’t complete without seafood kare-kare, and my nanay’s Korean beef stew is still one of my favorite comfort foods. Food was never just food—it was how we showed love, care, and celebration.
At the same time, I’ve always loved art and creativity. I enjoyed taking photos, and over time that grew into videography, editing, and storytelling. Food blogging started as a creative outlet. I was simply taking pictures and videos with my phone and posting them online. Then one day, I started reaching out to restaurants and asking if they would be interested in collaborating in exchange for photos and videos. To my surprise, many of them said yes.
I became completely obsessed with it. There was a point where I was visiting 17 restaurants in two weeks because I loved creating content so much. What started as a hobby quickly turned into a passion and eventually a platform where I could support local businesses while sharing experiences with my audience.
Outside of content creation, I’m also a NICU nurse and recently completed my Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program. I’ve worked as a travel nurse and continue to work in the hospital caring for some of the smallest and most vulnerable patients. It’s incredibly rewarding, but it can also be emotionally and mentally demanding.
Food content creation became my way to recharge and find balance. On my days off, I would look forward to discovering a new restaurant, creating content, and connecting with people through food. During some of the most stressful periods of my life, it became a creative escape and a source of joy.
Today, I feel incredibly grateful that I’ve been able to combine my love for food, storytelling, art, and community into something meaningful. What started as a simple passion for trying restaurants with friends has grown into a platform where I get to celebrate food, culture, and the people behind every meal.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. One of the biggest challenges was building something I loved during a season of life when I didn’t always feel encouraged to pursue it.
There was a period when I kept a lot of my creative work to myself. I would create quietly, often late at night under the sheets beside my sleeping baby, because it felt safer than sharing it openly. At the same time, I was navigating some major personal changes and rebuilding my life in ways I never expected. Looking back, those challenges taught me resilience and gave me a much deeper appreciation for the things that bring me joy.
As I moved into a new chapter, I realized there was nothing wrong with pursuing something that made me happy. I started surrounding myself with people who genuinely support me, celebrate my successes, and encourage me to keep growing. That shift changed everything.
Today, I feel freer than I ever have before. I’m able to be fully myself, as a nurse, a creator, a mother, and a storyteller. Freedom has never felt so good, and I can honestly say that I’m at one of the happiest and most fulfilling points of my life. What once started as a small creative outlet has become a passion, a community, and a reminder that sometimes the most beautiful things grow after life’s biggest storms.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a Houston-based food and lifestyle creator behind CravingsHTX, where I share restaurant discoveries, hidden gems, local businesses, and experiences around the city. My content focuses on helping people find their next great meal while also telling the story behind the food, the people, and the businesses that make Houston’s dining scene so special.
Outside of content creation, I’m also a NICU nurse and a proud mom. Those roles have shaped who I am and influence the way I approach my content. As a mother, I understand how meaningful it is to find places where families can gather, celebrate milestones, and create memories together. As a nurse, I value connection, compassion, and community.
What I specialize in is creating authentic, engaging content that feels relatable and approachable. Whether it’s a family-owned restaurant, a new restaurant opening, a food truck, or a fine dining experience, I enjoy showcasing places in a way that makes people feel like they’re experiencing it alongside me. Over the years, I’ve expanded from photography into videography, voiceovers, editing, and storytelling through short-form content.
What I’m most proud of is that I built this platform from the ground up while balancing a demanding career in healthcare and raising my daughter. Creating content started as a passion project and creative outlet, and it’s grown into a community that supports local businesses and helps people discover new places to enjoy with their friends and family. I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with hundreds of restaurants and brands, but what means the most to me is hearing from business owners that my content brought new customers through their doors.
I think what sets me apart is that food isn’t just content for me, it’s personal. As a Filipino, food has always been at the center of how I connect with people, celebrate milestones, and show love. Every dish has a story, a memory, or a person behind it. I bring that perspective into my content and focus on creating genuine connections rather than simply reviewing food.
I also bring a unique balance of creativity, empathy, and real-life perspective as a nurse, creator, and mom. My audience sees not only the restaurants I visit, but also the person behind the camera navigating work, motherhood, and life. That authenticity allows me to connect with people in a way that goes beyond food. At the end of the day, I’m not just sharing restaurants, I’m sharing experiences, supporting local businesses, and helping people create memories around a table with the people they love.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My biggest piece of advice is to focus on building genuine relationships rather than simply networking. People can tell the difference between someone who is only looking for opportunities and someone who genuinely cares about the people they meet.
What has worked well for me is treating every collaboration as more than just content. Whenever I visit a restaurant, I take the time to get to know the owner, the chef, and the story behind the food. I’m genuinely interested in learning about their journey, their purpose, and what inspired them to start their business. I believe that when you truly care about helping others succeed, those relationships become much more meaningful and long-lasting.
I also try to approach every collaboration with the mindset of, “How can I help this business grow?” rather than “What can I get from this?” That perspective has opened many doors. Many restaurant owners who were happy with my work have invited me back to collaborate with their other restaurants or referred me to fellow business owners. I’ve even helped connect some restaurants with other influencers when I knew it would benefit their business.
Another thing I’ve learned is that community is incredibly important. Along this journey, I’ve met fellow creators who share the same passion for food, storytelling, and supporting local businesses. Some of them have become genuine friends, and now we attend collaborations together, support one another, and celebrate each other’s successes.
Looking back, some of the most valuable things I’ve gained haven’t been collaborations or partnerships, they’ve been the relationships and friendships I’ve built along the way. My advice is to lead with kindness, stay curious about people’s stories, be willing to help others, and focus on creating authentic connections. Opportunities naturally follow when people know you are someone they can trust and enjoy working with.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cravingshtx/?hl=en
