Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Smith.
Hi Rebecca, 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 got my start while living in Minnesota, not long after having my second baby girl. Cooking and hosting have always been part of who I am, I learned it from my mom, who worked full time but still always had fresh food on the table. We rarely ate out, except for special occasions like birthdays or when family was in town visiting.
I’d always kept my social media public because I’m a teacher, and it’s the only way I’ve been able to stay connected to students over the years, especially with how much I’ve moved. I’ve always told them the same thing: they can friend me once they turn eighteen, but until then, they’re welcome to watch my life from afar, since everything’s public anyway.
One day, almost on a whim, I decided to share a recipe. That first video hit almost ten thousand views. The second hit close to fifteen thousand. That’s when it clicked, there was something here. I kept making recipe videos just for fun, and it slowly grew into a real community, and into a whole new world for me: blogging, recipe development, learning what it means to actually own your own recipes through a website and blog. It’s been such an exciting journey, and I’m endlessly grateful for everything I’ve learned along the way.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I came into this with no background in marketing or videography/photography, so there was a real learning curve. I attribute so much of my growth to the kind, generous community of other bloggers and recipe developers/food content creators on social media who were willing to share what they knew.
I also think it’s beyond important to find a good conference in whatever field you’re pursuing, especially when you’re just starting out. It helps you plug into resources and invaluable one on one or small-group conversations with people who’ve already been where you are (which can save you so much time and money). For me, that conference was Tastemaker. I went for the first time in 2025, and I’ve vowed to go every year after, just because of the impact and the tools and resources I walked away with that first year.
You cannot do content creation alone. It’s such an isolating field, honestly, because most people don’t understand what it actually takes to do this full time. We’re also the first generation doing this kind of work so even our own families don’t always fully understand what we do or how lucrative it can be. You need a community. And specifically, you need current, up to date information in your field, and the best way I’ve found to get that is through a conference.
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 blogger and food content creator, mainly on Instagram, though I’m working on doing a better job of cross posting these days.
I’m Latina, born in California and raised in Miami from the age of thirteen, so I’m your classic fusion American Latina girl. Growing up, I ate a lot of Mexican, Thai, and Italian food, and then when I moved to Florida, I was introduced to Caribbean flavors the way sofrito is used as a flavor base, or green sauce if you’re from Jamaica or Haiti. That completely elevated the way I cook, and I still use that technique in most of my dishes today. I also love Ecuadorian flavors, and I really try to showcase meals I’ve eaten and loved throughout my life, along with some fun hybrid recipes based on dishes I enjoy. For example, I love gnocchi, which is Italian so I created a rajas gnocchi recipe, which is a Mexican-Italian fusion dish.
I also know that life is busy, so sheet pan and one pot dinners are a big part of what I do, because being realistic matters too. At the end of the day, I’m an American Latina who wants to share recipes that reflect what I’ve eaten and craved throughout my life, but with realistic timeframes and shortcuts when possible, without ever skimping on flavor.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I think people need to be less afraid of reaching out to experts in their field and asking for advice. No one got to where they are alone, or by shying away from hard conversations. The worst thing that could happen is you get no response, or a rude one and honestly, in my experience, most people in successful positions don’t mind mentoring. They remember what it was like to be new.
The most important thing is to come ready for the moment. Show up with well-researched, thoughtful questions, it shows you’re serious and genuinely want to learn and grow, not just looking for a shortcut. Again, I’d say the best ways to do that are reaching out directly to people you admire on social media, and/or connecting with them at conferences.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://smithsinbloom.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smithsinbloom/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558155522438
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@smithsinbloom
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@smithsinbloom
