Nick Rama shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Nick , so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Running Nick’s Local Eats, I recently ran into someone I had never met in person, and they asked me if I was Nick from Nick’s Local Eats. It’s a great feeling when they tell you how much they love the Facebook group and that they have found so many great local mom and pop restaurants that I or a group member has recommended. It’s all about supporting the community you live in and spreading the word to help the little guy get some recognition and new guests or fans of their restaurant, food truck, bakery, coffee shop, bar, brewery, or any local eatery. I guess it’s nice to see that a post or a reel works in helping people go outside of their normal places to eat and find new ones to try.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Nick Rama, founder and creator of Nick’s Local Eats, Tomball/Spring/Woodlands Eateries, and Cypress /NW Houston Eateries groups. I am also a food writer for Hello Woodlands and Hello Cypress online.
“Nick’s Local Eats” has turned into a brand. It started when I created a group called Spring /Woodlands Foodie Tasting and Deals. I organized a few local restaurant tastings; these are prepaid and usually offer a sampling of the restaurant’s best dishes for a set, but very reasonable price. This was a great way for people to sample a variety of dishes in one sitting and hopefully find a dish or two that they really love, which encourages them to then come back to that restaurant, and also tell their friends and families about their experience.
The participating restaurants get to feature what they want to be known for so Foodies can get a real feel for what that restaurant does best. I created this group originally for anybody to post deals, specials, happy hours, or restaurant deals they find, and encouraged restaurant owners and chefs to post as well. Currently, a restaurant can post on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and we charge nothing.
The newest project is teaming up with Mike McCurdy of McCurdy Media with a YouTube Channel and show called “Dang That’s Good!. We are spotlighting and showcasing local Texas Restaurants, Owners, and chefs, all while having fun.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
The person who taught me the most about work was my father, Kay B Rama. As soon as I turned 16, he made me get a job. When I first started working, it was in the food industry, where I was everything from the dishwasher, busboy, Prep Cook, host, catering events, and eventually management, so I definitely have a solid understanding of the restaurant business. I learned working in restaurants that it’s not easy, so I made it a mission to help spotlight restaurants. Of course, I found myself seeking out the best food and restaurants to try. Who doesn’t love to go out and have a good meal with friends and family? Work hard, play hard is my motto.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Get out of the restaurant industry sooner. If you want to have a life outside of work! I did trade restaurants and fast food management for another love, which was a 10-year career in music retail, running Sam Goody and FYE (For Your Entertainment) stores. Unfortunately, that industry died because of digital downloading. I finally settled in as an Optician in my current job, and I really have enjoyed it, especially with a great work-life balance. Leaves me more time to explore the local food/restaurant scene. Write articles on restaurants, owners, and chefs, going to concerts, and doing some road tripping.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Supporting local mom and pop restaurants, Food Trucks, coffee shops, breweries, and Bakeries. The local scene is important to each community and the people who live in it. I am not saying all chains are bad, but we have to protect the local businesses. Better service, quality, and people run those, they put all of their lives into it, their savings, their dreams. It is heartbreaking when a locally loved place closes down, especially because of a lack of support or people just not knowing that they are there to serve you. The chains have big advertising budgets; most local mom and pops don’t have that. We are here to support and get the word out as much as possible, to protect the local community establishments. Community in general is very important to me, in the past we have also raised money for the Montgomery County Food Bank and AAR – Abandoned Animal Rescue with the support of area restaurants with Nick’s Local Eats Drink For Charity and Nick’s Local Eats Sweets for Charity. I hope to bring that back soon.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I understand the struggles of the current restaurant economy. Most people don’t understand what it takes to run a restaurant and make a living. The price of food in general has gone up over the last few years, the cost of goods, labor, and utilities. I hate it when people complain about the price. You’ve got to understand that you pay for good quality and service. I mean with the internet, you can look at the menu and the prices before walking into the restaurant. Please don’t complain about the price afterward. I try to write about the good. If I have any complaints or constructive criticism, I will usually talk to an owner, manager, or chef. I am here to support you, not bash you. I wish everyone had that same mentality.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickslocaleats
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/931926920160957/
- Other: nick rama Archives – Hello Woodlands https://share.google/ebcIsyoK1olHCy17Q
Image Credits
Photo Credit, friends and family
