My name is Cari Garcia and I'm the person behind FatgirlHedonist.com. I was born and raised in Hialeah, FL (a suburb of Miami, FL) . I'm a proud Latina and the daughter of immigrants. I'm also a single mom to a very curious toddler.
I grew up surrounded by food. My father was a chef in Cuba and he taught my mother how to cook who in turn gave me my foundation and love of food. I went on to complete a culinary program in high school that made my love of food blossom, but my career went in a very different direction.
Although I had a partial scholarship to Johnson & Wales university, I couldn't afford the tuition. I went on to study social work at Florida International University and obtained my master's degree from University of Central Florida. I have worked with the chronically mentally ill for the last 15 years.
No matter what turns my life has taken, cooking, baking and eating have always been three of my favorite activities. I'm lucky enough that I can have this blog as an outlet for those three passions.
This blog was created in 2010 at a time when I was in great need for a hobby and I had made it a habit of dragging my friends to weird, new restaurants. After some friends urged me to give food blogging a shot and I spent a few hours on the internet searching, "How do you start a food blog," FatgirlHedonist.com was born.
For more information on how I came up with the name "Fatgirl Hedonist" and my life long struggle with weight, read on here. This blog began as a place where Miami's locally owned and operated restaurants were reviewed. However, the blog has since expanded to include information on upcoming events, giveaways and recipes. FatgirlHedonist.com has gone on to win local awards and has been featured in a few publications, read on for a break down of press and awards
Press
Ocean Drive Magazine, September 2021 5 Must-Follow Miami Food Influencers
Huffpost.com, May 2020 How To Photograph The 'Pull Shot,' According To Food Instagrammers
Eater.com, May 2020 5 South Florida Bloggers to Follow for All Your Distraction Cooking and Baking Needs
FlamingoMag.com, May 2020 22 Top Florida Instagram Feeds to Follow this Spring
Food52.com January 2020 The Long, Winding Origin Story of Tres Leches Cake
ThisIsTheNewMiami.com September 2019 #ThisIsTheNewMiami Cari Garcia
PureWow.com, January 2018 10 Miami Foodies You Need to Follow on Instagram Right Now
FoodBeast.com, October 2017 This Cheese-Stuffed PBR Pizza Burger Is A Meaty Masterpiece
FoodBeast.com, August 2017 This California Style Burrito Is Stuffed With Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
HauteLiving.com, July 2016 MIA Foodstagrams You Should Be Following
Miami.com, February 2016 8 South Florida Instagram Accounts You Must Follow NOW
Schweidandsons.com, October 2015 Social Influencers: Podcast Interview with Cari Garcia, Editor and Chief of Fatgirl Hedonist
MiamiShoot.com, September 2015 7 Miami Bloggers You Should Be Following
Delish.com, April 2015 33 Amazing Food Instagrams to Follow Right Now
Thrillist, April 2015 22 Miami Instagrams You Need To Follow Right Now
Miami New Times, January 2015 Miami's Best Food Instagrams
Thrillist, August 2014 Fatgirl Hedonist's Guide To Eating And Drinking In Hialeah
Ocean Drive, August 2014 page 204 11 Miami Instagram and Twitter Accounts You Should Be Following
Art Of Miami, August 2014 Top 10 Miami Instagrammers You Must Follow 2014
The Wordy Girl, December 2013 Living Large With Fatgirl Hedonist
Miami New Times, December 2012 Miami Food Blogger Fatgirl Hedonist Talks Food Writing, Rates Oh! Sushi
Eater, December 2012 Miami's Best Dining Neighborhoods
Miami New Times, September 2012 Miami's Top Five Instagram Accounts For Great Photos of Food
Ocean Drive, July 2012 The New Food Influencers
Miami New Times April 2012 Share Our Strength: Miami Food Bloggers Bake to End Childhood Hunger
Awards
Miami New Times: Best Food Instagram, Editor's Choice Miami Best Of 2016
Burgie Awards: Best Food Blog 2015
Broward Palm Beach New Times: Best Blog, Editor's Choice Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach 2014
Miami New Times: Best Blog, Reader's Choice Miami 2014
Johnson & Wales University's Zest Awards: Food Blogger Of The Year 2014
Miami New Times' Miami Web Awards: Best Food Instagrammer 2013
Miami New Times' Miami Web Awards: Best Food Blog 2013