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    Home » About me

    About me

    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.

    My father, Felipe Garcia, second from the right.

    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

    Authority Magazine, November 2022, Cari Garcia Of FatgirlHedonist.com On How To Use TikTok To Grow Your Business

    NetInfluence, November 2022, Evolving with the Creator Marketplace with Cari Garcia of FatGirlHedonist

    Mitu, November 2022 A Latina Case Worker Learned Her Male Coworker Was Making $16K More, This Is What She Did

    Forbes, May 2022 Amid Healthcare’s Great Resignation, Burned Out Workers Are Pursuing Flexibility And Passion

    Mitu, April 2022 We Asked 9 Moms What They Really Want for Mother’s Day and Their Answers Are Surprisingly Simple

    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

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    My name is Cari and I'm the person behind FatgirlHedonist.com. I'm born and raised in Miami (Hialeah if you'd like specifics) and proud Latina. I'm a single mom to a very curious toddler. I completed a culinary program in high school that made my love of food blossom, but my career went in a very different direction. 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.

    More about me →

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