Are you following @officialfoodgroup on Instagram??? If not, you’d better start! Let us introduce you to Jerry Cionci, one of the 7 masterminds that run this account that’s sure to make you triple your foodie bucket list for local and national restaurants, including us! Hear about Jerry’s favorites and follow him on Insta here: @jercionci6.
Tell us what do you do and what are 3 words you’d use to describe yourself.
I am a professional marketer for Champs Sports and run the company’s social media for North America. But on the side, my 7 friends, including my brother @mcionci, run Official Food Group!
Three words: fun, knowledgable, energetic.
What made you start Official Food Group? Have you made a lot of foodie friends?
After my roommates from college and I graduated, we kept in touch through a group text. Most of the pics happened to be food. Over a year, we added my brother and couple other close friends to the group text, who also liked to take food pics. The rest is history. Our goal was to inspire our followers to eat elite when traveling. Since we have 8 people spread all over the country, we could diversity our food content and scale the page. We each have a market and are responsible for building that market by eating all over the city, building relationships and tagging restaurants. All pics are our own, and we pride ourselves on that.
Some of our favorite groups we made friends with are: @gothamburgersocialclub @boozeandburgers @cy_eats @tampabayeatsout @phillyfoodgirl
What’s the best food you’ve discovered from Official Food Group?
Tough. But my personal favorite was when I was in Lockhart, TX and went to Kreuz Market (100 + year old BBQ joint in the capital of Texax BBQ). I got a private tour and was eating brisket and prime rib fed to me by the pit master off his knife. The meat is so juicy and succulent, that they don’t allow BBQ sauce! That experience was one I would never forget.
How about the best cocktail?
In Austin, TX I had an frozen avocado margarita at this Tex-Mex joint called Curra’s Grill. So smooth, so refreshing.
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What’s your favorite food on the Datz menu?
The Eggs Barbacoa was the best thing I’ve had at Datz!
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What’s your favorite food and why is it your favorite?
Mexican. Spicy food has the key to my heart.
Share a food with us that you’ve seen on the internet and would love to try.
Well, my buddy in our food group @jaymell7, got to eat at Franklin Barbecue in Austin, TX. This place has a 4 hour wait daily and even The President goes there. It’s suppose to be the best BBQ in the world… THE item to try is the brisket!
What do you think about Tampa Bay’s food scene?
It’s on the come up. People from all over the country are moving here and bringing new ideas to the scene. Now it’s our job to try all these new spots and promote Tampa Bay on our page!
What’s another city’s food scene would you like to try?
Chicago. With traditional items like deep dish pizza and hot dogs [becoming more popular] to the new spots opening up, I would be in a food coma for days.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever eaten?
Sautéed Grasshopper tacos at @thelurestpete! Awesome by the way… And nutritious too.
What’s your best advice on how to adult?
Eat, drink and laugh.
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