Name: Talayeh Voosoghi
Blog name and URL: The Hungry Nomad www.hungrynomad.net
Where were you born? Tehran, Iran and living in Vancouver since the age of 6
Where are you living now? At this very moment, I am in a tiny village in medieval Tuscany living out of my suitcase and traveling across Europe with my favorite person, my husband, whom I refer to as the 'Count' on the blog. However, I will be splitting my time between Vancouver and New Orleans as of September 1st.
Why did you start your blog? I spent many years studying politics and law and never had a creative outlet to express myself (unless 'logical reasoning' and 'negotiating 101' are your definitions of creativity). Once completing law school I had free time and decided to enroll in photography and art school. Combining my passion for photography with my equal passion for food and travel led to the birth of the Hungry Nomad. Prior to my blog I was always asked for restaurant and travel recommendations by family and friends and the blog was initially an excuse to create a source for those interested in my opinion on food and travel.
How did you decide on your blog name? That was pretty easy. 'Hungry' came from the fact that I am always hungry and always planning my next meal. 'Nomad' is a result of spending the majority of my adult life moving from city to city and country to country. I caught the travel bug early on in life from my parents who also loved to travel and took us to exotic destinations including India and Thailand. Ever since I have felt restless if I remain in one spot for too long. In the last 15 years I have lived and studied in Vancouver, Calgary and Paris. I have worked in Paris, Geneva, New York and Philadelphia and found myself living in Miami and New Orleans. And this is not including trips and vacations.
What do you blog about? The majority of my posts are restaurant and travel reviews and recommendations with detailed photos about the experience. Occasionally, I include my favorite recipes or something that I enjoyed eating while traveling. I often combine the experience by creating "The Hungry Nomad's Guide' to various cities.
What post are you most proud of and why? "Love Letter to New Orleans". It was the most heartfelt blog posts in which I said my goodbyes to a town which I grew to love so much. New Orleans is a really special place and the magic really grows with the more time you spend there. It lures you in like a Southern gentlemen with all its romantic charm and flare and fails to leave your heart and mind when you depart leaving you wanting more and always finding an excuse to go back for more. The only other place in the world that I have had such an emotional attachment is Paris. Shocking. Some may think that I would ever dare compare the emotional sentiments felt for a city like Paris to old small town, New Orleans.
Which post do you wish received more love and why? The Last Great Taste of Hoi An food tour. In my opinion, the blog post had some of my best photos from the experience and gave a great visual introduction to Vietnamese food and people.
Which post’s success surprised you and why? The Hungry Nomad's Guide to New Orleans has attracted a lot of readers and was featured on other blogs and online magazines.
What is one (non-kitchen) gadget you can’t live without? My cameras. I never leave the house without at least one of my cameras. Usually, my Nikon D3000.
What is one kitchen gadget you can’t live without? I can't live without 2 kitchen gadgets. One is my french press coffee maker which saves me in the mornings and two is my Persian rice cooker which I purchased years ago with my mom from a tiny shop in the heart of the massive Tehran bazaar.
Favourite food, care to share a recipe? Any Iranian dish including eggplants. Grilled, smoked or fried. For a great recipe and a personal favorite please see my post: Iranian eggplant stew.
What else should we know about you that may or not be in your “About Me” page? Despite my love of food I am also a health fanatic. Most people who view my photos always ask how I don't gain weight. What most don't know is that I maintain an active lifestyle which I don't broadcast on my blog since its food-centric. I exercise twice as much as I eat. Ever since the age of 7, I competed in cross country marathons and was always part of the track and field team in school and university. Nowadays, while no longer competing I try to run at least 4-5 times a week and make sure I practice yoga and pilates which keeps me grounded through all the constant changes brought about by my moves. Besides blogging I am a lawyer by day and am still chasing the dream of becoming the United Nations first female Secretary General!
What makes your blog unique? My blog speaks out to those amongst us who have a deep yearning to travel and learn about other countries, cultures and people through the international language of food. It also resonates with those who like myself possess dual identities and believe they are a citizen of the world. While Vancouver is and will always be my number one home, I have the luxury of traveling and living abroad in many places which is reflected through my reviews on the blog. If you are searching for restaurants and hotels in any particular destination, I may have been there, and my blog may help guide you to good food.
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Great post from the Hungry Nomad! Love your recipes, restaurant critiques, and travel experiences! Looking forward to your next post!
Thank you Marcia for your comments. It means the world to know that my readers enjoy the posts.
Great Post! My wife and I regularly follow your post for recommendation. Thank you for the time you put in to make such a helpful site
What incredible photos and vibrant personality. Heading over to visit the site now.
🙂
V
I definitely agree that the Hoi An one didn’t get enough love. The pictures in it are fantastic, and it’s such a unique location to blog about.
Such a great post!! I love this blog – the combo of recipes, reviews and travel keeps me coming back post after post! My stomach is growling just thinking about it…
Tala, I had the pleasure of sharing a meal with you at a sushi restaurant in Boston for our recent lawyer conference. I was very impressed with your knowledgable comments explaining the food. Thank you! I wish you well in all your travels and new endeavors!
Angela