Hi! I’m Melissa and I love food.

Luckily, I get to work with food all the time as a food & lifestyle photographer, as well as the Creative Director of dotdot interactive, a visual branding agency that specializes in branding and design for food & lifestyle businesses.

This blog tells my food journeys through recipes, travel and meeting local food businesses in the South. I am an almost vegetarian, and the majority of the recipes that I post are vegetarian and vegan, with an occasional pescetarian recipe. The recipes on this blog are inspired by a fusion of Southern and Asian flavors, our travels and my family’s traditions.

I typically post new recipes and stories two to three times a week. To keep up with my latest posts, subscribe via RSS or Email.

If you are interested in working with me on your next photography or branding project, please contact me at melissa@dashofeast.com. Visit the Work With Me page for more details.

Lifelong Love Affair with Food

As the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants who settled in the mountains of Appalachia and opened a neighborhood Chinese restaurant, I was immersed into the world of food from the moment I was born. You could say that I grew up as a restaurant baby.

When I left home for college I did practically anything I could to “escape” the food service industry, but as it turns out – the love for food is in my blood. It draws me back every single time I try to get away. I’ve finally embraced it and what do you know, I love every moment of it.

With every intent of leaving the South and heading to California or New York after finishing college, I fell in love with a New York turned Alabama boy. We got married and decided to settle down in Atlanta. And I am glad we did. Atlanta is a food lover’s dream come true, with it’s amazing restaurants, small food businesses and local farms & markets.

Paul and I now live in Atlanta, Georgia with our two sweet rescue dogs, Roxie and Aubie.

If you’re new here and feel a bit overwhelmed by all the recipes, stories and posts on Dash of East, start here.

Things I Love

When I’m not busy designing away behind a computer or shooting away behind a camera, I’m usually training for my next road race, cooking up a storm in the kitchen or traveling to my next scuba diving location.

I can’t help indulging in white chocolate, white wine and Sour Patch kids. I am at my happiest when I am near the ocean, and will do just about anything to be near it.

Contact Me

Email me!  I would love to hear from you: melissa@dashofeast.com
You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Professional Memberships

Disclosure

All products that I write about here on dash of east are products that I personally use and enjoy. On occasion I will receive products for free and if I write about that product, I will disclose how I received it. If you want to send me a product sample or book for review, please email me. An acceptance does not guarantee a review.

Any products, food businesses or books that I write about here on dash of east are things or businesses that I have personally tried or visited. I will only write and photograph products and businesses that I like and that I feel are relevant to my reader base. I have not and will not receive payment for writing blog posts about specific products and businesses.

I should also mention that I am not a “restaurant critic.” After growing up in and working half of my life in one restaurant environment or another, I have experienced all of the hard work, blood, sweat and tears that go into running a restaurant. I prefer to not be critical of restaurants (here on this blog), and instead focus on my experience in the restaurant and telling the stories behind the businesses.

Occasionally I will post sponsored updates on Twitter and Facebook. These updates will always be tagged with #ad, so you will know when those specific updates are sponsored.