St. Louis stands as one of the country’s most vibrant food centers, and one Washington University student is making the most of it. For food blogger and senior Lynette Chen (Instagram: @lynniethefoodie), food is more than just a part of life—it has also become a personal passion. She considers herself an adventurous eater, rarely turning down an opportunity to try new foods and share her experiences with her over 11,000 Instagram followers. The internet provides a robust community for food lovers around the world to learn about different restaurants and share their favorite dishes, all in the time it takes to snap a picture and type out a post.

Lynette started getting into the food blogging scene about five years ago, when what started as a personal blog with frequent food postings became a more professional documentation of the various dishes she tries.

Photo from Instagram @lynniethefoodie

“It just happened naturally,” Chen said, as she described the unassuming origins of her now wildly successful Instagram blog.

She said that restaurants from her home in California reach out to her for partnerships, and her favorite part of these collaborations is the connections she gets to make with others through them.

“It’s not just about the free food—of course that’s a big part of it—but I just love getting to meet other foodies in my community and get to know people who share the same passions as me,” Chen said.

Her incorporation of her personal interest into her professional life paints an inspiring picture of her dedication and passion for what she does. Lynette also works closely with administration as she sits on the Dining Services Advisory Committee, which she meets with every two weeks to discuss “issues around campus regarding dining and student feedback.” She also works closely with the marketing manager, Rob Staggenborg, as she adds “a personal touch” to her usual “Instagram blogs about the comforts of the day, or what [she’s] eaten for dinner.”

One thing that she is excited to share about the future of Wash. U. dining is the possibility of a new Build-Your-Own Poké Bowl station at the Danforth University Center, something that Dining Services has been gradually toying with, as new Tuesday Poke Bowls have made an appearance a few times this year. She also says to keep an eye out for “pop-ups,” which are special meals—like chicken and waffle cones in Etta’s—that only appear occasionally in certain dining halls, advertised through the @wustldining Instagram page. These pop-ups create a domino effect, as students spot the special meals and then promptly inform their friends about it, until the food sells out.

To other Wash. U. students interested in branching out and trying new foods outside of the typical Bear’s Den fare, Lynette recommends they start somewhere and then spread out from there.

“My journey through food exploration here in St. Louis definitely started out with BD, [the] DUC, and sometimes the Village, then eventually I made my first trip to the Loop… and then I moved to Central West End, and downtown Clayton,” Chen said.

These lively, nearby food hubs all offer promising restaurants and eateries for food lovers of all interest levels—even the pickiest eaters are bound to find an establishment that they can devote themselves to and subsequently recommend to all of their friends.

Food can be an essential part of a community, and local St. Louis eateries can offer a fun and delicious way to break the “Wash. U. bubble” while broadening your tastes and diversifying your experiences. So, the next time you see a new dish or cuisine you’ve never tried before, take a more adventurous stance—as you may find your next favorite meal while also satisfying a hungry stomach.