Jackie Gebel of No Leftovers on Food Influencing Before It Had a Name
Before "food influencer" was a job title, Jackie Gebel was already telling people where to eat. On The Foodfluencers series of The Hospitality Hangout, the creator behind No Leftovers looks back at the early days of food Instagram and what it takes to stay trusted after more than a decade.
Who is Jackie Gebel?
Jackie Gebel is the creator behind No Leftovers, one of the original voices in food content. She was recommending restaurants back when the tools were Foursquare check-ins and early Instagram—long before the influencer economy had a playbook.
How did food influencing start?
Jackie walks through the pre-history of the space: the early days of food Instagram, restaurant PR, the first brand deals, and the rise of comped meals. It's a reminder that today's creator economy was built by people experimenting before anyone knew it would become an industry.
How do you stay trusted as a food influencer?
The throughline is authenticity. After more than ten years, Jackie has kept her audience's trust by being honest about what's worth your time and money. For restaurants working with creators, her perspective is a useful filter: the influencers who last are the ones whose recommendations their followers actually believe.
Why should operators listen?
If influencer marketing is part of your restaurant's playbook, this episode explains what makes a partnership credible—and why authenticity beats reach when you're trying to turn content into covers.
Listen to the full conversation with Jackie Gebel on The Hospitality Hangout, then subscribe for more. New here? Give The Hospitality Hangout a listen.
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