The Preppy Hispanic on Diversity & Dining

The Preppy Hispanic Instagram

Start following Brian Pu Ruiz on Instagram, and you’ll get a guided tour around town through his photos of amazing food spreads, picturesque walkways, front stoops of brownstones and restaurant interiors. It’s enough to make you jealous of the city you already live in and will get you all geared up to explore Boston’s cobblestone streets and go off in search of hidden gems. That’s Brian’s specialty — inspiring action through his photographs, whether that means checking out the newest eatery, side street book sale or timeless coffee shop. His good eye and passion to find others online led him to start The Preppy Hispanic when he was in college and has served as an outlet for both creativity and connectivity. Here, he explains his view on how food bloggers & influencers will work together in the future and gives his top tips on how to make food shots come to life.

Tell us a little about yourself. How’d you end up in Boston, and what inspired you to create your Instagram account?

Well, my full name is Brian Pu Ruiz, but it’s funny how some people know me as The Preppy Hispanic. After graduating high school, I got accepted into architecture school in Boston. Growing up in a small town with little to no diversity, I wanted to move to the city and experience different people, cultures and especially food. College was not the fairytale that I pictured for myself, so I need an outlet to express myself and help with my anxiety. Instagram helped me document my strolls throughout the different neighborhoods in Boston and allowed me to build a following. So, what inspired me to create my account is to connect with different people that enjoyed the things that I liked.

Name the top five dishes on your Boston food bucket list.

Cronut
Sorbet swirls at Citrus & Salt
Oysters at Row 34
Sushi at Pabu
Tea and sandwiches at the Boston Public Library

What do you think the next big trend is for restaurants?

I believe the next big trend for restaurants is hiring food bloggers/influencers to manage their accounts. Influencers know the ins and outs of social media/content creation, so this is a really big benefit for restaurants to look into and invest in.

Which chefs are your favorite to follow on Instagram and why?

My favorite chef to follow on Instagram is Chef Coombs (@chefchriscoombs). I had the pleasure to work for Serv Boston (Society for Event Planners: Restaurant Venues) and heard him speak about the future of the restaurant culture and business. In my opinion, I thought he was spot on; “restaurants need to be obsessive and invest in how they present themselves. Millennials are the way to drive traffic and a social presence. #instagrammble”. Also, I used to live in Back Bay, and I always walked by Deuxave, and admired the presentation and décor (Chef Coombs owns Deuxave).

Beyond chefs, what are your top three favorite food Instagram accounts to follow?

@nomnom_boston
@sdamiani
@brayanmess

Describe Boston’s food scene in three words.

High end, Posh, Instagrammble

Which restaurants haven’t you been to but you’re eager to try?

Nathalie, Deuxave and Yvonne’s

What’s your food photography philosophy, and can you share your top tips for taking awesome food photos?

Sit close to natural light
Marble tables are ideal
Make the shot come to life by adding human hands
Feast shots
Stand up on a chair if you have to (I’m short)
Have all the plates come out all together

A Few Of Your Favorite Things:

Favorite brunch spot: Bootleg Special
Favorite place for outdoor dining: Earl’s Kitchen
Favorite late-night: Tasty Burger
Favorite new restaurant: Bootleg Special

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