Katie McAleer’s blog Katie From Boston originally started as a way to kick homesickness while in college but little did the Boston native and PR & Social Media Manager know that she’d eventually boast a fan base of over 20.6k followers. The lifestyle and travel blogger showcases her love of New England by sharing pictures of lighthouses, sailboats and — of course — all the delicious food she eats in her home city. Here, McAleer talks about her favorite spot to get eggs Benedict, what type of food she loves photographing most and the importance of sustainable cuisine.

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

I am born and raised in the Boston area. I started my blog my freshmen year of college when I was living in DC. I was super home sick and always found myself introducing myself as Katie from Boston. Back then, my blog was just a creative outlet and a way to feel more connected to home but it quickly turned into my passion. And today I work as a full time social media consultant and manager.

Name the top five dishes on your Boston food bucket list. (To clarify, these are dishes you love and recommend to everyone.)

You have to get sushi at Café Sushi, get the Lobster roll at Oak Long Bar, oysters and a shrimp cocktail at Select Oyster Bar, the eggs Benedict at Frenchie, and any of the desserts at Double Chin!

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

I love seeing some restaurants talk about sustainability, I think more and more people are caring about where their food comes from and how it was farmed/raised. Always excited when I see restaurants participating in some kind of Zero Waste campaign or announcing sustainably sourced food.

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

I love following Tracy Chang from Pagu. Her food is super unique and colorful. She does lots of fun collaborations with other chefs in the city. I love following female chefs!

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

Brayan Mesa, his feed is so beautiful and he always knows the best place to go! @TheFoodCrawls, by JQ Louise, her photos are drool worthy! And @The_RoamingFoodie, Joey does tons of great Boston restaurants and a bunch on the North Shore/Greater Boston area if you want to get out of the city.

Describe Boston’s food scene in three words.

Approachable, evolving, casual.

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

I am actually ashamed to say I haven’t been to Citrus and Salt yet, I am dying to go! I also need to hit up Fox and the Knife.

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

I love shooting colorful food. I try and shoot during the day so I can shoot in natural light by a window. And while I want a fantastic photo, I am not willing to sacrifice taste for aesthetic, sometimes the least photogenic dish is the most delicious!

A Few Of Your Favorite Things: