You might find Jordan Brocklesby downing matcha ice cream in the Seaport, brunching in Somerville or eating her way through just about every sushi spot in town. The South Shore native turned the difficult time during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic into her foodie Instagram @Jordansplate_ promoting local restaurants, her favorite small businesses and the best brands around Boston. Little did she know that she’d soon be busier than ever doing something she loves. Here she talks photography lighting and software, her go-to’s for pandemic takeout and the appetizer she can never say no to.
Tell us a little about yourself. How’d you end up in Boston, and what inspired you to create your Instagram account?
As an avid pizza and donut lover, I am from the South Shore of Massachusetts and currently live in Boston. I graduated from Clemson University in South Carolina with a degree in Communication and an emphasis in Brand Communications. I now work as a marketing associate and spend a lot of my free time with my friends, family and, of course, navigating the Boston food scene!
Growing up, I always had a love for food, so I’m sure this food account isn’t much of a surprise to the people who really know me! I absolutely love trying new foods and going to restaurants and breweries I’ve never been to before. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was looking for something to keep me busy and, as a 2020 graduate, I was in the midst of job searching. I wanted to show future employers my love for social media and give myself a competitive edge. It was in those moments that I decided to create a food account! Little did I know it would turn into one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I started in April 2020, and I’ve hit the ground running ever since. From doing photoshoots in restaurants to literally trying to get the perfect lighting from my back porch, I have put a lot of heart into my account and I am extremely excited to be able to contribute to the Boston food community!
Name the top five dishes on your Boston food bucket list.
Grilled Street Corn from Citrus & Salt. This street corn is covered in flaming hot Cheetos. Need I say more?
Fully Loaded Pizza from Easy Pie. They aren’t joking when they say fully-loaded. This is one of the craziest pizzas I’ve ever had and is a must try.
Crab Rangoon Dip from The Bowery Bar. I will never say no to this appetizer. I’ve never seen it anywhere else and the Bowery Bar is a fantastic restaurant as a whole.
Gnocchi + Burrata from Pazza on Porter. Two of my favorite things combined, it can’t get much better.
Crunch Special Maki from Oppa Sushi. One of my favorite rolls of all time. Oppa sushi has great quality sushi along with amazing bibimbap so this was a no brainer.
What do you think is on the horizon for restaurants?
Boston restaurants are extremely innovative, so it is always fascinating to see what is next in store. I think Boston restaurants will keep thinking outside the box and push culinary boundaries! I believe that they will continue to craft exciting and unique experiences for their customers and embrace putting their own creative twists on upcoming trends.
I also believe restaurants will continue to add ways to personalize your experience. Whether it’s adding more take-home kits, or having “build your own” options, people love the ability to customize, especially when it comes to food!
Which chefs are your favorite to follow on Instagram and why?
@Gordongram – I’ve been a fan of his since I was a kid and now he is opening a restaurant in Boston! I am super excited and will be checking it out once it officially opens.
@chef.jasonsantos – He is the owner of Buttermilk & Bourbon, was on Hell’s Kitchen and was a guest chef on Bar Rescue! His restaurants are outstanding and everything he creates is wildly creative and fun.
Beyond chefs, what are your top three favorite food Instagram accounts to follow?
@Christinaorso – She is an incredible photographer and I’ve always looked up to her and the work she does. She constantly produces jaw dropping photos for a lot of restaurants in and around Boston!
@Bostonfoodbae – Her content is the definition of goals and she gets really creative with her shots, I always love to see what she comes up with!
@Chrisieats – Another foodie with great photography skills! Her posts are always aesthetically pleasing and her captions are very relatable.
Describe Boston’s food scene in three words.
Exciting, passionate, & inventive!
Which restaurants haven’t you been to but you’re eager to try?
My boyfriend and I have created a whole bucket list of restaurants we want to go to so it was extremely hard to decide, but here are the ones at the very top of my list!
What’s your food photography philosophy, and can you share your top tips for taking awesome food photos?
When it comes to my food photography philosophy, I am always looking to improve my photos. Always. I started out with just my iPhone and moved to a Canon DSLR because I really fell in love with food photography and I wanted to push myself to learn something new. I also love using Adobe Lightroom to help bring my photos to life! Some of the main things I’ve learned throughout the process are the traditional things such as good lighting and getting the right angle, but one of the biggest things I have learned is to honestly just have fun with it! Sometimes it can be a little overwhelming and almost nerve racking to try and get “the perfect shot” while dining in a busy restaurant. However, if you just take your time, make it your own, and don’t hold back, you can get some really amazing shots. It has gotten a lot easier over time and it has shown me that confidence can really go a long way.
Favorite brunch spot: @Thebroadwaysouthboston – their hot chicken and waffles are delicious!
Favorite place for outdoor dining: @Sixwestbroadway – they have an amazing rooftop.
Favorite Pizza joint: @Ottoportland – their sriracha and avocado pizza is a staple of mine and they have several Boston locations.
Favorite neighborhood for food: Seaport. They really do have it all!
Favorite new restaurant: @Perillasfood – they have a new location in Brighton and it’s great.
Favorite pandemic takeout: The Fenway poke bowl @Byloveart was a constant order for me! It is perfect every single time.
Favorite new restaurant innovation: At @Kured they do “build your own” charcuterie boards and I think that is such a fun and innovative idea.
Meet The Tastemakers is a monthly column that shares the stories of those contributing to the conversation on Boston’s food scene.
