Posts Categorized: Young People Defining Brisbane

Gastronomy Gal

Gastronomy Gal is a Brisbane blogger who shares her love of food with avid readers with an equal passion for all things food. in her own words:

“I am not a food expert- I am just a food lover, and so want to share my love of food with you.”

Who are you? Give a complete stranger a brief snapshot into your world…

I’m a 23 year old girl living in Qld, my adoptive State. I’ve been in BrisVegas for 5 years after moving here from my cute country hometown in NSW. I work in Communications/PR and write my own food blog. I also write columns for an online magazine.  I’m pretty infactuated with all things food (hence the food blog) and spend much of my time trawling around restaurants/providores/food festivals/wine & cocktail bars in Brisbane looking for awesome food and wine to blog about. I also blog about the occasional horrible experience too! Whilst I love eating out, I love cooking in my tiny kitchen with one of my many cooking appliances, re-planting my herb garden after it is inevitably eaten by possums, and reading one of my new books or old vogue, delicious or gourmet traveller magazines.

What are you working on right now?
Always, always, always working on my blog! Seriously, blogs are like a pet- really high maintenance! They never stop needing to be updated! I’ve just finished healthy eating month and now I’m attempting to visit at least one or two new restaurants every fortnight, as well as continuing on with Global Gastronomy Gal segments- where I take a snapshot into food from different countries. I’m also in the process of redesigning my blog, so that is taking up some of my energy!

When do you feel at your best and when you feel at your worst how do you get through it?
I feel at my best when I’m relaxing, eating and drinking with family and friends. Long lazy lunches, bustling through markets and just hanging out and reminiscing. It sounds lazy, but I love it when I have ‘nothing to do’ meaning nothing urgent because I never have ‘nothing to do.’

Obviously, there’s often times when I get sick of blogging and lose motivation, but generally all I have to do is make a conscious decision to take a week or so off and not focus on the problem. Writers block is a killer. Usually the drought is broken when I taste some fabulous food that I want to tell the world about! That, or moan enough to anyone who will listen to me and force them, to force me, to do some work!

Where do you see yourself in five years time?
As much as I love my current job (hello to my boss – who will be reading this!!) someday, I would love to be a full time blogger or working in food PR. There’s also the inner hippie that would love to be living on a farm growing and producing all my own food, pretty much like my grandfather used to do. I won’t be able to be a total hippie though, I need electricity because I imagine I’ll still be blogging!

Why do you do what you do?

I’m passionate about great dining, and especially the emerging scene here. I would love to have a fabulous dining experience every time I eat out. Sadly that just doesn’t happen, so I hope my blog alerts people to really great restaurants, and helps them to avoid the dodgy ones. I’m also an advocate for constructive criticism and do re-visit restaurants I have previously given an unfavourable review to, to see if the sitauation has improved! If it has, my job is done! I love food and as I work in communications/pr and am that way inclined, food blogging is a natural extension of who I am! I really do like dining out, especially as the dining scene in Brisbane has come so far, even since I moved here 5 years ago. I’ve met some really fabulous people through blogging and some cool opportunites are starting to arise! It’s nice to think people actually care enough about your opinion to read it religiously.
How have you been able to do what you love?
The great thing about blogging is, anyone can do it. It does take dedication but you can start a free blog and start writing straight away. Luckily, I have an understanding boyfriend and friends which is important- because I know it is frustrating to have to wait to eat in Restaurants while I try and find the right light to snap the perfect pic. My gene pool probably has something to do with it too. I think my background has sort of forced me to do something in food. Since I was born, our lives have revolved around food- so I think I have some kind of gravitational pull towards food.

Get Visible: if there’s anything else you’d like to add, speak now or forever hold your peace!
It’s great to see that Brisbane is really surging ahead in the food stakes. It’s no secret that we have been about 20 years behind the other states but we are starting to catch up. I’m really happy to report on all the triumphs happening in QLD – be it restaurants, produce, wineries or anything food related. We are now represented by a small but savvy contingent of food bloggers and people are starting to understand the value of good food. It’s also fabulous to see such a young element to the dining/food scene- lots of enthusiasm and vigour which is really shining through.

Check out the Gastronomy Gal blog at http://gastronomy-gal.blogspot.com/

Jaleesa Pon

Jaleesa Pon is founder of M.A.D4Teens magazine.  M.A.D4Teens explores a wide range of issues that are important and relevant to young people; relationships, money, happiness, fashion, sport, arts (music, dance, painting, media), travel, health & social life.

Jaleesa Pon holding the first issue of M.A.D4Teens

Who are you? Give a complete stranger a brief snapshot into your world…

  • Jaleesa Pon. 20 year-old Brisbane local.
  • A Multicultural girl of PNG/Chinese heritage.
  • The oldest of 4 kids.
  • Love food and spending time with family and friends.
  • Huge fan of the arts – I enjoy the theatre, ballroom dancing, playing piano and singing.
  • Travel rocks my world! One of my life missions is to travel overseas at least once a year every year … that’s how much I love it!
  • A broadcaster on the multicultural youth radio show “Oxygen” (Radio 4EB 98.1FM).
  • I work in the finance industry and am revelling in the challenges.
  • And I also work with like-minded young people who are committed to the same things.

What are you working on right now?

M.A.D4Teens Magazine – the magazine that is Making A Difference.
It’s a magazine that is independently created and publised by a team of young people for other young people to enjoy. It exists to give youth opportunities to:

  1. gain work experience in working behind the scenes of a publication;
  2. be featured in the magazine and be recognised for their talent(s)
  3. form friendships with like-minded teens
  4. & meet influential figures in the industry

I’m also working on the building of an educational, encouraging and interactive online community for youth.

When do you feel at your best and when you feel at your worst how do
you get through it?

I feel at my best when I honour my word and fulfill on the committments I’ve made AND
also when I know I’ve made a difference to another and left a smile on their face!

When I feel at my worst, I have a look for what happened that had me get down (the situation / event / circumstance).
Then I give myself the freedom to be upset/uncomfortable etc. and allow myself to be a ‘drama queen’.. BUT only for a few minutes!
Then I simply get back in action and get on with what needs to be done next. Nothing can be accomplished when you wallow in things that have already happened.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

In 5 years time I see myself as a bold entrepreneur; building businesses and working in/with various communities around the world, making a difference to them.

I also see myself married, in a healthy financial position, continuing to work with the team of M.A.D4Teens Magazine, learning another language and still travelling… of course!

Why do you do what you do?

What I’m committed to is transforming the world through empowering and enabling young people.  I want to make a difference to the youth community.

WHY?
Because youth are the leaders of our future and are the people who will be responsible for what happens in the world… and when I turn on the news, I want to see a world that works. Not one that is full of pain; poverty and wars.

How have you been able to do what you love?

By managing my time and by always taking the next steps.

Get Visible: if there’s anything else you’d like to add, speak now or forever hold your peace!

To find out more visit www.mad4teens.com.
You can also follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mad4teens

Profile: Yarron Frauenfelder of Neu Creative

We caught up with 23 year old founder of Neu Creative, Yarron Frauenfelder, who works to create appealing designs and promo art in Brisbane.

Who are you? Give a complete stranger a brief snapshot into your world…

I’m a locally based Brisbane graphic designer, with projects in music, fashion & cultural industries.
I have started Neu Creative; a is graphic design platform that allows me to explore a double sided approach to design. The first allows me to work as a designer, creating company identities and print material for promotion and products. The second allows me to explore design on a more personal level, working on projects and ideas to develop a greater portfolio through creative passion.

What are you working on right now?

At the moment I am working with clients in the music industry. Projects Include a logo for a club & record label, as well as motion graphics for a festival in Los Angels.

When do you feel at your best and when you feel at your worst how do you get through it?

As any freelancer will know, there are always the slow and busy times. I find that when I am busiest… I am the most happy. Sometimes the slow times can get you down, but its all about soldering on and generating work for yourself, self promotion can sometimes be very difficult.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

I would love to transform Neu Creative into a small studio, expanding and collecting a passionate team of people, and keep creating great work.

Why do you do what you do?

I love being creative for a living, Its great to work at something your passionate about – Fusing design and music really hits the spot for me.

How have you been able to do what you love?

Being active and persistent in learning the skills I need to get to where I am.
Networking in the right industries helps generate talk, and in turn bring jobs.
I think the key is to keep creating consistent good work so to keep your clients talking about you in a positive way.

Get Visible: if there’s anything else you’d like to add, speak now or forever hold your peace!

www.neucreative.com
http://neucreative.bigcartel.com/

http://twitter.com/neucreative
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brisbane-Australia/neu-creative/80446959788?ref=ts

Kiana Webb

Kiana, 14, Northgate

Who are you? Give a complete stranger a brief snapshot into your world…

I have 4 brothers and 3 sisters (all their names start with K!) and I enjoy hanging out with my friends, taking photos and I’m always on my computer.

What are you working on right now?

Taking photos for Breaking Ground to be showcased Zillmere Multicultural Festival on May 22. I’m also working on the Sandgate High School magazine and I’m one of the two photographers.

When do you feel at your best and when you feel at your worst how do you get through it?

I always feel good! I love listening to music, going to the city and being with my friends. I talk to my friends when I’m feeling down instead of bottling it all up.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

I have no idea. I wanna do wedding photography because I like taking photos of people dressed up pretty and looking at their best.

Why do you do what you do?

It’s fun! It’s interesting because you can take a photo of something and then it might not be there next time. It’s like memories – you can take photos and save the memory even after the moment has gone.

How have you been able to do what you love?

I spoke to Roger from Respec and he helped me get the opportunity to take photos of Breaking Ground. You can do anything if you set your mind to it. You tell someone what you want to do, and then they’ll tell something and it will come your way.

Get Visible: if there’s anything else you’d like to add, speak now or forever hold your peace!

Come and see the photos at Zillmere Multicultural Festival! Here’s a sample if you can’t wait…