We had the good fortune of connecting with Arielle Cole and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Arielle, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
When it comes to being a food blogger (or “influencer”) there is A LOT of time that goes into each social media/blog post. I think that people are under the assumption that the only time put in is when we take a picture, when, in fact, it entails so much more than that. For instance, for a typical product review, I can spend two hours of time (email exchange with the company about the product, testing the product, taking pictures, and developing the actual post/review). When it comes to a restaurant review, that time might increase by twofold.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
During the daytime, I am a paralegal at a law firm in Delray Beach, Florida. For all (or most) other hours of the day, I am a food blogger/influencer. When I was diagnosed with celiac disease, there were few outlets for those living with celiac disease. Because of this, I created “Glutenfreegalpal”. There are times when juggling a full-time job while being a blogger can be VERY challenging, but I love this “side hustle” I have going. If it wasn’t for the blog, I wouldn’t be introduced to as many brands, restaurants, and the friends I have made along the way.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If a friend was visiting from out of town, I would start with Friday happy hour on Atlantic Avenue. The following day, we would head to Aventura to eat lunch at 800 Degrees and then gospend some time on the beach. To cool off, we would head to Icy-N-Spicy for some ice cream (gluten free, of course). If there was a televised sports event, we would head toWorld of Beer or Township. To end the night, we would end up at Rhythm and Vine or the Wharf. For the best gluten free treats, we would head to Percent Bakery in Fort Lauderdale and for the best coffee, The Seed in Boca Raton.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I think the blogger community, particularly my gluten free community, is where I owe my recognition to. The blogger life can sometimes be competitive, but when it comes to the gluten free community, we take care of one another, encourage each other, and understand each other.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/glutenfreegalpal
Facebook: www.facebook.com/glutenfreegalpal
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=g1cu2qipw4Mx9iEiNoYJCA