Jen Balisi

Jen Balisi, the culinary influencer behind the popular Instagram account Indulgent Eats, has carved out a niche in the digital food landscape, amassing over 370,000 followers with her multicultural gastronomic content. A Filipino-American transplant from New York to Hong Kong, Balisi’s journey from marketing professional to full-time food and travel content creator exemplifies the evolving nature of culinary careers in the digital age. Balisi’s foray into food blogging began during her tenure at American Express in New York, where she leveraged the city’s diverse culinary scene to explore and document her epicurean adventures. This passion project, born out of a desire to share experiences with friends and family, has since blossomed into a full-fledged brand, attracting partnerships with global corporations such as McDonald’s and American Express. In February 2022, Balisi published her debut cookbook, “Indulgent Eats at Home,” a collection of 60 recipes that reflect her cosmopolitan palate and Filipino-American heritage. Her culinary prowess has extended beyond the digital realm with the opening of Barkada in Cochrane Street in Central (which recently celebrated its first anniversary), a restaurant offering a modern interpretation of Filipino cuisine. Balisi’s work goes beyond mere gastronomy; it serves as a cultural bridge, using food as a medium to foster connections across diverse communities. Her success story underscores the potential of social media to transform personal passions into influential platforms, reshaping the landscape of food media and cultural exchange in the process.