Ashrafi Gaikwad:
From travel to food posts
Ashrafi Gaikwad, a seasoned traveller and food content creator, shares her journey of blending travel, food, and culture through her social media platforms. Ashrafi's content is dynamic and interactive, evolving with the needs of her followers. Her versatility keeps her audience engaged. Ashrafi also experiments with creative content, like Konkani voiceovers, which have resonated deeply with her Goan followers and reached impressive engagement numbers. “Reels with Konkani voiceovers regularly hit millions of views, far surpassing my English-language posts,” said Ashrafi, who is also Goa’s fastest lady autocross driver.
While her niche started with food, she now includes local businesses, regional snacks, and Goan recipes, especially those not commonly found in blogs. “I portray an image of Goa and its cuisine which should go beyond the state. People from outside Goa should understand what I am telling them about our culture,” adds Ashrafi.
Shweta Ilkar: Sharing Goan
recipes and inspiring others
Shweta Ilkar, a food influencer based in
Vasco, started her food page during the first lockdown in 2020 when she and her sister, both passionate about cooking, decided to share their mother's traditional Goan recipes. An ayurvedic doctor, she manages her food content alongside her medical practice. Despite the time and effort, the rewards are worth it. “When people tell me my recipes have inspired them, it motivates me
to keep going,” she shares.
Her journey has made her a beloved food influencer. “When I come across a food cart, which is very good, I want my followers to know about it. It is very helpful for them as it becomes a little easier to reach out to more customers. It‘s not just only recipes, but I try to balance everything. I get DMs on a regular basis that people say, ’because of you, I tried a new recipe. You have inspired me to cook today‘. Those kind of messages literally brighten my day and it pushes me to go ahead. Even if I am not well, I will shoot and post something,” said Shweta.
Jade DSa: A 9-year journey of
sharing food experiences
Saligao-based Jade DSa has been sharing her experiences online for over nine years, focusing on creating content on weekends, when she can visit new places. For her, content creation isn’t just a job—
it’s a creative outlet. “I treat it like a passion or a hobby.
It’s a way for me to de-stress and be creative after a long day at work,” she said. Besides managing her social media, Jade runs her own digital marketing agency, balancing both responsibilities with ease.
The feedback from her followers keeps her motivated. “I meet people who say they’ve visited places I recommended,” she shares. “It’s nice when they tell me they had a great experience, but even the negative feedback helps me improve.” With a dedicated following on her social media, Jade continues to document her experiences, building an archive of memories that she can look back on.
Siya Shirwaikar: Providing a wider reach
Siya Shirwaikar has been posting about Goan food for nearly five years now. Her journey began with simple visits to local stalls. Over time, Siya realised the potential of social media in
promoting these small businesses. “Initially, they were suspicious, not aware of how social media worked,” she explains. However, over the years, they’ve seen the benefits as more customers started visiting their stalls, especially from outside Goa. The vendors now actively invite her to shoot, understanding that social media has a far wider reach.
Quepem-based Siya believes consistency is key to success in the online world. “It feels incredible, when they call to thank me, saying how much my posts have helped their business," Siya says. Her efforts have even earned her four awards over the years, solidifying her place as a respected figure in Goa’s food scene.
Reuban Rodrigues: Honest reviews for the followers
For Ruben Rodrigues, the most rewarding aspect of his work is the connection with his followers. “Whenever I meet them, they always tell me, ‘Because you mentioned this place, I tried it, and it was amazing!’. It goes both ways,” he adds, showing how mutual respect and engagement help drive his content.
Honesty is a core value for Ruben. “If the food is not good, I don’t promote the place. People are spending their money based on my recommendations, and if they have a bad experience, I make sure to follow up with the restaurant,” says Ruben emphasising the responsibility he feels toward his followers.
Reflecting on the changing food landscape, he says, “This youth is like an Instagrammable youth. They go once, they take a photo and then they would go again or not based on the food. They still love Goan fish thali and Ros omlete and enjoy experimenting with new
foods.”