About Us: Meet Darren & Danessa
Tampa-based food and travel bloggers
About FoodPeopleLuv
Our Story
Hey there! We're Darren and Danessa, lovers of delicious eats, authentic experiences, and connecting with people....we are foodpeopleluv.
Our love for food started when we were young kids growing up in Florida. Raised in households rich with diverse culinary influences, we each developed a keen appreciation for the art of food from our parents' kitchen. Darren hails from Jacksonville in a Filipino home, while Danessa grew up in West Palm Beach in a Haitian home. Darren's father was a chef of 30+ years, so his home could typically be filled with aromas of dishes like adobo and arroz caldo. Danessa's mother is a phenomenal cook, whipping up dishes such as legume, lalo, and griot.
Long story short, we quickly learned what good food tasted like from the jump.
We met at the University of Florida and got married after college in 2015. Darren commissioned into the U.S. Air Force shortly after, which launched us into opportunities to travel and expand our cultural palates. We believe we became true foodies while stationed in Charleston after a few years of embracing South Carolina staples (we're talking shrimp & grits, oysters, Geechee cuisine, and more). One day, a light bulb went off and Danessa had the idea to start the food blog on IG.
Flavor knows no bounds, and we've channeled that passion into the vibrant world of food blogging. In 2019 @foodpeopleluv was born.
Beyond the restaurants and food trucks, we're staunch believers in building authentic community. We desire @foodpeopleluv to be a place where you can find fantastic food, connect with people in the food industry, and create memories with the people in your life.
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. —1 John 4:11