Today we’d like to introduce you to Zac Gleason.
Hi Zac, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always had a love for great food and good tasting beer. I love checking out new restaurants and trying all of the things they are famous for. I had always enjoyed looking at other foodie accounts to see what they were hitting up and going there myself. If a new restaurant opened it would get added to my list and as restaurants starting changing menus I would seek them out too. I have a deep love for the great MN Brewery scene as well, anytime a new brewery opens this too gets me excited! I love being able to try really well crafted beers and the Minneapolis/St Paul/Greater area has so many great places that offer just that! So in the Fall of 2019, I decided to venture out and take my love for food and beer to the next level. I began running @Sota Eats to feature various foodie/beer options in the Twin Cities area. This has since evolved into branching out to greater MN and any location I have traveled to. I love being able to share my love for good food and beer with those in my audience. It has allowed me the opportunity to meet many wonderful people along the way.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
COVID19 was a hurdle as we couldn’t dine in to restaurants or go to breweries. We couldn’t experience the dishes and beers in their natural settings. Many restaurants had to pivot and go to a take-out-only platform and this posed many struggles. I always tried to support our local restaurants throughout all of the challenges and with several shutdowns.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Since launching my social media @sotaeats it has really taken off and allowed me many opportunities I didn’t even know existed. Sota Eats is really a brand. When I created my page, I blended my love for marketing/branding into it. If you notice Sota Eats, it is very branded, has logos, I love incorporating these types of things into my work. I’m huge on presentation and I’m very detail orientated so I feel these touches bring additional flare and professionalism to my work.
You will also notice the majority of my work is highlighting what I call elevated bar food, not that I don’t enjoy other food offerings/variety, but this is my wheelhouse, when you look at my page you will find the best burgers, wings, fried chicken sandwiches, pizza and beer in the state!
The most rewarding thing for me is after I highlight a restaurant, when ownership reaches out, and is appreciative and shares their results/feedback. I love hearing they had packed house following a post of mine!
My number #1 food love is a good chicken wing. I’m not sure there is anyone else who loves a good chicken wing like myself but my good foodie buddy @RalphMatthews would be right there with me! Ralph and I have launched The MN Wingmen, #wingMN to set out monthly to feature a local MN restaurant and their chicken wings. Our vision is to inspire a new wave of wing creativity in the Twin Cities, whether you’re a hot new joint or have been slinging flats & drummies for years if you make impressive wings we will come and highlight them, on our social media channels.
Can you share with us why the foodie scene is so fun for you?
Sure. Over the course of my 2-year launch into Sota Eats, it has given me the opportunity to try new food and beer offerings at a different level than I had ever expected. It has also introduced me to a whole group of people who are also trying to do very similar things with their various social media pages. Over the last year, I have had many great opportunities to experience a new brewery or restaurant opening before the general public is allowed inside and doing this with a group of like-minded people has been a great experience! These other industry experts have become some of my greatest friends.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/sotaeats
- Facebook: facebook.com/sotaeats
- Twitter: twitter.com/sotaeats
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sotaeats?
- Other: https://linktr.ee/Sotaeats
