We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christina Barrueta a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Christina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

Launching Write On Rubee, LLC was a natural progression as I shared my love for Arizona’s wonderful culinary and beverage. A Boston native, I moved to Phoenix in 2008 and within a month had attended my first “locavore” dinner at Tapino, a restaurant once owned by Chef James Porter (he now runs Terra Farm + Manor in Prescott). We were seated with local farmers, ranchers and winemakers and it was an eye-opening introduction to my new home state. That night, I also met Ronni and Josh Moffatt, who worked with my husband’s son selling Arizona vineyard land. They were familiar with my writing as a hobby on a Boston food board, were looking for a restaurant reviewer for their new magazine AZ Vines & Wines (later AZ Wine Lifestyle), and asked if I would be interested. Thanks to them, I immediately started diving into the local beverage and culinary scene. Up until 2015 when the magazine was sold, I was showcasing my favorite people and places in Rubee’s Restaurant Spotlight, Happy Hour Highlights and Cocktail Corner featuring bartender interviews. To continue supporting our incredible Arizona talent, I launched WriteOnRubee.com that same year and in the process expanded my social media presence simply to share my travel experiences, food adventures, and cocktail and wine exploration.

So to answer the question of how I came up with the idea, it really just evolved! I’m now a freelance writer for local publications such as Phoenix Home & Garden and A Taste of AZ magazine, and am the Arizona contributing editor for The Tasting Panel magazine and The SOMM Journal. I’m also the author of two books celebrating Arizona, which is a dream come true. Arizona Wine: A History of Perseverance and Passion is an ode to our award-winning winemakers, and Phoenix Cooks is a compilation of recipes from some of our city’s favorite chefs.

I’m grateful that what started out as a hobby has now become a career, and that I’m supported by such a passionate community as we all sing the praises of our Arizona talent.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Because I cover all things travel, food and beverage related, I offer a variety of services ranging from editing to social media partnerships. That includes copy editing, proofreading, menu review, and recipe development partnerships, My Instagram @writeonrubee is also a three-time winner of AZ Foothills magazine’s Best Food Feed and has been featured in various publications, so I also work with curated brand sponsorships. Though I’m best known for my writing in the hospitality arena, I have also worked in medical documentation copy editing and proofreading for over 30 years. Although I recently stepped back from that to concentrate on Write On Rubee, LLC, it is a service I also offer.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

It’s been such an interesting journey as my food hobby grew into my current career. In my teens I subscribed to Gourmet magazine and by my 20s was cooking lavish meals for friends and family. Like many food enthusiasts, I read voraciously, and used trips to places like Australia, Greece, Ireland and France to soak up more food knowledge. An early milestone in Boston was joining a food board called Chowhound (where I posted as Rubee, hence my social media name), It was an ongoing education joining equally-obsessed food nerds, whether it be a 4-hour luncheon over a fancy cocktail-paired tasting menu or feasting on kitfo, dulet and yasa wot as we explored Ethiopian cuisine.

Arizona key milestones were moving to Phoenix and becoming the food writer for AZ Wine Lifestyle, founding my own website, (which led to a larger social media presence and contacts with book publishers), being inducted as Best Food Writer into the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame in 2016, and the release of my books in 2019 and 2020. Each one opened new doors that have led me to where I am today.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

It’s not so much a strategy but the way you conduct yourself, whether in life or on social media. I think it’s so important to be kind, respectful and professional, and I strive to be positive and upbuilding. I’m so honored to be able to spread the word about the talented people in our community, They are who I am showcasing, and I’m just as grateful for my readers who support them!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.writeonrubee.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writeonrubee/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writeonrubee
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-barrueta-6861b234/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/writeonrubee