We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Margo Gabriel. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Margo below.
Margo, appreciate you joining us today. Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?
My hero is my Mom, Claire Marceline Gabriel. She was my biggest supporter and motivator. She had this saying that I hold dear, “Remember the power you possess.” She would say this to me whenever I doubted myself. She was the stronghold in our family. My mother’s confidence was something I will never forget. My parents emigrated from the island of Haiti in the late 70s during a time of political unrest in Haiti. They endured countless challenges to build a solid foundation for my siblings and me to pursue our dreams in the United States. Their sacrifice so many decades ago has afforded me the life I have today. I am very proud of my Haitian heritage because of my parents. My mother was a seamstress and my father a math professor in Haiti.
I learned to always believe in myself and do my very best in whatever I put my mind to do. Betting on myself led me to pursue journalism and food writing. I worked a corporate job for many years in accounting and pivoted to freelance food writing which later led me to moving from Boston, MA to Lisbon, Portugal in 2020. My curiosity for learning about other cultures through food fueled my travels abroad. I worked a corporate job during the day and moonlighted as a freelance food writer for publications like Edible Boston, Cuisine Noir, Fodor’s Travel, and Uncorked & Cultured. I often reflect in gratitude for the beautiful life lessons I learned from my parents. It is their guidance and wisdom that have kept me anchored in their absence.
Margo, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am an award-winning Haitian American freelance journalist, author, associate producer and culinary creative from Boston, MA, currently based in Lisbon, Portugal. I am the author or The Expat Kitchen, a digital cookbook and Quick Guide to Lisbon, an insiders look at exploring the best of Lisbon. I have been featured in the New York Times, Conversas Ao Sul, Pùblico and Time Out Lisboa. My words have been published in Boston Art Review, Cuisine Noir, Culinary Backstreets, Fodor’s Travel, and Refinery29. I host curated dinners in Lisbon introducing locals to Haitian cuisine and culture. I am a contributing food and wine writer at Cuisine Noir magazine and Shall We Wine. My most recent role was the Food & Drink columnist at Lisbon by Time Out Lisboa. I majored in English and Professional Writing. I always knew I would be a writer, I just did not know when I would have launched my career. My love for storytelling began as a kid. I was an avid reader and loved learning about cultures different from my own. Big family dinners on fueled my curiosity around culture and storytelling. I currently work for a tech company as an experience curator in Lisbon. As a journalist, telling the full narrative of a story with context is so important to me. I want the stories I write to shine a spotlight on communities that often get overlooked. As a culinary creative, I love bridging the connection found in foodways from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, and North America. When I am not cooking, writing or hosting experiences, I teach writing courses via GrubStreet as well as mentor emerging writers.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I think having great communication and people skills are invaluable to my work as an entrepreneur. The best marketing rarely comes from one’s own mouth that of others. A compliment, in my opinion, cares more weight when it comes from others. For example, if I say, “I am a great writer.” Yes, while that may be true, if a client or fellow writer or magazine editor states the same sentiment in relation to my work, then it will like inspire other writers or editors to seek out my work or even hire me for future opportunities. I have been grateful to build a trusted reputation within my creative community from the Africa, Europe and the United States that continue to pay off in the form or recommendations or even work contracts.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I really like Malcolm Gladwell’s books. He is a sociologist and his research helps me to understand human nature and how one’s life experience and youth goes on to shape that person’s outlook. Another thing I feel is important to possess is curiosity about life, people and our purpose and impact on others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://about.me/margogabriel
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margoscreativelife/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margo.gabriel.397
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/margo-gabriel-0b9bb838
- Twitter: https://x.com/Margo202_
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@margoscreativelife5995?si=OXr-mLhRpIPfGHzB
- Other: https://muckrack.com/margo-gabriel
Image Credits
Margo Gabriel