Foodspotting’s Soraya Darabi

We finally joined Foodspotting last week, and although we can’t update in real time because we don’t have iPhones (damn you Verizon), it’s still pretty sweet. Think of it as a Flickr/Foursquare/Twitter hybrid that comes in quite handy when you’re in an unfamilar area and hungry for something tasty. For now, we’ll let them slide in regards to their whole “noms” lingo. In our book, that’s almost as bad as the word “foodie,” another popular food blogger word we loathe.

Foodspotting exists thanks to a team that includes Georgetown educated, internet marketing guru and Fast Company cover girl, Soraya Darabi. Before blowing Foodspotting up as the ultimate vauyeristic destination for the EATS obsessed, she actually worked in the music industry briefly before making her mark as the Manager of Digital Partnerships and Social-Media Marketing at The New York Times. She’s a big time internet superstar and we’re psyched that she’s into our website. Check out her restaurant picks below and to keep up with all Soraya’s exploits, follow her on Twitter.

Soraya’s “Perfect For” Picks

Late Night Eats

La Esquina (114 Kenmare St.) – “Love La Esquina for a light snack after a night of sweet dancing. Summertime is when La Esquina gets particularly good after midnight. Sit on the bench outside of the kitchen and play ‘snap judgement’ as the crazies walk by. Eat a fish taco or three.”

First/Early in the Game Date

Blue Ribbon Sushi (119 Sullivan St.)- “The Blue Ribbon Sushi on Sullivan in Soho is a people-pleasing joint. The Gyu Tataki, their seared filet mignon with garlic sauce, is nearly perfect as an appetizer (or main course if you’re girly or on a perpetual diet). I like to order the Higashi Kaigan Kaki plate – East Coast Oysters in less fancy talk – or will sometimes sit at the bar at just let the chefs surprise me.

Neighborhood Hang

Luzzo’s (211 1st Avenue.) – “Luzzo’s pizza in the East Village is heaven in a box. It’s my favorite slice in the city after Motorino , and it tastes especially good after a glass of champagne. Regardless of of whether you walk in rocking flip flops or prom-tastic formal wear, you won’t be judged at Luzzo’s.”

Authentic Ethnic Eats

Szechuan Gourmet (21 W. 39th St..) – “Szechuan Gourmet is the place you go when you’re wearing anything but white. It’s also the most authentic Szechuan in the city. Order the tofu with chilis and scallion. Food Writer Mark Bittman introduced me to this dish upon our last lunch there and I’ve ordered it twice since. The spicy sesame noodles are off the hook. “

Vegetarians

Shake Shack (Madison Square Park) – “I had this health and wellness teacher in high school named Big Bob Smith who used to talk to us about how he loved twice-friend chocolate candy bars and how he thought that snack was good for you every now and again. I channel Big Bob when I eat the deep fried mushroom burger at Shake Shake, a frequently spotted Foodspotting dish, and my favorite faux-healthy meal in New York City. It’s a portobello mushroom stuffed with gooey, oozey muenster cheese, breaded, greased and served piping hot. “

Soraya’s Twitter People

@JennyDeluxe – The coolest girl in tech, a writer for The New York Times.

@AmyBlogsChow & @YayFiona of @Foodspotting – These girls are the social voices behind the brand. So witty, so cute, so darling are they online and off …. wait, did I just violate a future HR policy by writing that?!

@Diplo – Remember when Diplo was arrested in suburban New Jersey and twit pic-ed behind bars? It was the best 3 hours Twitter has ever seen. Still LOLZ-ing in memory of.

@MindyKaling – On a more frequent basis, Mindy Kaling of The Office is the right kind of funny in 140 characters.

@EverydayTrash – My sister Leila writes about International trash politics. Not in an ‘ew’ way, but more in a ‘wow, huh!’ sort of way.