Featured Chik: Christina Allingham

This week, we're thrilled to introduce you to Christina Allingham, owner of Bite of New England! Bite of New England is an Instagram page dedicated to spreading the word about local restaurants, bars, and other local food businesses. Please get to know more about Christina and her page here!

Tell us a bit about your company! What do you do? What is your mission?
I run the Bite of New England Instagram page. I wanted to spread the word about all the great local businesses that give New England its personality and charm. I've featured over 300 restaurants and establishments on my page, and I love doing something I love while supporting my local community.

How did you get started with your business?
Bite of New England was born during the peak of COVID-19 in 2020. So many of my favorite restaurants were closing or trying to adapt to primarily takeout orders. I wanted to grow my page to get more eyes on the fantastic companies that shape the community. The page has also allowed me to try so many types of cuisines that I had never tried before starting in 2020, so I'm grateful!

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What do you feel is most important for others to know about your business?
Bite of New England is all about positivity and love for the community. From my day job as a food scientist to my hobby as a food photographer, I'm obsessed with food and how it brings people together. Nothing I do would be possible without the fantastic restaurants I work with, so I love being able to give back to them in a small way.

How would you describe your leadership style?
Anyone that knows me knows that I thrive in leadership roles. I love working with teams, whether working as a scientist or collaborating with restaurants. I like to produce quality work, so I'm always open to constructive feedback.​

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When you were growing up, what was your ultimate dream job? If it's this, how does it feel to have met your dream?! If it was something different, how did your dream change over time?
I have always wanted to be a scientist. I discovered food science during college, and I love it. I love my Ph.D. in Food Science and travel around New England to find the best restaurants to feature on my page. I recently interned at Bigelow Tea in Connecticut, where I fell in love with food marketing and brand awareness.

Every business owner faces challenges. How are you empowered to overcome yours?
Being open and vulnerable to judgment by a large internet audience is always challenging. Everyone has different experiences at restaurants, so I often get messages about how something I advertised wasn't someone's cup of tea. Being myself and returning day after day despite the critical comments is something I'm trying not to internalize as much as my page grows. The foodie community is supportive and helpful as I learn more about branding and content creation, which empowers me to keep creating.

Tell us (in one word) how you would describe your boss-chik business!
Community

Anything else we should know about you, your business, or just a fun fact?!
I'm a Food Safety Specialist, and I've helped multiple New England-based businesses write and implement food safety plans! I'm a Ph.D. student currently, and I plan to work for a major food company once I graduate. And because this entry is all about food, my favorite food is sushi.

Where to find her:
Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Yelp ​

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