Analiese, creator of @thebaconprincessblog, runs the popular blog and Instagram account filled with epic food-porny food and, most importantly, bacon. Here are 20 things to know about Analiese and the bacon princess.
1. She graduated from Northwestern
She graduated in 2013 with majors in Music Performance and Business/Marketing. Fun Fact: Northwestern is where Spoon began, making Analiese a real spooner through and through.
2. She works for a consulting firm
Currently, she works for a consulting firm based in Chicago doing marketing, recruiting and social media research. However, Analiese lives at home in DC, which she says gives her the ease to pursue other things, like her blog.
3. She writes for Spoon and NOBREAD
Like food porn? Analiese manages the #spoonfeed weekly roundups on this site. In addition, she is helping to launch a new food blog, NOBREAD, for those who are gluten-free, which is set to go live next month. Long story short: when it comes to food, Analiese knows what she is talking about.
4. She likes more than just food
By day, Analiese plays in a kickball league and dabbles in Fantasy Football, but by night treats herself to new restaurants. Living in DC has naturally interested her in political life, so much so that she and her roommates started a Twitter account about politics and DC life called @ladiesofthehill. A blog, Instagram and Twitter account – what an entrepreneur.
Homemade paleo English muffins with whiskey herb bacon, sautéed veggies, poached eggs and sriracha ❤️ A photo posted by The Bacon Princess (@thebaconprincessblog) on Nov 15, 2014 at 12:17pm PST
5. Working for Spoon helped influence her to start her blog.
Analiese credits Spoon as one of her greatest influences in starting her blog. She began writing for Spoon in the fall of her senior year at Northwestern and developed her passion for food writing from there.
6. She wrote recipes in her apartment
Ahh, the joys of having a kitchen in college. Like most students, Analiese really discovered her inner chef when she finally got her own kitchen in an off-campus apartment. She says that is where her blog really took off.
7. She really does love bacon
At Spoon University – Northwestern, Analiese became known as the bacon girl because she used it in so many of her recipes. Analiese is a firm believer that bacon has more functions than just simply wrapping itself around other foods. If you don’t believe her, just read her blog.
8. The blog’s name came from an IM convo
Because that is how everything happens these days. No, one of her co-workers called her a Bacon Princess when she expressed the idea (jokingly) of wanting to live in a house made of bacon. Although she is still working on the house, the name sticks for now.
9. She got paid to be a “snack girl” for a club softball team…
Analiese’s friends even liked her cooking so much that they had her cater many of their group events like softball games. At least the name “snack girl” is better than “woo girl.”
10. …and got paid for her hummus
Her skillz were so popular that a house of boys offered to pay her $15 to make massive quantities of hummus for them. And given the cheap price for a can of chickpeas, Analiese was able to make some real dough in this endeavor (yes, pun intended).
Dear Lord, may this corned beef hash give me the strength to nap really hard after this A photo posted by The Bacon Princess (@thebaconprincessblog) on Jan 1, 2015 at 12:15pm PST
11. Her “big break” came from The Huffington Post
In September 2014, the Huffington Post reposted one of her cookie recipes on their site, and Analiese was stoked to have received 700+ views to her blog in a single day!
12. She knows the local food scene
For Analiese, one of the most essential things in starting a local food Instagram is trying new restaurants all the time and tagging the restaurant or at least the location in your photos. That way, you get creds from making an effort to get to know the local food scene.
13. She uses bomb captions
She says quality photos and unique captions are the most important things for someone trying to gain Insta-fame. Sometimes, if her photo isn’t as awesome as she would like, she comes up with a bomb caption or adds hilarious song lyrics and still receives lots of likes.
14. She trusts her own judgment of photos
She advises you to trust your own opinion in terms of whether or not your food pic looks appetizing–you are your own worst critic! Never post something that doesn’t look yummy.
Pumpkin chia pudding pumpkin pancakes. Yes, the double pumpkin was intentional. A photo posted by The Bacon Princess (@thebaconprincessblog) on Oct 27, 2014 at 6:41am PDT
15. Her photos use natural light!
She believes it is hard to appreciate food’s beautiful, colorful and sensual aspects without good, natural lighting.
16. She loves innovative photographic angles
If you have a rectangular plate in a square or rectangular frame, she thinks it looks much more unique if you put the plate at an angle instead of just shooting it straight on.
Bless @uber and @eatburedo for actually making this Monday kind of amazing (a rare feat) A photo posted by The Bacon Princess (@thebaconprincessblog) on Aug 24, 2015 at 9:27am PDT
17. These are her favorite Instagram accounts:
- @gilliehouston: “Gillie’s photos are always super colorful and exciting. Plus, she works for the newly founded Yahoo Food, so she’s basically living any foodie’s dream.”
- @cookingwithcocktailrings: “This girl is amazing. She can literally make any food you can imagine, and it always looks perfect. Her photos are stunning, and she clearly has mad skills in the kitchen.”
- @bromabakery: “I have a seroius sweet tooth, and Sarah Fennel of @bromabakery does too. I like to think we’re kindred spirits, except she is a way better baker than me.”
- @danielkrieger: “Daniel is probably one of the most desired food photographers in NYC if not the world. I’ve seen him speak at least a couple times and he has taught me so many useful things about photography. He liked one of my photos one time and I almost peed my pants.
18. She’s all about the chips and guac
She can’t stop herself when it comes to chips and guac, so much so that if she knows she’s having Mexican food for dinner, she attempts a more hefty workout.
19. Sichaun Pavilion is her favorite spot to eat
This tiny place on K Street gets so packed during weekday lunchtime that they will actually take off part of your bill if you’re in and out in less than an hour.
20. She gets her own personal order of dumplings
#nosharing. She also recommends the Ma Po Tofu because, against all odds, it “makes tofu taste like the best thing in the world.” Better than bacon?