Meet Gareen Darakjian | Content Creator and Storyteller

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gareen Darakjian and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gareen, why did you pursue a creative career?
I grew up surrounded by scientists. People who thought deeply and critically about the world around them and questioned and observed and analyzed data to draw conclusions. They always seemed to have an answer to every question and followed established methodologies to guide their discoveries. I knew I was different from a young age.

I, too, thought deeply and critically about the world. I, too, immersed myself in activities that activated my senses of wonder, curiosity, and discovery. But, I knew the way I thought about nature, music, food, and art was different. My pursuit was driven by a spirit of inquiry that wasn’t tied to an established way of thinking. I was more focused on the questions and wasn’t too concerned about finding their answers. I was desperate to challenge the status quo and explore ideas that I didn’t feel comfortable with or agreed with. I imagined alternative points of view and embraced the uncertainty of taking creative risks.

As the primary content creator of La Petite Eats (@lapetiteeats), I challenge myself to look deeply at my passion for food and drink, which is so rich with sensory experience and possibility, and I invite my followers to experience the beauty and richness of the culinary world with me through my unique lens. I love bringing my readers into my life and my brain as I process my personal experiences and how they relate to food. It helps me to not only make sense of the world but also nurture my personal passion and keep me engaged and curious beyond my primary career of higher education marketing.

My pursuit of a creative career, despite being surrounded by more linear thinkers, proves that diverse ways of thinking can coexist. I’m proud of the way I have blended my intellectual curiosity with an artistic spirit—one that doesn’t just accept existing frameworks but is open to experimenting, challenging, and reimagining. I’m proud of the way I have cultivated a space for that kind of creativity in my life and I hope my creative pursuits inspire and delight those who experience it on La Petite Eats.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
La Petite Eats, my food/drink Instagram account, was always something I did (and still do) as a hobby. Growing up, I spent a lot of quality time with my sister, who is eight years older than I am, researching the best new restaurants in town and making hard-to-get reservations to try the latest and greatest in Los Angeles. She always knew about the hot spots and the hidden gems and taught me how to cultivate a sophisticated palate. She taught me everything I know about food! Those precious memories with her inspired me to continue pursuing my passion for dining out, and we still make time for our sister date nights. Today, my primary career is in higher education marketing, where I am the chief storyteller of a university in Southern California. That job allows me to be both creative and analytical as I celebrate the university community and reinforce the values of the institution. With La Petite Eats, I have the ability to look inward and draw people into my own thoughts and passions. In the coming year, I am excited about diving deeper into storytelling and sharing more of myself in my content. Thus far, I have focused on the food and the restaurant experience. In the next phase of La Petite Eats, I hope to inject my personality to develop a brand around my food journey and the way I experience fine dining.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is my favorite question and one that I’ve always hoped someone would ask me. Los Angeles is one of the most exciting food and entertainment cities. It brings me so much joy to take people to my favorite spots!

Breakfast/brunch – Lodge Bread, Malibu Farm Restaurant, Republique, All Time

Lunch – Malibu Farm Restaurant, Sunset Tower Hotel, Dudley Market, Monsieur Marcel

Dinner – Bavel, Ysabel, Wally’s, Casalena, Cara Hotel, Petit Trois, Mantee

Cocktails/Wine – Dante, Elephante, The Tap Room at the Langham Hotel, The Stonehaus, Roger Room

Activities/experiences: Huntington Library and Gardens, Grand Central Market, The Broad, Griffith Observatory, MOCA, Getty Villa, Solstice Canyon hike

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents, though they were so immersed in the scientific world and would have loved it if their children had pursued more scientific careers, saw my passion and my need for living a creative life and always nurtured my creative pursuits without redirection or judgment. They knew I thought differently and made it clear to me at a young age that I was free to be my most authentic self. While they did encourage me to explore hobbies and interests that stimulated my left, more rational and methodical brain, they also nurtured my participation in the performing and fine arts (singing, drama, art/painting classes) and signed me up for creative writing workshops when they noticed my love for storytelling. I am so thankful to them for seeing me and for allowing me to explore the things that came naturally to me without pushing me toward things that only made sense to them.

Website: https://www.gareendarakjian.com

Instagram: @lapetiteeats

Image Credits
Headshot: Elyse Jankowski
Food photography: Gareen Darakjian/La Petite Eats