Meet Jonathan Dillanes | Food Content Creator

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

Hi Jonathan, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I think something that has been a big key in my success so far has been authenticity. When I’m filming recipes, I imagine I’m teaching a friend how to make something. Instead of feeling like they’re watching a cooking video, I want it to feel like you’re hanging with a close friend. I think that has drawn a lot of people, and led me being successful.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started making cooking content about 2 years ago. It started off as a hobby, since I already loved cooking. It’s been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. For a while I was really unsure of what I wanted to do career wise, I was a DJ at the time, so it was definitely a very drastic change. Then I started posting recipes online, and everything just seemed to fall into place after. People really connected with my recipes & my style of content. I remember being obsessed with the laid back cooking shows of the OG Food Network, so I wanted to bring that same vibe to my content. I wanted to feel personal. Like you’re cooking with a close friend, and that really resonated with people. I mostly showcase cultural dishes that I grew up eating being first gen Mexican American, but I also like to push my own skills. I encourage people to get cook more, and test their own boundaries as well. I think one of the biggest challenges I faced was my own mental blocks. Always questioning whether I was good enough to even be teaching others how to cook, or even getting over some of the awkwardness/embarrassment of what others might think. I remember hearing a while back say something along the lines of “the fear of being cringe is stoping you from being successful”, and that has stuck with me since. If I would’ve let those fears stop me from posting I would have never gotten to where I am today, receiving the opportunities that I am. I think going after something you truly love takes a level of vulnerability, but you just gotta push past those initial thoughts of fear/self doubt. It will always be better to try something & potentially fail, then to always wonder “what if”.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am very much a lets just vibe kinda person, so my itinerary would be a lot of just casual strolls filled with great food & drinks. We would definitely have to start with coffee at Cafe tropical in Silverlake, they have amazing coffee, and their breakfast sandwich is divine, followed by a stroll & some park time at the reservoir. We would definitely have to visit Placita Olvera to get some taquitos from Cielo Lindo for lunch. Followed by a happy hour at Figaro Bistro, and Dinner at Santo for some amazing Japanese – Mexican fusion sushi. A beach day in Santa Monica with sandwiches for Bay Cities Italian Deli is also a must. For a chill weeknight we would have to go to Silverlake Wine for their wine flights, and then just a little pit stop at Cha Cha lounge for a night cap. We would have to end the week like I always do, with family dinner at my place. A week visiting me is a lot of lounging around with lots of eating & drinking.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank my mom for helping me discover & nurturing my love for cooking, my boyfriend & friends for always being supportive & encouraging me to chase my dreams. Also shout out to the Food Network for always being there for me after school, and sparking me curiosity when it came to the culinary world.

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