Callie Hines

Transcript:

Samantha Spalitta:
So, Callie, you are just here at this awesome meeting that we had here for the Ponchatoula community to talk about a Taste of Tangi coming up on August 10th through the 15th. And it seems like we just have so much community support from the mayor’s office, from the economic development board, all the local restaurant tours. And it just seems that there’s support all across the board. What are your expectations of this event end?

Callie:
I’m really thrilled that we’re doing this event here in Tangipahoa Parish because, for a long time, I have felt that we have some of the best food that the state has to offer. And being a new restaurateur, it is great to have some support during these hard times of the pandemic. Even though we’re coming to a close, hopefully of this chapter of our lives, moving forward into this new time of life and seeing everybody so ready and willing to help one another and lift each other up, it’s been really great.

Samantha Spalitta:
And absolutely, it’s something that you have lived by in both of your businesses, supporting your community and supporting other local restaurateurs and businesses.

Callie:
Oh, 100%, because if my neighbor does well, I do well. And I think that’s the ultimate meaning of community.

Samantha Spalitta:
Absolutely. And I love to see just everybody on social media nowadays promoting these local restaurants and stuff. So, that’s just a huge thing we’re going to see throughout this event.

Callie:
It’s always great to get a great review back after someone visits your restaurant, but it’s also amazing when you see your friends in the restaurant business succeeding as well. And people leaving positive reviews on Facebook and sharing it with their friends and knowing that this event will also help get the names of other restaurants in this area that may not have as much social media traction out there. It’s just fantastic.

Samantha Spalitta:
And social media, it’s not about competition; it’s collaboration.

Callie:
Absolutely, 100%. That’s what they teach you whenever you’re learning about social media marketing is collaborating with one another to make these big movements. And I think that what we’ve got here with this program, it’s going to be amazing. And I can’t wait to see what we do this year and how we can do it again next year and build on it.

Samantha Spalitta:
It’ll be exciting.

Callie:
Absolutely.