Erin Vasicek is one “spiffy cookie” with hair – sometimes green, sometimes purple – to match her bright personality. Better known by the moniker TheSpiffyCookie or SpiffyColumbus on Instagram, Erin has been blogging about food and local eateries for over 10 years and even helped start the Columbus Food Bloggers group. An avid supporter of the Columbus food scene, Erin takes us along her enchanting culinary journeys through her photographs while inspiring us to visit the places she’s experienced, even if it means leaving the city and driving 20 minutes away.

We got the chance to sit down with Erin to learn more about her day job, food blogging, and something about her that would surprise us all.

What do you for your day job?

I am “not that kind of doctor” research scientist by day. I currently work on Salmonella, but I am interested in infectious diseases as a whole. So yea…2020.

Erin working at her day job as a research scientist, photo courtesy of Erin Vasicek.

How did Spiffy Columbus and Spiffy Cookie come about, and how long have you been blogging?

TheSpiffyCookie.com started 10 years ago on Nov 10, 2010, primarily to catalog recipes to help make it easier for friends and family to share. The name was inspired by one of my favorite words and one of my favorite things to bake, but I share much more than cookie/dessert recipes! Now it also serves as a creative outlet and fuels my drive for discovering new flavor combinations and techniques.

While SpiffyColumbus officially started in 2018, I had been immersing myself in the local food scene since moving back to Columbus in 2015. I decided after a couple of years that my followers outside of Ohio on TheSpiffyCookie probably were not interested in where I was stuffing my face. Consequently, I created SpiffyColumbus on Instagram, specifically dedicated to highlighting what Columbus has to offer – heavy on the food activities. I legit have a spreadsheet of eateries organized by part of town.

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us.

One of my eyes is crooked (strabismus), but you cannot tell because it was surgically straightened. Also, I hate coffee and rarely drink caffeine in general – this energy is au naturel.

What advice would you give someone who wants to start blogging?

At the risk of sounding cliché, regardless of whether you are doing it just for fun or starting a business, be yourself. Sure there are some tips and tricks (that change with the latest algorithms), but at the end of the day, being true to yourself is the most important. So much is subjective, especially when it comes to food preferences, and there’s nothing wrong with having a different opinion.

You’ve been a great supporter of many small businesses including Kolache Republic, why is supporting small businesses important to you?

By supporting local businesses I am directly supporting my community and neighbors. Seeing the passion of the local business owners for what they do fuels that desire even more.

Erin eating a kolache at Kolache Republic’s original location, photo courtesy of Erin Vasicek.

What is your favorite kolache?

All of them? I sat on this question for a long time and I honestly don’t think I can pick just one!  Drown me in kolache.

Erin holding up Kolache Republic’s cinnamon roll, photo courtesy of Erin Vasicek.

Follow Erin on Instagram: @thespiffycookie and @SpiffyColumbus or visit her website at https://www.thespiffycookie.com

Our Community Table is meant to highlight the great work of individuals continuing to help make Columbus a great city to live, play, and work. Send us an email at rick@kolacherepublic.com, if you would like to be featured.

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