Meet Jamie Sanderson

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jamie Sanderson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jamie, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I found my purpose, or calling, 12 years ago when it relates to Georgetown Foodland/The Culinary Encourager, however, I’ve always been a person who sought to give kindness, show appreciation, and motivate others. The culinary industry just resonates so much with me so it’s why I chose to devote my energy and time to it.

I’ve always been considered different from others. You know, not cut from the same mold. Many of my friends were so-called outcasts, or outsiders. I just felt being unique and set apart from the rest of the crowd was allowing myself to be the happiest person I could be.

And when I see those in the culinary scene, I see myself. People who have their own personality. Their own character. Their uniqueness. So, it hurst me to see when they are trampled on.

That’s why I created this beacon of light For them. So they know they have a champion on their side.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My story of being involved with the culinary industry started 12 years ago as Georgetown Foodland, from one photo share of a burger at a Front Street restaurant. With that share, my social media was nonexistent. I only had my personal profile on Facebook. But, when I saw the reaction on the restaurant owner’s face and his smile, I knew what an impact that one share had made. The restaurant held its last service a few years after that. The owner named that burger after me and a burger after my wife Adrianne on the final menu. As we were eating, we looked at each other and said this doesn’t stop here. We do this for all the restaurants in Georgetown, South Carolina.

So, we embarked on our first restaurant crawl, from Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island, and back to the City of Georgetown. It just grew from each stop after that.

Eight years in as Georgetown Foodland, people in the industry started to get wind of what I was about – a person not asking for money to sit at a table and show case the food, the restaurant, and most important of all, the people.

My reach grew to Charleston, Horry and Florence counties. From events to the Charleston Wine + Food Festival to being a part of exclusive dining events at The International Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach, when I showed up, the beacons of light were lit.

Four years ago, I moved to Greenville, South Carolina. I changed the name from Georgetown Foodland to The Culinary Encourager, and expanded my coverage from South Carolina to nationwide.

My reach has grown 10x over. The beacons of light have also.

I get back to Murrells Inlet to host MarshWalk Restaurant Week at the MarshWalk of Murrells Inlet yearly. I film in eight restaurant’s kitchens to showcase the dishes that’ll be served that week during the event. It will be in its sixth year in 2026.

I have also helped get a new magazine off the ground here in Greenville, called Dine-Greenville. I was on the cover of the first issue with a feature story and am a contributing columnist. The holiday issue will be out before you going shopping for Christmas.

What’s special about all of this, you may ask? Well, it’s this – I am not the same.

I am not an influencer. I don’t charge restaurants for what I do. I don’t make money off what I do.

I have a couple shirts for sale with my branding. Instead of printing those myself, I reached out to Patrick at Cheeky Tees in Fountain Inn and he not only created my designs, but sells the shirts – with all profit going to his business, to keep him in business.

I am not here to capitalize on the backs of the culinary industry, I am here to show them someone who’s genuine. Someone who simply wants them to succeed. Some who want’s them to know their work matters. Their just being here matters.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The three qualities I’d mention would be genuineness, integrity and trust. Those in the culinary industry get bombarded by influencers and others looking to cash in off the backs of their work. My reputation has traveled far.

Those three traits I am known for have traveled farther.

I am not about taking photos of me stuffing my mouth with food and spotlighting just me. I am not the superstar. I am not the one who cheffed the food. I am not the one who created the environment to dine in. It’s those people I showcase. Those who get forgotten or treated like puzzle pieces. No, they are the most important part of what I do.

I want each and every person I meet to know how important they are. How special they are. It’s about being inclusive, not exclusive.

Restaurant staffs haven’t worked for years to be used as a pedestal for someone seeking clout. They are the ones who should have their clout showcased.

Those who follow me know my mission. They know they are going to get to see not only me, but the culinary magic behind the four walls.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

In that last decade, I would try to reach as many people in the culinary industry and empower them.

I want them to feel the same way the restaurant owner felt 12 years ago when I showed him how many liked that burger photo had. The tears on his face, the smile that came afterward. The warmth. The appreciation.

The relief that this person wasn’t doing it for something in return.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Adrianne Sanderson

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