Friends of Tabletop: Meet Ericka and Lauren from Curated Taste
Friends of Tabletop is a place where we share who we love working with. This can range from a client, influencer/blogger, or special someone who simply means a lot to the Tabletop Team. Colleagues and friends who we’ve met throughout our journey with Tabletop Media Group make us a part of who we are.
For our September Friends of Tabletop, meet Ericka and Lauren from Curated Taste!
Tell us about Curated Taste.
Curated Taste was birthed over a meal at Krill in Durham, NC on May 25, 2023 by Ericka Connor and Lauren Seabrook. These North Carolina natives are food, lifestyle and travel influencers, professionals in the bio-tech and software industries, and cousins who grew up in the small city of Kannapolis, NC.
Why did you start Curated Taste?
Friends and family always asked us where to go, what to eat and where we bought certain items, so we decided to put all of that information in one place, make it accessible to everyone and make it entertaining.
What is your favorite food?
Ericka - I love all types of cuisine, however, being true to my southern roots my favorite comfort meal is country style steak, with rice, gravy and sauteed onions, fried okra, yams, a yeast roll and sweet tea. I also LOVE sweets. It’s a tie for me between creme brulee, key lime pie and ice cream.
Lauren - I also love all types of cuisine. My favorites are gumbo, crab legs and most seafood, as well as southern style vegetables such as collard greens, okra, and corn. My favorite desserts are lemon bars, key lime pie, and peach cobbler.
What is your least favorite food?
Ericka - I don’t really have one.
Lauren - My least favorite food is beans.
Bar order? If you don't drink, what's your coffee order?
Ericka - I enjoy sweet and fruity cocktails and iced or blended coffee
Lauren - Sweet cocktails such as a lemon drop martini or mojito
Why do you dance in your videos?
Ericka - Dance is in my blood. I took years of dance in my youth and both of my parents love to dance, as do I. Since most of our posts don’t have voice overs, we show our audience our appreciation for the amazing food and experiences we have through movement.
Lauren - When the food tastes good it makes me happy and when I’m happy I dance :)
Where is your favorite place to eat in The Triangle?
Ericka - There are too many to name, but I will say that my newest favorite is Sassool because of all of the amazing food options and huge portion sizes that are so flavorful and bring a sense of comfort.
Lauren - Oku Raleigh, Brewery Bhavana, and Cortez
What is your favorite book or movie?
Ericka - Imitation of Life (movie) and Year of Yes, by Shonda Rhimes (book)
Lauren - The Color Purple (movie) and Wild Seed by Octavia Butler (book)
What is your favorite fall/seasonal treat?
Ericka - Almost anything pumpkin spice - yep I’m that girl, LOL! If you’re a sweet tea drinker, try Lidl’s Pumpkin Spice Black Tea, BUT prepare it like an iced tea (For 1 - pitcher of iced tea add 3 - tea bags, sugar to taste, boiled water. After the tea steeps and cools, refrigerate and enjoy over ice; a great Fall spin on a southern staple).
Lauren - Pumpkin bread
What's the most useful lesson you've learned from being a social influencer?
Be yourself because there is nobody else like YOU. There is space for us all and we all have different gifts to offer the world.