Class of 2014 Alumna Talks Entrepreneurship with Business Class

Class of 2014 alumna Alex Acquarulo visited campus to discuss the ins-and-outs of entrepreneurship and how she launched her social media business and Instagram account, CT FoodGirly, LLC.

Speaking with the Upper School students in Carole Bird’s business class, Alex shared how her love of food and involvement in the restaurant business sparked her interest in creating an online platform that takes followers on a culinary journey through photographs.

“Food has always been a big deal in my family as I watched my mother and grandmother cook in the kitchen,” said Alex. “Food was never just a meal, it was community, family, and laughs. I wanted to shine a light on local restaurants around the state and showcase the incredible menu items that might be missed.”

Alex began CT FoodGirly during her junior year of college in 2017. Her approach was simple as she uploaded her collection of food photography that highlighted her favorite local spots and menu items to Instagram. With high-quality photos and consistent upload, the page organically grew and attracted more followers. To create content, Alex said she works with the restaurant owners who reach out to her via email or direct message. She researches the menu and sets a date to visit the establishment for a taste and photos. During some trips, she also goes behind the scenes and speaks with the kitchen staff about how they create the menus.

CT FoodGirly became a licensed business as Alex rebranded the account with a new logo and official website. Alex noted her life has become “a world of new experiences as I opened my palate to different cuisines” and said working with local restaurant owners is “a great opportunity to get to know the people who have put all their energy and love into their food.”

With the success of CT FoodGirly, Alex was granted the opportunity to attend The Sun Wine and Food Fest hosted by Mohegan Sun in both 2020 and 2022. She penned an article for Seasons Magazine titled, The Charcuterie Craze: Entertaining Like a Pro for its December 2021 issue. 

Alex’s advice for the potential entrepreneurs in the class was to be their own advocate, but to remain open-minded to new opportunities. She encourages anyone starting out to remain passionate and remind themselves why they started the project or business in the first place.

Alex graduated from Quinnipiac University with a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship and small business management with a minor in human resources. She earned her Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) from Quinnipiac through the 4+1 program. When not running CT FoodGirly, Alex works as the operation manager for One Source, a property management company. She works with clients to provide work order management portal training and oversees the account coordinators.