» irene matys thespicyolive1
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I , m all about eating with your eyes . I like to create recipes and dishes that are in season so that it , s easy for people to source ingredients .
I decided to support a local organic farm called Plan B Farms in the Hamilton area . They were the only farm that didn ’ t have fancy machinery , just the love of two brothers , their family and volunteers , 50 acres and lots of great food ,” Matys explains . “ I offered to volunteer for six months . During that time , I managed social media for them , planted and harvested vegetables .” Six months turned into two years , and Matys still volunteers at Plan B Farms today .
Two to three times a week during the season , Irene Matys plants , harvests , and cooks at the farm . “ I ’ ve made incredible connections through this and met amazing people . So many windows of opportunity have opened up for me . I love what I do on the farm , and I love to share my heritage through Cypriot recipes that a lot of Europeans can relate to . What makes me happy is that food brings people together . We all have a story – but we ’ re all connected through food . Food is family , and it brings me back to family memories of my Mom and Grandmother . I cook so I can always maintain those memories . It ’ s such a good feeling .”
Irene Matys is not one to keep information to herself or guard her ideas or recipes , especially with her thousands of followers . “ I love to interact with my followers , I ’ ve fallen in love with people . I will also collaborate with people I meet on Instagram – if the project aligns with me , why not ? People ask me all the time if I can teach them how to style food . I invite them because if they find it brings them something , that ’ s great . It means that thing was not meant for me and something else will come . But when you give , you have to give with your heart and not with the intention that you ’ ll get something in return . Just be kind and give of yourself . That ’ s my motto in life . Be kind .”
By now if you haven ’ t figured out that The Spicy Olive is all about food , just take the time to check out her Instagram account ( spicyolive1 ). You won ’ t be disappointed by the beautiful mouth-watering images and recipes . “ I ’ m all about eating with your eyes . I like to create recipes and dishes that are in season so that it ’ s easy for people to source ingredients .” Cooking means happy times for this spicy Cypriot , and interestingly enough , her Grandfather owned an olive grove in Cyprus . Matys recalls , “ There was always a bowl of olives on the table seasoned in coriander and lemon and chili flakes , and that ’ s the origin of my name ‘ the spicy olive ’.”
Since she first opened her Instagram account , it not only created great exposure for her , but the farm too , “ It brought awareness to local farming , and social media helped me get to where I am today ”, she explains . “ It ’ s the trend – farm to table – fresh local ingredients , but it ’ s also the way I take my photos – they ’ re appealing to the eye . It ’ s so important to capture my vision in food styling , so I had to learn photography . It ’ s become another passion of mine . I ’ ve now made a career out of both passions , food and photography .” She adds , “ The most difficult thing about social media is finding a balance of time to be active and engage while devoting time to family and career . But while I connect with my followers every day , I ’ m always genuine , honest and passionate about what I post . I ’ m just grateful I get to do what I ’ m passionate about , turning it into a career and inspiring others in the process .”
It wasn ’ t long before Irene Matys was picked up by local TV shows . Today you can see her food styling on ‘ The Marilyn Dennis Show ’,‘ Your Morning ’ and ‘ The Social ’. But Matys will never forget her roots . She remembers the day the war began . “ When the borders of North Cyprus opened in 2003 , we were allowed to go back ,” recalls Irene , “ and my mother ’ s wedding pictures had bullet holes in them . We took what we could .” After all these years , she still recalls picking tomatoes with her mother for 10 cents a basket , sleeping on an unfinished basement floor and living on welfare , but always grateful for what they had . Without social media , she ’ s not sure she would be where she is today . Thousands of friends and followers later , countless meals and recipes , this Spicy Olive is still on the go with a cook book scheduled to be released shortly . Stay updated by following thespicyolive1 on Instagram !
52 • fredi digital 2017