About Me

I am a devout foodie who loves farmers markets, wine tastings, and independent coffee shops. After entering the world of minimum wage internships, however, I realized I could no longer afford to indulge my epicurean habits. But that doesn’t mean I have to deny myself completely!

The Unpaid Gourmet was created to chronicle my budget-friendly culinary adventures in Washington, DC. Over the past year, I ate my way through the District, searching for the city’s best food at bargain prices. My quest took me all over the city and all over the culinary spectrum. From fiery jerk chicken in Petworth to homemade ramen in Bethesda to the meal of a lifetime in Dupont Circle, I enjoyed every bite–and wrote about it all on this blog.

Now, I’m eating and writing in Philadelphia, my adopted home for the next 3 years while I’m in law school. Being new to Philly, I’m excited to see what the city has to offer beyond cheesesteaks, hoagies, and tastykakes (though obviously, I’ll have to try all of those too). I’ll be on the lookout for cheap eats, hidden gems, and free food-related festivals around the city, and hope to share dining tips with all those other unpaid gourmets out there!

If you would like to contact me, please email me at: gourmetmackie@gmail.com