Meet Joanna Moeller, the food content creator behind the rapidly growing Instagram page @spaghettiroots_nyc. With daily reels featuring mouth-watering recipes inspired by her Italian-New Yorker upbringing, Joanna has captured the hearts (and appetites) of thousands. Her soothing voice and playful background music bring a comforting charm to her content, making her page a daily go-to for food lovers. Curious to learn more about the woman behind the camera, we sat down with Joanna to discuss how she turned her passion into an Instagram sensation, her favorite fashion pieces, and how she juggles home life with her flourishing online presence.
What were your thoughts prior to beginning the Instagram page? Did you have doubts about starting? Sometimes people can feel unsure of themselves when starting something new. Did you? Or did you go about it in a really playful way and not think too much?
Joanna Moeller: My thoughts prior to starting @spagheittiroots_nyc were definitely mixed. I knew I had a passion and a desire to create and truly stood behind my food, however the biggest insecurity/ challenge was my voice and my reserved nature. I wasn’t sure how that would be perceived considering you see lots of big personalities and voices that do really well. I think it had a lot to do with modeling throughout my childhood. I was always super camera shy and quiet compared to most of the other kids that I worked with and that always felt like a bit of a set back to me. However, I am a person that embraces challenges and I certainly didn’t want that to stop me from creating. I just put myself out there on the ledge and somehow it seemed to work. Funny enough, my biggest insecurity is what people love the most about my reels.
What is your advice on anyone who wants to pursue a new creative endeavor?
I would advise anyone who would like to start a new creative endeavor to just START. Everyone has to start somewhere. I believe if it’s truly fitting for you, you put in the work and can honestly say that you love what you do, you will have success with it. Might not be immediate, but there will be success one way or another. For me, I already have success for myself. I’ve created a sense of purpose. I wake up in the morning and get so excited thinking about new dishes and food combinations, the vibe that I want to set, what music I will select and how I can capture a dish. It honestly fulfills my soul.
You just spent the day out of the house, whether working or running errands. Now you're back home, starving, and need to prepare dinner (either for yourself or your family). What would you recommend the reader to make?
If I just got home, tired, hungry and unprepared, my “go to” dish would always be a pasta, probably an aglio olio. I usually always have some sort of leafy green vegetable in my fridge so I would sauté that with lots of sliced garlic and dried chilies, cook the pasta super al dente and add in a bit of salty pasta water. I think that’s one of my favorites.
What are the three basic ingredients you cannot live without?
Good olive oil, flaky sea salt and some sort of chili pepper.
What are three wardrobe pieces you cannot live without?
Three wardrobe items that I cannot live without are definitely good sneakers, I’m a true Nike girl, a good coat and most definitely a great bag to run around this city in!
What do you love about your new L’Editrice Honey Suede bag?
What I absolutely love about my new L’Editrice Honey Suede bag is, first and foremost, the quality. It feels so beautiful. I love the neutral color. The zipper is key, especially living in an urban environment. It’s just gorgeous and I can’t even tell you how many people compliment the beauty of this bag. Oh and did I mention how much I love your company?!
What is one thing we might get wrong about you or be surprised to learn?
One thing many people get wrong about me, is that things come easy for me. I think there’s a way to make things appear that way, but I work very hard to create that. I’m trying to work in a fully operational household in NYC with 3 dogs, two kids and a husband that primarily works from home- so there are always people here, dogs barking, doorbells ringing, cooking meals in between of what I’m trying to create and then taking my early evening to edit and get my reel out that evening. It’s not for everyone, but it’s definitely for me!
What was your New Year's resolution this year?
I am most certainly not a resolution person:))!! I live in the moment and take things day by day…my life motto.
