Conversations with Cece Murray

Hi Cece, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstories.
I am an International Business and Marketing double major at Belmont University. I started the food blog, Hidden Flavors in Music City as part of a project for my Social Media Marketing Class. While it began as a class project, it has also become a labor of love, incorporating two of my passions, food and exploring Nashville. I come from a long family line of self-proclaimed foodies. My mother comes from a large Lebanese family that equates preparing and sharing meals as a way of expressing love, and my father is a fabulous cook who instilled in my brothers and me a love for cooking and eating. My dad is an adventurous cook who loves to try new recipes from cultures from around the world, and the golden rule growing up was that you have to try something before you can say you don’t like it. Additionally, as I have gotten older, I have discovered that I, like many today. Suffer from some food sensitivities and exploring restaurants offering various menu options for others with sensitivities and food allergies is important to me, while also figuring out and sharing how to eat out regularly while on a college student budget.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest obstacle I have faced to date is being a college student and balancing classwork as a double major and work. Also, I am very new to the world of being a food blogger and have been so grateful to all those that have started following my Hidden Flavors in Music City blog. I still have a lot to learn.

Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
Now, I am a full-time student, food blogger, and nanny for several families. I also recently became the President of the collegiate chapter of the American Marketing Association at Belmont. I love food, adventure, exploring Nashville, which in recent years has become my home (I am originally from Louisville, KY), and meeting people. While I don’t know if my blog, Hidden Flavors in Music City, will be a long-term career, I plan to keep it going for as long as people are interested in it. I recently learned that I have followers as far away as Australia. Something that sets me apart is that I am not afraid to take on a challenge, am very hard-working, and am goal-oriented. While I like jobs that afford me a creative outlet, I am also motivated to give back to my community. Nashville is known for music, but the city offers so much more. My blog can spotlight restaurants that may not be tourist hotspots while also providing consumers with valuable information, including wonderful food and menu options (particularly for those who suffer from food sensitivities and allergies) and eating out on a budget.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Someone who has been a major influence in my life, and a mentor, is my grandfather. He passed away this past April after a long fight with cancer. He was a prolific entrepreneur, starting various business ventures throughout his life, and a big inspiration to me. Growing up, my family and I traveled a lot with my grandfather, and he loved trying new restaurants. As I said, gathering for a meal, whether at home or a restaurant/café, symbolized community, family, and celebration. He and I had been talking about a food blog before his passing, and in addition to giving me great business advice, he was also a great cheerleader. I think about him daily and wish to get his input on my weekly blogs. He was also an English major in college, and I am sure he would have some valuable grammar and punctuation feedback. In terms of advising others regarding finding a mentor, I have to be honest, I am a novice at this point, but I guess I would say it is important to seek advice from someone who shares your passion, someone you trust has your best interest at heart, and someone who can say it like it is with regards to feedback (both critical and positive).

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