Subhead Goes Here

Linh Phillips ���Ĵ�ý�13S (MBA) has long been the food expert in her circle of friends���Ĵ�ý�the one people turned to for brunch recommendations or date night ideas. She always knew which restaurants offered the trendiest and tastiest foods, and how to find Rochester���Ĵ�ý�s hidden gems. So in late 2014, she combined her passion for food with the marketing know-how she gained at the Simon Business School to launch her blog Sir Rocha Says. The goal: to help others discover new food and drink experiences and fall in love with Rochester. She has since become a social media force, with more than 27,000 followers on Instagram alone.

Phillips took on the name of Sir Rocha Says [pronounced Sir-Rah-Cha Says] for several reasons. It���Ĵ�ý�s a playful twist on the oft-heard local phrase, ���Ĵ�ý�RoChaCha.���Ĵ�ý� It also plays off of her love of sriracha, the popular condiment. Her social media pseudonym pays homage to her parents, too. In the late 1970s, they left war-torn Vietnam and immigrated to the U.S. ���Ĵ�ý�After the Vietnam War, my parents and sister fled to Malaysia with just the clothes on their backs,���Ĵ�ý� she says.

���Ĵ�ý�After eight months in a refugee camp, they received the good news that two Rochester families would help sponsor them. They arrived in a new country and had to completely start over. The name ���Ĵ�ý�Sir Rocha Says���Ĵ�ý� gives me an opportunity to pay tribute to their courageous journey.���Ĵ�ý�

���Ĵ�ý�Adding ���Ĵ�ý�Rocha���Ĵ�ý� to my brand name,���Ĵ�ý� Phillips adds, ���Ĵ�ý�also underscores my gratitude to Rochester, aligns with my devotion to this city, and supports my interest in helping local businesses thrive.���Ĵ�ý�

By bringing her firsthand experiences, inspiring photos, and food-worthy insights to social media, Phillips has met her goal of bringing the best of Rochester���Ĵ�ý�s eateries and community to her followers. As a self-described ���Ĵ�ý�experiential explorer,���Ĵ�ý� she says that being a food lover has given her opportunities to connect with the community, hear their stories, and become immersed in the foods of different cultures and backgrounds���Ĵ�ý�something she relishes. For her, it���Ĵ�ý�s all about shining a positive light on Rochester.

With the holidays approaching, Phillips notes some of her favorite family traditions. ���Ĵ�ý�We include Vietnamese fried eggs rolls (chả giò) at every Thanksgiving and Christmas meal,���Ĵ�ý� she says. ���Ĵ�ý�We love blending Vietnamese and American foods during the holidays and throughout the year.���Ĵ�ý�

When Phillips isn���Ĵ�ý�t eating, posting, or blogging, she works as a marketing research expert, helping beverage brands grow. She also thrives on spending time with her husband and 18-month-old son, who often join her on her food adventures. ���Ĵ�ý�I really enjoy offering people fun and mouth-watering ways to discover new places to eat and rediscover places that they may not have visited in a while,���Ĵ�ý� she says. ���Ĵ�ý�I want everyone to have a full repertoire of amazing local restaurants and places to visit and support.���Ĵ�ý�

Learn more at SirRochaSays.com. Look for @sirrochasays on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.