My First: Abi Marquez’s secret ingredient to her internet success

Aug 27, 2024

Cover TikTok’s Lumpia Queen Abi Marquez reminds us all that sometimes the best recipes for success come from the most unexpected ingredients (Photo: Wesley Villarica)

TikTok’s Lumpia Queen Abi Marquez reminds us all that sometimes the best recipes for success come from the most unexpected ingredients (Photo: Wesley Villarica)

1 / 1

In this episode of “My First”, food content creator Abi Marquez, better known as TikTok’s ‘Lumpia Queen’, shares the surprising story behind her big break (and no, it wasn’t in a lumpia wrapper)

Known fondly as the queen of lumpia, the golden, crispy Filipino cousin of a spring roll, Abi Marquez began her journey in the humble confines of her kitchen, where she blended her passions for food and filmmaking during the pandemic. While others perfected their sourdough, she channelled her frustrations and hopes into crisp wrappers.

Many might assume her big break came from her mouthwatering peach mango lumpia recipe, a sweet twist on the traditionally savoury snack. But Marquez credits much of her success to Erwan Heussaff, the gastronome preserving Filipino culinary traditions through his new media companies Featr and The Fat Kid Inside Studios. Through working together, Heussaff helped improve her creative skills and foodie knowledge.

From the classic sweet peach mango pie to daring new experiments like lumpia-wrapped fried chicken and even sushi, Marquez’s creations are as varied as her nearly four million followers are enthusiastic. With nominations from the Webby Awards and James Beard Awards, Marquez proves anyone can turn cooking into an engaging adventure.

In June, Tatler Gen.T recognised Marquez as one of our Leaders of Tomorrow 2024. In our latest series My First, a collection of one-minute videos featuring our honourees’ first pivotal moments in their careers, we invited Marquez to share her inspiring story. Here are the highlights of her interview.

Watch the My First series on the Tatler Gen.T Instagram, Facebook or YouTube.

View this post on Instagram

Her role model

“I started out as just a person making fun videos in their kitchen. But the turning point was when Erwan Heussaff of The Fat Kid Inside Studios reached out to me.

“To me, that is one of the most impactful things that happened in my career because I finally had a good role model that I could work with and get insights from. Every successful person needs a role model who shows you how the industry works. It teaches you to dream higher.”

Learning from experts

“When you’re exposed to high-level production and people who are really good at what they do, try to be a sponge and absorb everything.

“Working with The Fat Kid Inside Studios was my first time working with a team. It taught me a lot about collaboration. Learning to work with other creative minds humbles you because you realise there’s so much more to learn. In the creative industry, or anywhere in life, if you want to scale, you have to learn to work with others.”

Putting self-care first

View this post on Instagram

“In this industry, there’s one thing I learned: I have to take care of myself because I am on camera. A big part of my videos is me and my energy. My health, my mental health and my well-being are reflected in my videos. So I have to make a conscious effort to take care of myself because I am part of what makes the content engaging.”

Dealing with online comparisons

“Because you put yourself out there [on social media], it’s inevitable to have moments of doubt. For us creators, we’re not just putting ourselves in public. We’re also giving our best to each of the projects we take on, and we are subjecting them to the public’s opinion.

“Sometimes you see others and wonder if you’re doing enough. But what I’ve realised is that at the end of the day, it’s knowing you did your best and being proud of your work. The only person you have to satisfy at the end of the day is yourself.”

Broadening her horizons

“Whenever I travel, my mindset is to go first to the marketplace, check out the local produce and eat the food that locals eat every day; not just the high-end restaurant dishes.

“This career has given me the chance to explore flavours I never imagined trying before, like crickets in Thailand or strong fermented dishes. Travelling has helped me consciously develop my palate, pushing me to embrace new culinary experiences and broaden my understanding of food.”

Her morning routine

“The first thing I do in the morning after brushing my teeth and washing my face is eat in silence. That moment of solitude and quiet gives my brain time to absorb everything around me and think about what I’m going to do for the day. Setting your goals from the very beginning sets the direction and ensures that you accomplish what you need to.”

Quotes are edited for brevity and clarity.

Meet more Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024 from Media & Marketing.

NOW READ

5 ways to cultivate the innovator’s mindset in your company

How young leaders are reviving Asia’s cultural heritage

Watch out—AI Monica can read, chat and serve the ultimate burn of your Instagram profile

Topics

TikTok Social media Internet Content