At the forefront of Isabel Protomartir’s upbringing was a huge family that never needed an excuse to celebrate. Food, music and laughter are pinnacles of her Filipino roots, to which she has held fast, especially after immigrating to the United States. Growing up in Alief, one of Houston’s most diverse communities, ignited Protomartir's passion for learning about different cultures through food.

While pursuing her university career, the loss of a family member led Protomartir to pause her studies and return home to Houston. During that time, she reconnected with her love for cooking, culture, and storytelling. Diving headfirst into Instagram and the new waves of social media, she began sharing dishes she cooked, stories of her family, and her favorite local haunts.

In 2014, Protomartir helped Tastemade launch a new video platform in Houston, showcasing the people and food that make it special by leveraging her knowledge of lesser-known establishments and mom-and-pop eateries. Not long after, Protomartir joined the BestFoodHouston team to manage an organically grown Instagram community enthusiastic about Houston’s vibrant food scene, which grew to nearly 100,000 strong by 2015. 

Protomartir began providing her expertise in social media for KPC in 2017. She supports efforts to share our clients’ stories across social platforms, including through live event coverage and influencer collaborations. 

When she’s not crafting pitch-perfect posts for social media or forging meaningful engagement with digital communities, Protomartir enjoys being in the kitchen, co-hosting Instagram cooking videos with her dog and kitten sous chefs and sharing photos of her homemade creations and, sometimes, her nieces.

What Ignites Me

funky soul music // hosting chinatown tours amongst friends // strong coffee // karaoke // saturday mornings at the farmers market // comic books // cooking with loved ones // spirited debates // exploring an unfamiliar market // natural lighting // laughing 'til you cry