Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Mack.
Hi Victoria, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey has always been rooted in creativity, service, and storytelling. As a proud West Side Chicago native, I’ve spent years exploring different creative paths—from working in television and film to entrepreneurship and community outreach. Every experience taught me something valuable about people and the power of sharing their stories.
That passion led me to create “Fork Da Rulez Y’all”, a platform that encourages people to step outside the ordinary and discover the incredible locally owned businesses that make our communities unique. What began as a love for finding hidden gems has evolved into a multimedia brand that includes video features, interviews, and **The Forkés Magazine**, where we celebrate food, culture, entrepreneurship, and the people behind the businesses.
What drives me every day is knowing that every bakery, café, food co-op, restaurant, or neighborhood market has a story worth telling. I love sitting down with business owners, learning how they got started, and sharing their journey with others. Those conversations often inspire people not only to visit a new place, but also to support local entrepreneurs and appreciate the communities around them.
Looking back, I realize my journey has never just been about food. It’s been about creating meaningful connections, preserving stories, and building a platform that celebrates community, culture, and the entrepreneurial spirit. I’m excited to continue growing Fork Da Rulez Y’all while introducing even more people to the amazing businesses and individuals who make our neighborhoods so special.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I don’t think the most meaningful journeys ever are. Behind every interview, magazine feature, or business visit are countless hours of planning, researching, filming, editing, networking, and believing in a vision before anyone else could fully see it.
Like many entrepreneurs, I’ve experienced financial challenges, moments of self-doubt, and seasons where I questioned whether I was moving fast enough. There were times when I was producing content, building a magazine, growing a brand, and wearing every hat imaginable—all while navigating personal hardships and unexpected life changes. Those experiences taught me resilience in a way that success alone never could.
One of the biggest challenges has also been one of my greatest motivations: convincing people that Fork Da Rulez Y’all is about much more than food. Yes, we feature incredible bakeries, cafés, markets, and restaurants, but what we’re really preserving are the stories behind them. Every family recipe, every first customer, every risk an entrepreneur took to open their doors—that’s the part that inspires me.
I’ve also learned not to measure my journey against someone else’s timeline. In today’s world, it’s easy to compare yourself to brands that appear to have grown overnight, but what people don’t always see are the years of hard work, sacrifice, and persistence behind that success. I’ve learned to celebrate every milestone, no matter how small, because each one represents progress.
Looking back, I wouldn’t erase the difficult seasons. They strengthened my faith, sharpened my purpose, and reminded me that success isn’t only measured by numbers—it’s measured by impact. If my work helps a small business gain new customers, encourages someone to support local, or inspires another entrepreneur to believe in their own dream, then every obstacle along the way has been worth it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Fork Da Rulez Y’all presented by Mz. V Kitchen LLC is a multimedia platform that celebrates the people, passion, and purpose behind locally owned food businesses. While many food platforms focus primarily on reviews, my mission is different. I use food as the doorway into stories about entrepreneurship, culture, family traditions, and the communities that make neighborhoods special.
Through on-location video features, interviews, photography, and “The Forkés Magazine”, I highlight bakeries, cafés, food co-ops, specialty markets, farmers, vendors and other locally owned businesses that deserve to be seen. I enjoy sitting down with owners to learn what inspired them to start, what keeps them going, and what makes their business unique. Those conversations often become the most memorable part of every feature.
I think what sets Fork Da Rulez Y’all apart is authenticity. I don’t walk into a business looking for something to criticize or create controversy. I walk in with genuine curiosity and a desire to understand the people behind the brand. My goal is to leave every owner feeling seen, appreciated, and proud to share their story.
One of the things I’m most proud of is building a platform that welcomes everyone. We celebrate businesses from all cultures and backgrounds because great food has always had a way of bringing people together. Whether I’m visiting a neighborhood bakery, an international market, a family-owned restaurant, or a community food co-op, the mission remains the same: to celebrate the people who help our communities thrive.
As the brand continues to grow, my vision is to expand beyond Chicago into cities across the country, introducing audiences to hidden gems they may have never discovered otherwise. Through storytelling, partnerships, community events, and The Forkés Magazine, I hope to inspire people to shop local, explore new cultures, and support the entrepreneurs whose hard work often goes unnoticed.
At its heart, Fork Da Rulez Y’all is about one simple idea: every business has a story, every community has a culture, and every entrepreneur deserves the opportunity to be celebrated.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that mentorship doesn’t always look the way you expect. Sometimes your mentor is someone you meet for coffee once a year. Sometimes it’s someone whose work you admire from afar. And sometimes it’s the business owner who shares a lesson with you during a 30-minute interview that changes how you think about your own journey.
When it comes to networking, I’ve found that genuine relationships always outlast transactional ones. I never approach people thinking about what they can do for me. Instead, I try to learn their story, understand their passion, and look for ways we can support one another. People remember how you make them feel, and authentic relationships often lead to opportunities you could never have planned.
Another piece of advice is to be prepared before you walk into the room. Know your story, know your mission, and be able to clearly explain what you do and why it matters. Confidence doesn’t come from having all the answers—it comes from being prepared and believing in your purpose.
I’d also encourage people not to be afraid to introduce themselves. Some of my favorite conversations have started with a simple hello. You never know who you’ll meet or where one conversation might lead.
Finally, don’t focus only on finding people who are ahead of you. Build a community with people who are growing alongside you. Celebrate each other’s wins, share resources, and stay connected. Success is rarely built alone, and the strongest networks are rooted in mutual respect, generosity, and a willingness to help others succeed too.
Pricing:
- Free
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.forkdarulez.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forkdarulez
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MzVKitchen
