From Sandwiches to Signatures: How One Food Pic Sparked a Journey

Look at this picture! I didn’t know it then, but that ordinary day would unknowingly become a quiet turning point in my story. I had no fancy camera, no special filter—just a simple countertop, six basic sandwiches, and a moment that felt oddly… satisfying. Something about stacking those slices of bread, seeing them lined up in perfect rows, made me pause and snap a picture. That photo—the first food picture I ever posted on Instagram—wasn’t about gourmet presentation or viral trends. It was about intention. Simplicity. Nourishment. And unknowingly, legacy.

Back then, I was just a guy trying to make it—hustling, learning, growing, and occasionally throwing together lunch with whatever was in the fridge. I didn’t have a brand, a following, or a business. I had a craving—for more. Not just more food (though, let’s be honest, that too), but more life. More flavor. More freedom. More meaning.

Fast forward over a decade, and here I am: That Mortgage Foodie.

I've built a career helping people unlock doors—literally and figuratively—through homeownership, investment opportunities, and financial empowerment. But what most people don’t realize is that the “Foodie” in my brand isn’t just a fun tagline. It’s a tribute to the journey. To the grind. To the truth that sometimes, your purpose shows up quietly—like six sandwiches on a speckled countertop.

In between loan closings and underwriting, I’ve chased flavors that remind me of kitchens around the world—from street tacos, to bowls of pho, to creamy risottos that bring Italy to mind. I’ve lifted weights in hotel gyms, found peace in yoga studios, and laughed to tears with the comedians who’ve shaped my sense of humor. And always—always—I’ve stayed grounded in gratitude.

Because while life has taken me to places I once dreamed about, I never forget where it started.

It started with that picture.

It started with showing up.

It started with the idea that even the smallest things—like feeding yourself, or helping someone else feed their family—matter.

So to anyone reading this: Maybe you’re in your own sandwich season right now. Maybe your dreams feel far off, or your posts feel like they’re floating into the void. But keep going. Keep sharing. Keep stacking what you have, however imperfect, because it does add up.

Looking back, that first photo wasn’t just lunch.

It was a preview of a life I was building—bite by bite, brick by brick.

And I’m just getting started.

With gratitude,

Larry

That Mortgage Foodie— Bridging homes and flavor, one client (and meal) at a time.