As a universal language, we all know food has the power to bring people together even in the unlikeliest of circumstances, transcending barriers.
For Virginia-based chef, organic farmer and mom, Nicole Russo, although she has always looked at her passion for gardening, cooking and homesteading as a way to bring joy, community and connection in the world, a negative situation earlier this summer which went viral on social media would really test her resolve in this outlook.
Based in Gate City, Virginia, Nicole took to TikTok to recount a rather humiliating experience with her followers. She was turned away by the homeowners of a Fourth of July “gathering,” which she had been invited to by her son’s best friend’s mother, and where she brought an antipasto salad with tomatoes and vegetables from her garden and homemade fresh mozzarella cheese as a kind gesture, because she was relatively new to the area.
But when she arrived at the party, she was treated badly by the party hosts, forcing her to leave in tears. It seems there was a miscommunication about whether she should’ve been invited in the first place, but instead of welcoming a new person into their community to gather around food and the holiday, Nicole was made to feel like an intruder.
She recounted the ordeal in a viral video which now has nearly 40 million views and counting. Followers were shocked at the bullying leveled her way, which led to an outpouring of support, sparking many conversations about the incident.
“After it went viral the entire town basically came after me, doxing my son, threatening police on me and my husband and even trespassing on my property and draining our only water for the farm and house,” she said in a press statement.
Having navigated a challenging and embarrassing situation, Nicole has discovered a powerful sense of optimism and is eager to share that renewed perspective with the world and her new followers (today she has over 600,000 followers on TikTok!) along with her delicious recipes and herbal remedies.
Nicole is no stranger to finding or creating the positive in a difficult situation, as she has done this many times throughout her life and career, with food being the common denominator. Nicole was born in Cambridge, NY, to two chefs, Nancy and Anthony, who owned many Italian restaurants and pizza shops in the upstate New York area. She was raised around very strong Sicilian women on her father’s side and learned to cook, preserve and garden from them and her mother.
Nothing came easy to Nicole. She worked extremely hard just to keep food on the table. She became pregnant with her first child Vera in 2006 and was a single mother until 2014 when she married her first husband, and they had their son in 2015. By then, she had been in the hospitality industry on and off for the better half of her life. And by 2018 she was opening her first restaurant in Clifton Park, NY with her father Anthony. When COVID hit, everything she worked so hard for basically went down the drain, and her marriage ended as well.
So she had to pivot, getting qualifications in cosmetology and barbering, but her heart was still in the food world. In 2020 she met her now husband Chris, who encouraged her to get back to her passion and invest in her social media presence which was growing substantially. On a whim, she and Chris decided to relocate for a fresh start, put up their home for sale, and settled in the small rural town of Gate City, Virginia. She was living her dream, settling in a beautiful old farm house, sharing her homestead life with a growing fanbase on social media. Until the incident on Fourth of July…
Despite how the incident made her feel, Nicole hasn’t lost hope in herself or her ability to show others how food can be an opportunity to bring people into community and create connection, instead of exclusion. And judging by the overwhelming outpouring of support from online followers, she knows that by being vulnerable and sharing her story, she can inspire others to do the same.
We had the chance to speak with Nicole about how, despite life’s ups and downs, food has always been the source of joy and empowerment in her life, and what her plans are for the future of her business.
@folkmedicineremedies #thankyou ! Again. You’ve all just changed my perspective on many things. So here is the #july4th #antipasto ish salad from me 😆 the #saladlady 🤣#tiktoklearningcampaign #entrepreneur #fyp #reels ♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ – John (Songs Station) – สุขภาพดีกับเภเบิร์ด
Where did your love of food, homesteading and gardening come from? Was it always something you have been passionate about?
I was raised in the restaurant industry and also in a self-sustaining household. I remember always being passionate about creating something that made people feel good whether it be plants, food or anything in between.
Your now-viral video about the 4th July Fiasco enabled so many people to hear your story, learn about your business, and discuss bullying in social settings. How have you managed to process everything that happened on that day and on social media almost 2 months later?
To be very honest, I still haven’t processed it all yet. It’s a lot to break down. But it has opened my eyes to the amount of wonderful people that have surrounded and welcomed me with open arms. That’s truly a humbling experience. I enjoy giving others a sense of belonging.
As a busy mom who has balanced family and work for many years, as well as losing a business during the pandemic, divorce, and major life upheavals, what are some of the biggest lessons you have learned about being an entrepreneur?
I’ve learned that resilience and adaptability are critical. Businesses and life don’t always go as planned, so being able to pivot quickly — and keep going even after setbacks is what sustains me.
What brings you the most joy about food, cooking, and sharing your videos on social media?
What brings me the most joy is that food and cooking are such universal languages — they bring people together. Sharing my videos on social media gives me a chance to connect with people I may never meet in person, and when I hear that a recipe inspired someone, or that they cooked it with their family, that’s the most rewarding part. It’s about creativity, connection, and community all in one.
How has social media enabled you to grow your business and inspire your creativity?
Social media has completely transformed how I grow my business. It’s given me a platform to share my passion for food and connect with people far beyond my local community. It’s not just about visibility — it’s about building authentic relationships and a supportive community around my brand. At the same time, the creativity flows both ways: audience feedback, collaboration with other creators, and exposure to global food trends continually spark new ideas for me. In many ways, social media has become both my marketplace and my creative studio.
What are your favorite ingredients to work with?
Oh, that’s a tough one. I love working with fresh local ingredients, but I also love trying new exotic foods and spices and incorporating them into more traditional recipes, and breaking down the histories behind them all.
@folkmedicineremedies A fun late August #summertime #snack that is just as fancy as it is #deliciousfood ! #fyp #peachrings ♬ original sound – folkmedicineremedies
For folks who want to dabble in homesteading or growing their own ingredients, what do they need to prepare in their backyard?
For anyone wanting to start homesteading or grow their own ingredients, the most important thing to prepare is your soil. You don’t need a lot of land, but you do need healthy, living soil, because it’s the foundation of everything that grows. Start by adding compost, doing a basic soil test, and if your ground isn’t great, try raised beds or containers. Think of it like cooking: if you start with the best ingredients, the outcome is naturally better. With good soil, your backyard garden has the best chance to thrive.
Difficult situations can do one of two things: make us or break us. You have dealt with the 4th July fiasco admirably. What have you learned about yourself, and other people, from this experience?
The 4th of July situation was tough, but it taught me a lot about myself. I realized I’m more resilient than I thought, and that I can stay calm and solution-focused even when I’m completely humiliated.
I also learned that people appreciate authenticity — even when things aren’t perfect. Some responses weren’t positive, but I found that many people were incredibly supportive, which reminded me of the value of community. The biggest takeaway for me is that difficult situations don’t have to break you — they can actually strengthen your resilience, your relationships, and your ability to lead with grace.
Food is a vital ingredient for bringing people together. How do you hope to do this more, and how would you encourage other people to use food as a way to invite new people into their lives and create community?
Food is such a natural connector — it tells stories, carries memories, and creates space for people to come together. I hope to continue building community through the recipes I share and by creating spaces where people feel welcome, whether online or at the table. For others, I’d encourage starting simple: invite someone over for coffee, share a family dish with a neighbor, or host a small “get together.” 😉
It doesn’t have to be perfect — the beauty is in the sharing and friendship it builds.
Food is really just an invitation to connection, and the more we use it that way, the stronger our communities become. (In my personal opinion).
What is next for you? Can you share any big plans for the future?
What’s next for me is really exciting — I’m working on a calendar filled with recipes, gardening tips, and seasonal inspiration to help people cook and grow along with the year. I’m also beginning work on a book that weaves together good recipes with the botany behind them, so it’s not just about cooking but also about understanding the plants and where our food really comes from.
At the same time, I’ll continue creating content, because I want this knowledge to be accessible. A lot of food and gardening wisdom is in danger of being lost, and I see it as my mission to preserve it in a way that’s approachable and useful for anyone. For me, it’s all about helping people feel more connected — to their food, to each other, and to the joy of growing and creating.
You can follow Nicole on TikTok and Facebook, and check out Wonderlost Homestead on Ebay and her online antipasto merchandise store.
