Y'all, I Finally Built The Website

Welcome, friends—old and new. I’m Delia Jo, and after years of dreaming, detouring, and dipping chips across the South, I’ve finally built the website I’ve always needed: a place to share the messy, magical, queso-covered journey that brought me back to myself.

You may know me as the voice behind Dining with Delia Jo, or maybe you found me through my book Nashville Cocktails: Spirits. Funny thing is, I stopped drinking just after that book came out. Since then, I’ve been writing and living with a lot more clarity, a lot more faith, and a lot more cheese dip.

This site is still rooted in Nashville—my creative home, my healing ground, and the city that gave me my sparkle back. But it’s also a space for so much more. More destinations. More depth. More of the real me.

What You’ll Find Here

This isn’t just a food blog. It’s a love letter to the South, a sobriety-soaked travel journal, and a safe place for folks who feel a little too much (me too).

Here’s what to expect:

• City Guides: Starting with Nashville, now expanding into Huntsville, Louisville, and beyond—featuring the places and plates that helped me heal.

• Queso Trails & Comfort Food: My legendary cheese dip adventures, Southern staples, and sensory-safe favorites.

• The Sparkle Effect Stories: Random acts of kindness, recovery reflections, grief notes, and the faith that carries me through it all.

• Zero-Proof Living: A fresh look at food, fun, and celebration—without the booze.

Why “Delia Jo”?

Because that’s who I’ve always been. The name on my birth certificate. The one my mama used when she was proud or mad (or both). It’s the version of me who writes with heart, lives with grace, and doesn’t mask anymore. She doesn't have to hide behind a fork anymore.

This site is for her—and for you.

So whether you’re here for the queso, the city guides, the sober sparkle, or the stories behind it all: welcome home.

The Sparkle Effect

Let me tell you a secret: I built my comeback on a disco ball. Not the kind hanging in a bar, but the kind made of every broken piece of me. Grief. Sobriety. Neurodivergence. Love. Loss. Laughter. Cheese dip. Faith. Nashville.

And from that, something beautiful started forming: The Sparkle Effect—my personal mission to spread light, generosity, and connection through storytelling, food, and small, intentional acts of joy.

This website? It’s just a small part of that effect.

Up Next on the Blog:

• Nashville Without the Hangover: My Favorite Zero-Proof Sips

• Why Cheese Dip Saved Me: A Road Trip to Arkansas & Back Again

• A Love Letter to Huntsville: Coming Home with a Full Heart

Grab a blanket, pour something cozy, and stay awhile.

We’re just getting started—and I’ve saved you a seat at the table.

With sparkle + cheese,

Delia Jo