Guys Who Know Their Grub! Meet the Foodfluencers of Long Island
By Melanie Karniewich
The debate continues: are there more male or female food bloggers? Seven years ago Brandwatch reported that food bloggers were 76% female and 21% male. Fast forward to 2024 and while it still may be the case that there are more female bloggers than males, we found some men who know their onions and write about it online.
Brendan McLaughlin @lickisland
Brendan McLaughlin created @lickisland in the summer of 2015 after attending the St. Rocco’s Feast in Glen Cove. “It’s always been something that my family and I have gone to every single year since I can remember,” said McLaughlin.
He was always looking for an interesting career path which led him to major in Communications during his time in college. He has experience of being a publicist, social media, and television. All coming together with his passion and hard work, the account has just over 12,000 followers
He wanted to be able to give back to the community he grew up in, highlighting the businesses that wake up every day hoping to make people smile. “It is so important to support the dream, the vision, the passion of the people that you have the honor and privilege of living next door to,” McLaughlin said. One thing that people can find within his food and personal content is his 100% authenticity.
Currently, McLaughlin is working in marketing after taking a step back from food blogging and working on his personal account, @iambrendanmac, with 25,300 followers.
Anthony Laurino @philspizzasyosset
Food bloggers can also be the person running your favorite restaurant. Meet Anthony Laurino, owner of Phil’s Pizzeria & Restaurant in Syosset and personality in front of the camera. Their Instagram and Facebook accounts, @philspizzasyosset, have a collective of 152,000 followers.
He talked about how he steps into the spotlight for his hilarious point-of-view videos, using them as a way to attract and engage new customers. “I do it for the business, I do it for my family. I saw what it was bringing in and saw what I was getting so I said ‘Let me come out of my shell and do this crazy stuff.’ ”
He continues to explore creative strategies to connect with his audience. “What I would do is make something and post on social media, something that wasn’t on our menu. When people would come in and ask for it or call, I would know,” he said.
Since launching its account in 2017 for News12’s Food Fight series, Phil’s Pizzeria & Restaurant found its way as a Long Island must-see. Working alongside his wife Vincenza and their children, he arrives at the restaurant hours before opening to create content for their platforms.
Laurino is a staple to the community, not only for his content creation but also as one of the founders of Long Island Pizza Strong. Their mission is to support local causes by partnering with Long Island pizzerias, donating $5 from every pie sold on a designated day.
Salvatore DiBenedetto @thegrubfather
Under the careful eye of Salvatore DiBenedetto, the account has flourished on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok with a combined total of 505,000 followers. His fun personality and creative mind bring food content to a whole new level of engagement. DiBenedetto also contributes content to a traveler’s resource outlet called @travelandleisure and @michelinguide, which focus on premier dining.
@eatingnewyork
This account covers all New York food and lifestyle and aims to feature other content creators, restaurants, and local spots across the island into the city. With a combined 436,700 followers on Instagram and Facebook, it’s apparent that this is prime content for juicy and flavorful foods. Since August 2014, it has grown into a hub for food enthusiasts, providing a dive into New York’s dynamic food scene.
@eatsagraming
Based on Long Island, the account has a combined following of just under 13,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok. The account posts about local spots, quick options, and food that gives you a sit-down experience. Another highlight is they post content about home-cooked recipes that will get you to achieve the same flavor and presentation from the comfort of your own home.
Brenner Bachman @brennerbites
Brenner Bachman is conquering all the New York City food scenes and documenting it for his 5,686 followers on Instagram. On his page, you can find what’s-not-to-love burgers, cooked-to-perfection steaks, and much more. Whether you watch any of his stories or scroll through his feed, there is for sure a cuisine to catch your eyes and your stomach.
National food bloggers
National food blogging accounts are another great plus to discovering new finds that are beyond Long Island. Dave Portnoy runs @stoolpresidente over on Instagram, dishing out pizza reviews to his 5.3 million followers. Another fan favorite is Keith Lee, who runs @keith_lee125 on TikTok. What gained him traction to now having 16.8 million followers is the authentic sit-down car reviews for local restaurants all over the country.
No matter who piques your interest, each food blogger is creating content that explores food through one delicious snapshot or clip at a time.
Melanie Karniewich is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
