We Got The Dish From Five of Long Island’s Top Foodfluencers
By Melanie Karniewich
Foodfluencers: (n) A portmanteau of the words food and influencer. Foodfluencers are content creators who use social media to share food-related content with their followers on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. They are skilled storytellers who create engaging content that inspires, educates, and delights audiences.
With such a vibrant food scene on Long Island even locals are in need of a little help when it comes to picking a great place to grab a drink with a waterview or the best brunch. Nevermind the tourists who come to Long Island on the hunt for the best places to eat and drink. With so many options, where do you even begin?
That’s where Long Island’s foodfluencers come in. Whether you’re searching for a hidden gem that won’t break the bank or a beloved local eatery that embodies the island’s spirit, these food bloggers have you covered.
The visual tapestry these foodies weave online not only inspire culinary creativity but also connect communities, highlighting mouthwatering dishes that reflect the essence of Long Island. In fact, foodfluencers are now essential to the food scene—who better to dish out the latest finds than the ones who live and breathe the local flavors?
Here are five must-follow Long Island foodfluencers who will satisfy your cravings and keep you in the know.
Melissa Mooney, @lieats
Melissa Mooney has been showcasing delicious and memorable spots since 2012. In the beginning, she was solely posting to her personal Instagram. However, she soon realized this would be a business when her content began to skyrocket over four years.
Mooney has been in healthcare for 15 years. The work-life balance between her two passions as well as being a mother is a challenging but rewarding one.
“The demand [for content] is really high right now,” she said. “Which is a great thing and it’s really exciting for influencers. I’m still figuring out the work-life balance.”
Sometimes she is able to bring her husband and daughter along for the ride to tastings.
“It’s nice to be able to include my daughter in these things,” Mooney said. “When I get to bring her with me you know it doesn’t feel as much like work or too much time away from her.”
Mooney’s more than 63,000 followers are the spirit and pride of her work, which has grown because she has created bonds through social media.
“The biggest thing with being an influencer is gaining your follower’s trust,” she said.
She curates content that will best resonate with her followers and also hopes to gain the attention of new fans.
“We’ll talk multiple times a week. They reach out, they say, ‘Oh, I have a date tonight. Can you help me? Where should we go?’” she said.
For Mooney, it all comes down to keeping her posts genuine.
“That’s the most important thing is really making sure that they trust your opinion,” she said. “And that’s why you have to be a hundred percent with everything you post.”
Melissa Mooney aims for the future of @lieats to keep connecting with the new businesses across the Island and adding in more content involving local activities. Right now she collaborates with other Long Island creators on a series where they choose a town and spend the day exploring its attractions, enjoying scenic views, and of course trying the food.
Favorite Places:
- Maroni Cuisine in Northport
- Farm Country Kitchen in Riverhead
- North Fork Table & Inn in Southold
Nicole Schwartz, @li_loveatfirstbite
The dual persona of @li_loveatfirstbite, run by Nicole Schwartz, offers her Instagram audience aesthetic pastry reels while on TikTok she delivers candid car reviews, ensuring her content to close to 43,000 followers remains authentic.
Schwartz started sharing food content in 2016, though she’d been posting about Long Island’s hidden culinary gems on her personal page long before that. She then moved the food content to a separate account, and there @li_loveatfirstbite was born.
“In the beginning, it was absolutely just for fun. And then as time went on and I started seeing what it could do, it definitely evolved,” said Schwartz. “People always say that when you find what you are supposed to be doing you’ll know and I truly think that this is was I was supposed to be doing.”
Although Schwartz loves highlighting new businesses, she always finds her way back to her fan favorites. She stays connected with the dedicated teams behind these establishments and maintains true long-lasting bonds.
An interesting point in Schwartz’s food blogging journey was the evolving nature of social media. Building on this, she tailors her posts to maximize audience engagement and considers what resonates most with her followers- what each app’s viewers gravitate towards. She covers small businesses on Instagram, but on TikTok, she is a fast-food girl through and through.
“On Instagram, I feel like people feel that they need to be perfect,” she said. “They need to make videos perfect, the great lighting, your hair is done, your makeup is done- everything.”
Her views of her TikTok presence and the app’s focus overall are “people want to see real people. They want to know real opinions.”
But on both apps, she stays true to herself by finding quick, casual bites. Schwartz runs a series featuring the best spots for treating yourself, perfect for those who are always on the move.
Overall, content creation has opened an exciting chapter in Schwartz’s life, leading her to dive into becoming a content creator consultant. She is the visionary behind Go Social Media, a social media management and marketing strategy company designed to help Long Island businesses elevate their social media presence.
Favorite Places:
- Sydney’s Sweets in West Hempstead
- Sorrento’s in Long Beach
- For Goodness Cakes Co., Food Truck (locations vary)
Kristina Cavallo, @longislanditalian
Calling all Italians, @longislanditalian’s content ignites your memories and true love for classic Italian cuisine. Kristina Cavallo started posting over six years ago, long before anyone else was exploring this area.
With the help of her husband, Tommy, it was originally a creative outlet for Italian American humor and relatable posts about family or lifestyle. However, what the account is and will always be is a passion project living out to its fullest potential.
“My husband has had more of the passion for the social media aspect, he’s always been very good with editing, doing videos, and talking to people,” said Cavallo. “For me, I feel like I have more of the personality for it and being in front of the camera. The two together is really a match made in heaven.”
People enjoy finding common ground with others, and with the following exceeding 251,000, there’s always someone new to connect with and share. The account initially focused on memes and humorous, relatable Italian heritage content. Over time, it has grown also to spotlight Italian culture through local businesses and explore the most credible experience available on Long Island.
“We want to stay on track with the authenticity aspect,” said Tommy Cavallo about the content. “We’ve always believed in portraying true and authentic Italian culture, so we don’t want to start going to places that aren’t doing that. We are picking and choosing in a way just to make sure we stay true to who we are.”
Although this is based on Long Island, the content is for Italians and Italian Americans worldwide. Not only will you find posts about local spots, but you’ll also discover content about traveling in the country and exploring European beauty.
“Even though we might be from different areas culturally in Italy, there’s always something about food, music, traditions around holidays that definitely bring us together,” said Cavallo.
At the end of the day, @longislanditalian is the passion turned reality for Cavallo, a way to make memories with her husband and a long-lasting tribute to Italian culture.
Favorite Places:
- La Nonna Bella in Garden City
- Mike’s Underground in Amityville
- Uncle Joey’s Rainbow Explosion in Farmingdale
Gina Russo, @thatlongislandgirl
Gina Russo started @thatlongislandgirl last year but has an impressive, combined following of 13,500 across her two main accounts on TikTok and Instagram. Her TikTok blew up over the summer with her series on outdoor dining locations near the crystal water and under the sunny sky.
She holds a degree in business management and has always been passionate about entrepreneurship. Balancing her other job in social media management alongside her food blog can be daunting, especially given the demands of constantly engaging on social media.
“In the past, I would scroll on my phone and be on it for fun,” said Russo. “Now since I am on my phone so much for work, I don’t really do that [anymore], I try to stay away from that and be conscious of when I need time away.”
When Russo saw other food content creators spotlighting their finds through eye-catching photos and videos, it felt like the perfect blend of her passions– an opportunity that seemed meant to be.
“I’ve always loved going out to eat and finding new places,” she said.
Her food blogging work is rooted in her Suffolk County upbringing.
“I was born and raised here, and I feel like there’s a lot of spots that are small, [and] family owned that people don’t know about,” she said. “To be able to shed light on that means a lot, [and] giving those kinds of the restaurants the attention they deserve.”
She is committed to ensuring her content remains trustworthy, carefully considering the places she features on her page. One sign that she is on the right track is when her audience actively engages with her post– asking questions and openly discussing the aspects of the cuisines and restaurants they appreciate or seek.
Russo also draws inspiration from seasonal trends the Long Island to curate her content. For example, after focusing on outdoor dining during the warmer months, she now is shifting her attention toward the spirit of fall and Halloween pop events.
Even with still being in the early stages of the journey, she has plans to attend grand openings of new restaurants and be seen as a source of news for the new dining options. To amplify @thatlongislandgirl’s presence more, Russo is hoping to do food tastings in Nassau County and New York City as well.
Favorite Places:
- Pietro’s in East Meadow
- Husk & Vine in St. James (the menu changes every week)
- La Famiglia in Smithtown, Babylon, and Plainview
Gabby Sizemore, @eating_longisland
Gabby Sizemore’s journey began in 2016 during her senior year at the University of Rhode Island, where she was finishing her Journalism degree and posting about her favorite hometown eats.
“Long Island businesses are the reason I do what I do,” said Sizemore. “I love to help bring attention to special restaurants. It’s amazing to learn everyone’s story and why they do what they do. I have connected with so many amazing humans and can’t wait to keep doing it.”
What started as a fun hobby fueled by her passion for photography grew into something much bigger after she graduated. She decided to dedicate herself fully to food content creation, turning it into her career and producing her work through reels instead.
Today, Sizemore has over 161,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, along with thousands of views on her YouTube Shorts. Beyond the account’s social media presence, she expanded her influence to help restaurants level up their media profiles through Eating Long Island Social Media.
She is looking towards the future of her account and business as the end of 2024 nears.
“The main goal that I have in my head right now is hitting 150k by the end of the year, but it’s ok if that doesn’t happen,” said Sizemore. “I’d love to see my page continue to grow and to keep connecting with new & old businesses.”
Sizemore is eager to expand beyond posting food content and would like to continue to bring on clients and help their social media grow. Her goal is to offer a blend of creative consulting and support to foster success both online and in the real world.
When asked what advice she would give someone interested in food blogging, she said, “It’s something that you have to dedicate a lot of time to and learn how to stand out. You have to be super consistent with posting to be able to grow a following and you have to create your own voice that can connect you to your followers.”
“It’s not an easy thing, but it’s definitely worth it as you watch it grow,” added Sizemore.
Favorite Places:
- Fat Boy’s Burrito in Bellmore, East Northport, and Patchogue
- Hometown Bake Shop in Centerport
- Taglio’s Pizza in Mineola
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.
