At 6 feet, 6 inches, Dominic Brown could be mistaken for a professional basketball player. While the native Virginian did play college ball, these days he gets recognized around his Richmond hometown for his food-focused Instagram account.
Brown’s Instagram account and blog, @talltraveleats and Talltraveleats.com, spotlight his favorite restaurants in Richmond and beyond, an endeavor he started after college. After moving to California and then Nebraska for college, he explored the surrounding areas, sparking his interest in travel. Since then, Brown has traveled to 40 states and more than a dozen countries, documenting his favorite dishes along the way.
Dominic Brown runs the Instagram account and blog, @talltraveleats and Talltraveleats.com. (Courtesy of Dominic Brown)
Dominic Brown runs the Instagram account and blog, @talltraveleats and Talltraveleats.com. (Courtesy of Dominic Brown)
“I wanted to use my story of exploring and trying
intriguing cuisine to inspire others to chase their dreams,” Brown said. “The best part about my job as a travel and food blogger is experiencing new things, eating unique cuisine and creating unforgettable memories when I travel both domestically and abroad.”
Las Vegas-based content creator Sierra Redmond also gravitated toward social media to document her food and travel experiences, both at home and afar. She goes by @iamsierrared on Instagram, and she also runs the family travel and lifestyle blog Thedailyimpressions.com.
Redmond started her journey in Miami eight years ago. She’d planned to use her degree to pursue a career in
traditional journalism, but with a husband in the military and an unpredictable schedule, she turned to freelance content creation to spotlight Miami’s vibrant culture.
Las Vegas-based content creator Sierra Redmond goes by @iamsierrared on Instagram. (Courtesy of Sierra Redmond)
Las Vegas-based content creator Sierra Redmond goes by @iamsierrared on Instagram. (Courtesy of Sierra Redmond)
“Miami has so much food, culture and endless things to do, and I put it all on my blog and Instagram every week,” she said. “I started pitching local tour companies and hotels, and the rest was history. I found my own way to continue my work in media, keep my creative control and make money while being a stay-at-home mom.”
In one of the country’s top cities for food, New Yorker Mitzie Louis regularly posts engaging content under the handle @frencht0asty to over 91,000 Instagram followers. Louis said she’s had an Instagram account since the platform launched but realized in 2019 that she could earn income from sharing her favorite restaurants.
Mitzie Louis’ @frencht0asty Instagram account has attracted more than 91,000 followers. (Courtesy of Mitzie Louis)
Mitzie Louis’ @frencht0asty Instagram account has attracted more than 91,000 followers. (Courtesy of Mitzie Louis)
As more travelers turn to social media apps when planning their trips, Black influencers have become essential local guides to the often less-publicized restaurants and cultural sites in Black communities.
The influencers featured in this story, all of whom prefer to be called content creators, are often on the pulse of the latest openings, new menus and underrated restaurants that may not get exposure from traditional media.
Brown said content creators like him helped keep many Black-owned restaurants operating after the pandemic shutdowns. He made it his mission then to highlight local, Black-owned restaurants, efforts that got him featured on a local news channel for his work to boost tourism.
“I filmed food vlogs, wrote blogs and made ‘top lists’ to help bring in customers,” he said. “In addition to increasing engagement, my marketing and content creation helped numerous restaurants in Richmond and the neighboring counties attract new customers.”
Louis said that in December 2023, she and a friend visited a Haitian-owned restaurant in Brooklyn, Kravings Kafe, where “the hospitality was amazing.
“I posted a video, and it blew up,” she said. “The business got a lot of support and customers from that. And honestly, that made me so happy. Even though I posted the video a year ago, it’s still blowing up as we speak.”
Redmond’s content is also inspiring people to explore a side of Las Vegas they might not be as familiar with.
Last year, during Black History Month, she created a series highlighting Black-owned restaurants in the city. Those videos also generated a lot of views, which Redmond attributes to people not usually associating Las Vegas with soul food or Black-owned establishments.
“The restaurants all saw a boost in customers and followers,” she said of the places she featured. “My job is just to make sure that people are aware that these small businesses exist. It was something that I am proud of and hope to continue this year.”
