Clicks, Culture & Cravings: Inside Chicago’s Food Influencer Scene with Black People Eats & Chicagopescetarian

In the age of social media dominance , influence is currency—and no one understands that better than today’s top Chicago food influencers . In this buzzworthy episode of Supper with Sylvia , we dive fork-first into the high-stakes world of food content creation with two of the Windy City’s biggest tastemakers. First up is Jeremy Joyce , the charismatic creator of Black People Eats , a cross-platform movement that’s uniting communities through food, culture, and celebration. With millions of impressions across YouTube, Instagram, and Threads , Jeremy dishes on how he built a brand rooted in purpose, how he forms authentic brand partnerships, and what it really takes to be a multi-platform food media sensation. Then we meet Pooja Naik , the voice behind the viral Instagram account @chicagopescetarian . With a growing audience and laser focus on Chicago’s seafood scene , Pooja shares how she carved out a niche by spotlighting the best pescetarian-friendly bites across the city. She unpacks her content strategy, balancing a demanding content calendar, and how she collaborates with top restaurants for stunning reels and trusted reviews. From behind-the-scenes strategy to influencer brand deals, this episode is packed with real talk, insider tips, and delicious insights into the power (and pressure) of being a food influencer in Chicago . 🔥 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How to build a powerful food brand on social media What goes into curating viral food content How influencers like Black People Eats drive cultural and economic impact How Chicagopescetarian found her niche and audience The realities of partnerships, content fatigue, and social media burnout Why restaurant owners should collaborate with micro and macro influencers What the future holds for Chicago’s food scene on digital platforms Pooja Naik Instagram chicagopescitarian https://www.instagram.com/chicagopescetarian/?hl=en Jeremy Joyce Instagram blackpeopleeats https://www.instagram.com/p/DH4WzWSPBjf/?hl=en This episode is produced by Jane Stephens Original music and audio engineering by Donnie Cutting Social Media and Promotions by Magali Blasdell 📌Check out SupperwithSylvia on Instagram. 📩Email us at SupperwithSylvia@gmail.com This episode is brought to you by MARIANO'S. 🛒 Proudly Sponsored by Mariano’s Looking for local flavor you can bring home? Discover chef-crafted sauces, pastas, oils, and more from your favorite Chicago chefs — now available through Mariano’s We Love Local program. Support local artisans, savor authentic taste, and celebrate Chicago’s culinary spirit with every bite. 👉 Explore Mariano’s We Love Local Products Social Media Marketing: Magali Blasdell Video and Audio Editor: Donnie Cutting Marketing and Media Relations: Julie Lokun Producer: Jennifer Waters