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Thanks to the Instagram account Ann Arbor Eats, I was drawn into the new city’s food scene with a mixed distrust of food accounts. As I continue to eat at Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Eats guides me through every step and every bite.
As my long pun-filled Instagram shows, I was a pre-teen foodie. After years of proving that every meal I ate looked perfect, I realized I had lost some of the joy of savoring and sharing meals. ‘s regrouping habits weren’t worth hundreds of followers and a few friends commenting on the empty “delicious”. I fell into a pit of shame. Food Instagrams democratized the exclusive world of food reviews and reports. They soon found themselves in the hyped queue for desserts, ignoring diverse local foods for the sake of “trends” or promoting unattainable “clean” meals. Today, people are afraid of being “dumpy” and afraid of trying too hard to be trendy, asking for no-fuss, hassle-free posting standards. The Gourmet page thrives on impossible aesthetics, long lines, and a devoted audience seeking picture-perfect food (even though it’s picture perfect).
In an ironic future, people don’t eat for the sake of eating, they think of Instagram hype. Still, when I walked into Ann Arbor hungry for a few standard recommendations and a new experience outside of microwave college meals, I set my sights on Ann Arbor Eats. Instead of focusing on aesthetics and valuing each vendor’s unique stories and offerings, they showed us the diverse foods of every culture. Inspired me to explore Ann Arbor.
In 2018, five years after Ann Arbor Eats’ last post, 2020 LSA alumni Jordy Richman took over the alumni’s cousin’s account. At the time, the page had about 1,000 followers and nothing to distinguish it from the oversaturated world of food Instagram. Richman saw an opportunity to explore Ann Arbor’s food world and take students on her journey.
Inspired by her sister, now the founder of large Nashville Eats, Richman tipped off about partnerships with local food companies. These partnerships have allowed Jordy to find new Ann Arbor favorites and learn from unique entrepreneurs.
Ann Arbor Eats showcases new discoveries and hidden (for students) local favorites: large spreads at new downtown Evergreen Modern Chinese and Bar, action-packed pop-ups at YORK Food and Drink, The Last Gleaming cocktails at Ward, fresh seasonal specialties at Juicy Kitchen. The account features all the culinary Ann Arbor classics amid new festive lights, and his recent TikTok takes viewers behind the scenes at her Zingerman’s Bakehouse and rainbow-hued banh mi and pho. Go or call Ginger Deli. Close-up shots of him make Crazy Jim’s Blimpy his burger look like fine dining, and blank his slate fly-by snaps of his Creamery ice cream show a unique local flavor.
LSA Juniors Jenna Frieberg and Lila Rubenstein, account administrators for 2022, now post daily and maintain a “master calendar” of openings, events, festivals, and dining with the restaurant team. Frieberg searches her local website to stay up to date on what’s happening in the community. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Frieberg talked about the world waiting for students to explore. “If you try for maybe 30 minutes, you can dig a hole … crazy local chefs[that]are all following each other,” Freeberg said. “Our primary goal is to… It’s about connecting students like us with the Ann Arbor community…from the typical restaurant where everyone goes…to switch.”
Starting in 2018, Richman reached out to companies in Ann Arbor to offer promotional packages of stories, posts, and business-specific content. She provided her follower demographics (an estimated 90% of her followers live in Ann Arbor) and an account description of her mission before requesting comp her meal. The comp meal concept became increasingly controversial, especially during the pandemic as small businesses lagged behind. I was able to introduce the cuisine of Comped Meal allows you to capture a variety of content to get classic full-spread aerial shots and your favorite close-ups. In a phone interview with The Daily, Richman said she was “initially … half the restaurants, maybe less, were interested.” “More and more time has passed and they’ve seen the impact of our account… so Jenna and Lila have probably worked with the majority,” Richman said.
Richman first spread the account through the Facebook groups of his college classes. “(Freshman) was a big area where we could get followers,” he says Richman. “Because everyone was excited to see … where they could eat on campus when they arrived, and all that fun stuff.” Gaining followers and a trusted fan base. “It comes from… consistent posts,” said Rubenstein. “We post every day. And we have a lot of content, you can find new places that no one has heard of before, and people are more intrigued to follow our account.” .
The account is anything but monotonous, with thousands of posts, hundreds of dishes, dozens of local business features, and creative photos with clever captions. Ann Arbor Eats attends all pop-ups, grand openings and special events on the Ann Arbor scene. Beyond restaurants, they’ve expanded into an interconnected world of local food vendors, including farmers at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, chefs at mobile Bao Boys food trucks, and artisan entrepreneurs at Bon Bon Bon Chocolate. “It’s the whole world,” Freeberg said. “We are just beginning to scratch the surface.”
Today, businesses reach out to Ann Arbor Eats to reach a wider student base. “As a student, if you want to find a cool restaurant, the first thing you do is look at Instagram,” Freeberg said. Ann Arbor Eats offers this social media promotion.
Businesses from Beyond Juicery+Eatery to Quickly Boba Cafe and Chapala Mexican Restaurant are attracting new and returning students with generous Instagram giveaways. Other businesses, such as Knight’s Steakhouse, emphasize student discounts. The account’s simple, beautifully shot photos speak for more than promotional captions.
Ann Arbor Eats doesn’t stick to old-fashioned sugary dessert shots or healthy aesthetic ‘that girl’ meals. They show authentic and interesting food and make every meal look exciting and worth celebrating. Rubenstein said. Like other often ridiculed foodies, Rubenstein and Freeberg reset the table and took beautiful pictures. “Positioning is key in photography…I’ll set the table…even if I’m hungry, ten minutes is a pain.” But with Ann Arbor Eats, it’s worth it. Their work does not benefit their social media egos, but businesses that are excited to share their work with others.
Ann Arbor Eats’ relationships with local businesses are much more communal than transactional. Frieberg and Rubenstein reflected on the eclectic and enthusiastic chefs and waiters sharing stories, laughing and serving up signature dish after dish. “Most of them have heard[that description]or are excited to learn,” Freeberg said. They develop consistent relationships and work with local entrepreneurs throughout the year. Companies like Side Biscuit, Joe’s Pizza and Fresh Forage use the Ann Arbor Eats platform to share new and exciting happenings such as seasonal menus, events, giveaways and deals.
Jordan Balduf, who opened Side Biscuit in 2020, told The Daily that influencers like Ann Arbor Eats are true “business drivers.” “We’re like TikTok guys… and the next day there’s a line of five people, so it’s definitely a good return,” he said. We offered chicken wings and biscuit treats, weekly special promotions, dripping chicken wings and corn, and blue t-shirts as key giveaways and summer specials.
Through Instagram Reels and TikTok, Ann Arbor Eats engages followers in local restaurant experiences. Rubenstien and Frieberg’s TikToks and Reels show zooms in on gooey saucy food, unique restaurant interiors, outdoor entertainment and seating, and behind-the-scenes footage of the kitchen (including an intense scene in the Side Biscuit Wing Flyer). It is characterized.
Side biscuits at the edge of family and student neighborhoods hope to become a local staple, bringing in new classes of student meals and consistent repeat business—Ann Arbor Eats touts both. “Once people walk in the door, you can’t stop eating and talking to your friends,” Balduff says.
With endless festivals and parties, fresh local produce and young entrepreneurial spirit, there’s always a new ‘hidden gem’ to discover. In a town rich in tradition, people can always go back to old favorites for nostalgic food. And when you’ve tasted something new you can’t get enough of (like hot wings and seasonal buttermilk biscuits), you’ll find the newest classics. Expect it.
Ann Arbor Eats remains loyal to our students and the greater Ann Arbor community. During the pandemic, they slowed down their posts and highlighted their altered meal plans while promoting restaurants they needed. Donated 100 pies to frontline workers in Ann Arbor. This account captures what college students care about: deals, big drinks, exciting new trends, healthy eating, traditional comfort food, and more. They focus on corporate priorities. We promote the work we are most proud of and welcome new and old customers. They’ve partnered with brands like his Goodles mac n’ Cheese and Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels for easy snacks for college students on the move. Also, since they are regular students, they may ask where the best place to refuel, especially after a game (last time he had 50 answers). They constantly “check in with their followers” to keep their viewers satisfied and hungry.
“What sets Ann Arbor apart is that it’s not necessarily a tourist destination,” Richman said. “We always get freshman followers…but what makes our account special is that our followers…all have a really special connection to Ann Arbor… (We) make sure we are maximizing our resources and partnerships to show them the best food.”
Daily Art writer Kaya Ginsky can be reached at kginsky@umich.edu.
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