NJCS 02: Foodie Phenoms: How Two Chomp Grew on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok by Keeping It Real

Why do some food reviewers rack up millions of views while others get lost in the digital crowd? In a world where everyone’s filming their dinner, authenticity stands out. 

In this episode, Mike Desmarets of Two Chomp shares how he and his friend Sean went from texting each other wild restaurant finds to building a buzzing YouTube channel-without fancy cameras, staged moments, or sugarcoated reviews.

If you’ve ever wondered how to break into the food content game and actually get noticed, this conversation is your recipe for success.

For more from Mike, check out Part 1 with him, where we talked about growing a YouTube channel around Evolve Ink.

Key Topics Covered

00:41–01:12 - The Origin of Two Chomp

• Mike and Sean’s friendship and shared passion for discovering unique restaurants.
• How sending food videos to each other sparked the idea for a food content channel.

01:12–03:28 - Starting Out: From Food Fans to Content Creators

• Recording reaction videos before even naming the channel.
• The “food porn” approach: focusing on visually appealing shots of dishes.

04:10–05:24 - Simple Equipment and Filming Style

• Mike’s minimalist setup: iPhone 16 Pro Max, small mic, occasional light, external battery, microfiber towel.
• No big cameras, no tripod-just handheld filming for authenticity and mobility.

05:24–07:12 - Filming in Restaurants: Staying Low-Key

• Going into restaurants unannounced, avoiding drawing attention.
• Why Mike prefers not to tell owners ahead of time or use flashy equipment.
• The experience of owners noticing them filming and how the vibe changes.

07:12–09:17 - Honest Reviews and Authenticity

• Mike’s commitment to honest feedback: not hyping every place, offering constructive criticism.
• Example: Giving feedback about wing sauce and sharing what could be better.
• Building credibility with followers and being appreciated by chefs for real feedback.

09:17–09:41 - Viral Success: The Middle Child Video

• The story behind their 1.5 million-view video at Middle Child.
• Why being honest (not calling it the “best breakfast ever”) resonated with viewers.

09:41–11:04 - Credibility vs. Hype in Food Reviews

• The risk of losing credibility by always giving rave reviews.
• The importance of not being “obviously paid” and maintaining trust with the audience.

11:04–12:15 - Naming and Branding Two Chomp

• The evolution from “Chew Chomp” to “Two Chomp.”
• The story behind their unique logo and branding (rubber hose cartoon style).

13:11–13:55 - Who’s the Hero? The Food, Not the Reviewer

• Mike and Sean’s philosophy: “We are not the main characters-the food and restaurant are.”
• Their slogan: “We’re just a couple of guys that are hungry. Let’s Chomp.”

If you’re a content creator hungry to grow your own channel, Mike’s candid insights and practical tips from the Two Chomp journey are a must-listen.