BradENSTL Is Changing the Way St. Louis Sees Food — One Bite at a Time

Meet BradENstl: The St. Louis Creator Bringing “Foodies Eat First Fest” to Life This August

How one content creator turned his love for St. Louis’ mom-and-pop restaurants into a citywide food festival — and why he says this August’s event is just the beginning.

From neighborhood restaurants and hidden gems to one of the city’s most ambitious culinary events, BradENSTL is on a mission to put St. Louis food culture in the spotlight.

For more than six years, BradENSTL has built a platform around a simple idea: St. Louis deserves to be seen differently.

Through food vlogs, short-form videos and lifestyle content, the St. Louis creator has made it his mission to introduce audiences to the locally owned restaurants, entrepreneurs, neighborhoods and experiences that give the city its character.

Now, that mission has expanded beyond social media with Foodies Eat First Fest, a celebration designed to put St. Louis’ culinary talent — especially its mom-and-pop businesses — center stage.

With an audience approaching 100,000 followers across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube, BradENSTL is using his growing influence to do more than recommend where people should eat. He’s working to change perceptions of St. Louis, support independent businesses and help establish the city as a destination for food lovers across the country.

Delux Magazine spoke with BradENSTL about building an authentic brand, the vision behind Foodies Eat First Fest, the challenges of producing a major food festival and why he believes St. Louis is ready for a bigger culinary spotlight.

From Food Content to a Mission for St. Louis

For people who are just discovering BradENSTL, who are you, and what inspired you to become a food and lifestyle creator?

“I’ve been doing this for a little over six years, and it really started because I didn’t see anyone showcasing the version of St. Louis that I was experiencing. I wasn’t seeing enough people highlighting our mom-and-pop restaurants, local businesses, events and neighborhoods through the short-form video and food vlog format that I knew was going to become such a huge part of media.

“I was also tired of constantly seeing the same negative narratives about St. Louis. Because when you actually get outside, meet the people and experience the city, you realize there’s so much more here.

“That’s what BradENSTL became about: showing people St. Louis and beyond from my perspective and reminding people that something special is happening here every day. I like changing the way they see St. Louis one bite at a time.

“Foodies Eat First Fest is really an extension of that mission, giving our city an opportunity to celebrate our hospitality industry and enjoy the flavors of our city.”

Authenticity Behind the BradENSTL Brand

You’ve built a significant audience by highlighting St. Louis restaurants. What do you think people connect with most about your content?

“Across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube, we’re approaching 100,000 people who have chosen to follow me, and I don’t take that lightly. It’s always been more about impact than anything.

“I think people connect with the fact that I’m authentic. I’m original, and what you see is what you get. I’m always asking, ‘What’s next? What’s different? What can I do that people haven’t seen before?’

“I’m the same person whether you’re watching me on your phone, seeing me on television, listening to OPECAST or running into me around St. Louis. I’ll talk to a security guard or janitor the same way I’ll talk to a CEO or one of the biggest entertainers in the world.

“I’m just me. In a world where so much can feel curated, being real still means something.”

Building a Brand Without Losing Yourself

Was there a specific moment when you realized this could become more than creating videos — that you could build a brand around it?

“I don’t think there was one specific moment. I knew pretty early that this was bigger than a quick video and a quick scroll. I’ve been very intentional about building BradENSTL and protecting the reputation that comes with it. I’ve turned down opportunities locally and nationally because staying true to who I am has always mattered more.

“Your brand is your reputation. It’s what people say about you when you’re not in the room.

“I’m just a real person who loves food, admires the hard work of the hospitality industry and loves bringing people together.”

Why Foodies Eat First Fest Was Created

Foodies Eat First Fest has created a lot of excitement. What gap did you see in St. Louis’ food festival scene that inspired you to launch it?

“I felt like St. Louis had incredible food, chefs, restaurants and people, but we weren’t always creating food experiences that matched the talent we have here.

“I’ve experienced food festivals all over the country, and I’ve seen some incredible ones in St. Louis over the years. But I felt like we had become a little stagnant. I wanted to create something fresh, exciting and national in its ambition while still being accessible to everybody here. Plus, I go to food festivals to try food and don’t always have $200-plus to try 20-plus places.

“Foodies Eat First was built around one simple idea: the mom and pops are the stars.

“We’re giving these restaurants and chefs a platform to shine while giving people the opportunity to discover them. This festival also provides so much marketing for places that may not be able to afford it.

“And if we want to see more events like this in St. Louis, we have to support them. Buy the ticket. Bring your friends. Show up. That’s how you build something that lasts.”

Bringing Excitement Back to St. Louis Food Festivals

You recently said you wanted to bring back the excitement to St. Louis food festivals. What does that vision look like when people walk through the gates this August?

“I want people to walk through the gates this August and immediately feel, ‘Wow. This is St. Louis.’

“We’ve helped shape the world through music, acting, art and culture. I believe our food scene deserves that same spotlight. We have restaurants and chefs that can compete with anybody in the country.

“The mom and pops are the stars of this festival, and we’ve built the experience around giving people the opportunity to discover them and eat some of the best food they’ll have all year.

“But we’re trying to build something bigger than one weekend. We’re creating a culinary event that attracts people from outside St. Louis and gives them another reason to visit.

“That’s how you push a city forward. And every ticket sold helps us do that. It brings in bigger names, creates bigger experiences and puts St. Louis further on the national food map.”

Curating the Foodies Eat First Experience

This year’s lineup features local talent alongside nationally recognized names. How did you curate the experience?

“Everything about this festival is intentional. Foodies Eat First serves as a marketing vehicle to so many of the restaurants that may not have the budget. We’re giving them a platform to introduce themselves to thousands of people who may have never experienced their food.

“But we don’t invite people sight unseen. We want to know the businesses, try the food, hear their stories and understand where they’re going. Plus, the food has to be REALLY GOOD!

“We’re creating an experience where you can discover a restaurant you’ve never heard of and then turn around and eat something from a chef you’ve been following for years.

“St. Louis has always had that underdog hunger. We’re giving the rising stars a platform while bringing in experiences people have been dying to try.”

Inside the Immersive Sinners-Inspired Dinner

One of the most talked-about experiences is the immersive Sinners dinner. What can guests expect without giving away too many surprises?

“We were very fortunate that Chef Liz of Tenacious Eats was able to obtain the rights to the movie and help us create something completely unique for Foodies Eat First Fest.

“I don’t want to give away too much because part of the fun is experiencing it yourself. But guests can expect an immersive, Sinners-inspired experience with dishes influenced by the film and its cultural elements. Expect LOTS of flavor!

“The food is extremely intentional, and we’re bringing together some of the most talented chefs in the Midwest to create this experience.

“I’m personally a huge fan, so I’m probably just as excited as everybody else to see it come to life.

“You can hear me talk about it all day, but you really have to experience it.

“That’s why I tell people: don’t wait. Get your tickets now, because these are the experiences people will be talking about long after the festival is over.”

The Challenge of Building a Major Food Festival

What has been the biggest challenge in organizing a festival of this scale?

“One of the biggest challenges has been obtaining local sponsorship. We’re fortunate to have incredible companies that believe in what we’re doing, but sometimes you’re fighting against the reputation of festivals that came before you. We’re having to dig ourselves out of a grave that we were never part of.

“But the amazing thing is that people who experience Foodies Eat First come back. Businesses come back. National brands come back. They’re finding ways to be part of what we’re building.

“We’re in the Show Me State, so I understand that people want to see it before they believe it.

“Additionally, we all know St. Louis is a last-minute market. We need to buy our tickets much earlier for events like these.”

What Makes the St. Louis Food Scene Different?

You’ve become an advocate for local restaurants. What makes St. Louis’ food scene so unique compared to other cities?

“It’s the passion.

“The mom and pops in St. Louis care deeply about what they’re putting on the plate and how their customers experience it. I’ve met restaurant owners who were so passionate about their businesses that they couldn’t participate in the festival because they were worried about being away from their restaurants for a weekend.

“That’s how much they care.

“And St. Louisans are passionate about food too. Everybody has their favorite restaurant. Everybody has that one spot they’re willing to argue about.

“You’re always discovering something new. You’re always asking your friends, ‘Where are we eating?’ You see a viral dish online and immediately want to know if it’s here.

“That’s the energy I want Foodies Eat First to capture — that feeling of discovery and excitement. And the best part is we’re putting all of that under one roof this August.”

An Underrated St. Louis Neighborhood for Food

Are there any underrated neighborhoods or restaurants you think deserve more attention?

“Absolutely. Princeton Heights is one of the most underrated areas of the city when it comes to food.

“You’ve got Hatched for brunch, Zoomies for coffee, Smoke & Bones nearby, and Dos Reyes, which has some incredible tacos. And you can’t go wrong with grabbing some garlic knots from ONESTO’S.

“But that’s just one area.

“That’s what I love about St. Louis. You can drive 10 minutes in almost any direction and find another neighborhood, restaurant or small business that deserves attention.

“There’s so much here that people haven’t discovered yet.

“That’s really why I continue doing what I do. I want people to stop looking at St. Louis from the outside and start exploring what’s right in front of them.”

Using Influence to Support Small Businesses

How important is it for creators like yourself to use their platforms to elevate small businesses?

“It’s extremely important. I’ve been fortunate to become a trusted voice in St. Louis because of these mom-and-pop businesses. They’ve helped me grow my platform because they do incredible work. The food is real, the passion is real, and nothing needs to be overly staged because the product naturally speaks for itself.

“So when you have a platform, you have a responsibility to use it for the good.

“If a small business is doing something incredible, I want people to know about it.

“Foodies Eat First Fest is really an extension of that philosophy. We’re taking the platform we’ve built online and bringing it into the real world, giving these businesses thousands of opportunities to be discovered in one weekend.

“If they’ve helped us get here, the least we can do is help shine a light back on them.”

The Work Behind the Content

Social media often shows the highlights. What’s something people don’t see about the work that goes into creating content and producing events?

“The amount of time and dedication it actually takes.

“For someone scrolling through their feed, it’s a 30-second video. It’s another post. It’s another event. But behind that 30 seconds could be hours of filming, editing, planning, traveling, emails, meetings and problem-solving.

“Producing a festival is a completely different level. There’s a tremendous amount happening behind the scenes that people never see.

“You have to really love this because there are times when you don’t feel like you’re getting paid enough for the amount of work you’re putting in.

“But passion keeps you going.

“If you’re going to do this, you have to care about it. When you genuinely love what you’re building, the work doesn’t stop when the camera turns off.”

Why Foodies Eat First Fest Is Designed for Everyone

If someone has never attended a food festival before, why should Foodies Eat First Fest be their first experience?

“Because we’re bringing a world-class food festival to St. Louis and making it accessible.

“VIP lets you try over 20 restaurants. General admission tickets start as low as $20, and once you’re inside, you’re walking into an air-conditioned building with incredible food, talented DJs, chefs, restaurants and experiences happening all around you. Most of the food will be around $4 to $8.

“Think about that: Australian Wagyu, caviar, a cheese wheel, New York’s Katz’s pastrami and some of the best restaurants in St. Louis — all in one place.

“This isn’t designed to be exclusive. It’s for everybody. Bring your family. Bring your friends. Come hungry.

“If you’ve never been to a food festival, let this be your first one.

“Come see what St. Louis can do.”

BradENSTL’s Advice for Aspiring Content Creators

What advice would you give aspiring content creators who want to build a platform while staying authentic?

“Be you. Be yourself. And be different.

“It’s okay to study what other people are doing and get inspiration, but don’t become a copy of somebody else because you see them succeeding.

“Get outside of your comfort zone. Immerse yourself in live theater. Try things. Have fun. Stay creative.

“Most importantly, understand that your authenticity is your advantage.

“There is only one you.

“So build something that only you could build.”

The Five-Year Vision for BradENSTL and Foodies Eat First Fest

Looking ahead, where do you see BradENSTL and Foodies Eat First Fest five years from now?

“I see BradENSTL continuing to grow on all platforms and doing impactful work on a local and more national level.

“I see Foodies Eat First Fest becoming at least a 25,000-person festival within the next five years. But honestly, I think the opportunity is much bigger than attendance numbers.

“I want Foodies Eat First to become something that represents St. Louis and eventually the entire Midwest. I want people across the country to hear ‘Foodies Eat First’ and immediately think about the best culinary experiences in the Midwest. I want chefs to want to come here, restaurants to see this as one of the biggest opportunities of their year, and people to continue to plan trips around it.

“Because we have the talent. We have the food. We have the people. We have the culture.

“We just have to believe in ourselves enough to put it on the biggest stage.

“And every person who buys a ticket this year is helping build that future.

“Five years from now, I want us to look back at all of the memories we made and get super excited for what’s to come! I always feel like we’re just getting started!”

Rapid Fire With BradENSTL

Favorite St. Louis comfort food? Dos Reyes Tacos

Sweet or savory? Sweet

Gooey Butter Cake or Ted Drewes? Ted Drewes

Best hidden gem in St. Louis? Prohibition

Favorite cuisine? Asian cuisine

If you could only eat at one St. Louis restaurant for a year, which would it be? Sado

Coffee or cocktails? Coffee

What’s one food you’ll never eat? Blue cheese

Foodies Eat First Is Betting on St. Louis

At its core, BradENSTL’s story is about more than food.

It’s about using digital media to change the narrative around a city, turning online influence into tangible support for small businesses and creating opportunities for the people who make St. Louis’ hospitality industry special.

Foodies Eat First Fest takes that mission from the screen into the community. By putting independent restaurants alongside established culinary names and making discovery a central part of the experience, BradENSTL hopes to build something capable of attracting national attention while remaining unmistakably St. Louis.

For BradENSTL, the goal isn’t simply to convince people that St. Louis has great food. It’s to get them outside, into the city and experiencing it for themselves — one bite at a time. To learn more about Foodies Eat First Fest, visit https://www.foodieseatfirst.com

Photo Credit: Bryce Youngblood