Meet Brandon Woo and Neha Khanna, the duo behind @kw_bites. Woo, originally from NYC, and Khanna, hailing from India, both found themselves in Boston for college and crossed paths during their sophomore and junior years. Inspired by their love for cooking and the extra time they had during the pandemic, they created an Instagram account focused on food. However, as restaurants reopened, they shifted their focus to supporting and promoting local eateries. Since then, they have explored the diverse and evolving Boston restaurant scene, eagerly anticipating new culinary experiences. Join them as they share their top dishes, photography tips, and favorite food accounts, and discover the hidden gems of Boston’s gastronomic landscape.
Tell us a little about yourself. How’d you end up in Boston, and what inspired you to create your Instagram account?
Brandon grew up in NYC, and Neha grew up in India. We both came to Boston for college and graduated from Bentley with business degrees in 2020/2021. We met during our Sophomore/Junior year of college as neighbors in our dorm hall. We were inspired to start a food page on Instagram during Covid when we found ourselves with extra time to cook with our friends and family. Once restaurants reopened, we decided to shift our focus from our small community to helping small, local restaurants gain social media exposure. Since then, we have tried so many amazing restaurants all around the Boston area and can’t wait to experience so much more!
What makes the Boston restaurant scene special?
The Boston restaurant scene is one of the most diverse in the country. You can get thousands of different cuisines within a 10-mile radius and on every block you can find a local family-owned business where recipes have been passed down for generations. Every food experience we’ve had here has been so unique. With so many new restaurants constantly popping up, we’re excited to see Boston’s restaurant scene continue to evolve!
Name the top five dishes on your Boston food bucket list.
- Pizza Cupcakes from Four Corners Pizza – They have sweet and savory options!
- Soufflé Pancakes from Bootleg Special – These are so light and fluffy.
- Pupusas at La Posada – There’s nothing better than their refried beans.
- Masala Dosa at Madras Dosa Co. – Their food is packed with flavor and spice and it’s one of the best South Indian spots around Boston.
- Ravioli Porcini at Trattoria Il Pannino – This dish melts in your mouth.
What do your friends and family think of your life as an influencer?
We wouldn’t be here without our closest friends and family. They’re the whole reason why we started @kw_bites — to share our favorite eats with them. They’ve always been so supportive, whether it’s spreading the word about our food page or coming with us on our food adventures!
What’s your food photography/videography philosophy, and can you share your top tips for taking awesome food photos or videos? Do you use any fun tools or equipment for snapping the best ‘gram worthy content?
We use an iPhone 12 to take our pictures and usually bring a small ring light with us when we go out to eat. Playing around with angles and taking as many pictures/videos as we can has been always been helpful. For editing, we use VSCO or just the regular iPhone edit features.
What advice would you give someone just starting out as an influencer?
Step out of your comfort zone! As introverts, it was daunting to reach out to business owners and media managers, but pushing ourselves to step out of our comfort zone has been so rewarding and has helped establish relationships with restaurants as well as other foodies. In the foodie world, there are so many cuisines out there you can try, so don’t be afraid to try a new dish or a new restaurant that you’re not so familiar with. Lastly, just have fun with what you’re doing and never compare yourself to others!
Which Boston restaurants and chefs are nailing it on social?
- La Posada has definitely been nailing their food and their social media presence. Their Tequila Thursday events are amazing and the owner, Joe, will always bring up the restaurant’s background and his passion for quality tequila.
- Crazy Good Kitchen is becoming a staple of Boston foodie media. We love their Instagram aesthetic and it is part of the reason we keep going back.
- 4 corners is making some noise out of Newton. As people who enjoy cupcakes as well as pizza, we always make sure to try their seasonal items. They do such a great job showing off their amazing dishes on their social media.
Beyond chefs, what are your top three favorite food Instagram accounts to follow?
Favorite spot that everyone should try once: Buttermilk & Bourbon
Favorite place to splurge: Ramsay’s Kitchen
Favorite brunch spot: Café Weekend
Favorite pizza joint: Dirty Water Dough
Favorite neighborhood for food: Somerville
Favorite spot to take visitors from out of town: Crazy Good Kitchen
Favorite foodie book or movie: Ratatouille
