Michael Petrigno, also known as whatdidyoueattodaysir on Instagram and TikTok, is not a picky eater.
Unlike many other food bloggers, Petrigno was not particularly influenced by the likes of Anthony Bourdain or Guy Fieri. Instead, his natural love for food led him to create his channels.
Petrigno started food blogging in 2019, and started making videos in 2023. Since then, his Instagram has amassed over 70k followers, while his TikTok now has over 20k followers. Petrigno says his sense of humor and straightforward approach work better in video format, and credits these qualities for helping his clips gain traction in recent years.
Coworker-turned-friend Frank Damelio, who appears in many whatdidyoueattodaysir videos, explained why their juxtaposed personalities work on camera.
“Michael has all the ideas. He’s a little bit more shy, where I’ll just walk up to someone and ask them how their food is. I think that’s what helps us both thrive. He does the behind the scenes stuff, and I’m the guy on the camera sometimes. He does the editing and makes everything look good, and I just make it easier for him,” Damelio said.
Petrigno also weighed in on his dynamic with Damelio and other friends and family featured in his videos.
“It’s like you’re out to eat with us, but it doesn’t compromise the food. The food is always the focus,” Petrigno said.
To keep users engaged, Petrigno sticks to a consistent schedule, typically posting one video a day at a wide variety of locations. When giving feedback on his dishes, he doesn’t try too hard to embellish his descriptions.
“Sometimes all you have to say is if the food is good or not. Sometimes just showing the food speaks for itself,” Petrigno said.
His content intentionally gravitates toward smaller hole-in-the-wall establishments, as opposed to fine dining cuisines. Petrigno chooses these places not only because he wants to help small businesses, but also because he genuinely appreciates their food on a deeper level.
“I feel like those places have the best food anyway, because they’re how people survive. They’re in the kitchen everyday with recipes passed down from generations. It’s not like a restaurant just hired a bunch of people to work for them,” he said.
“I want to set the trend. I don’t want to go to the trendy spots that everyone is already going to. I want to put people onto new stuff,” he added.
A Lynn resident since 2020, Petringo frequently travels for his content, but emphasized that the Lynn food scene has a lot to offer due to its diversity and authenticity.
“They don’t cut corners,” Petrigno said.
