More Than Just a Meal

When Jeremy Jacobowitz, travel and food connoisseur and founder of Brunch Boys, headed over to his local CityMD on April 30 for a COVID-19 antibody test, he was hesitant to put himself in a position where he could be exposed to the virus. However, currently residing in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Jacobowitz saw firsthand the importance of getting tested. “I know how valuable this data is,” he says. “The more people that get tested, the more it helps everybody.” He initially planned to donate plasma with the COVID-19 antibodies in it if his results were positive; unsurprisingly to him, they were not. He showed few to no symptoms before the test, but still went for peace of mind.

Soon after, Jacobowitz shared his testing experience on his social-media platforms, usually filled with pictures and videos of drool-worthy food or incredible travel destinations. “I think that – especially in a time like this – I’m very lucky to have a platform, have a voice, and be able to make an impact. While food is fun and I love talking about food and it’s important to some people, there are a lot bigger issues that I could discuss,” he says.

The experience was safe and comfortable: The CityMD location adhered to social-distancing guidelines, as everyone waited six feet apart and only a few people were let in at a time. According to Jacobowitz, a lot of his followers have been happy to hear a play-by-play of what they can expect when going to get an antibody test. “They, too, are nervous about going to the doctor in general, I think,” he says, adding that his immediate family went to get tested shortly after his trip to CityMD.

Although the pandemic has made it a little difficult for Jacobowitz to produce his online content featuring food and travel, to him, it’s “more of a creative challenge. It’s not a struggle.” He’s been spending more time cooking at home, ordering in, and planning his next trips while waiting until it’s safe to go back on the road (“That would be nice”).

Even in the midst of defining our “new normal,” Jacobowitz has found unique ways to continue creating and sharing his love for food, lifestyle, and travel. “Seeing all these restaurants back open and at least being able to go and grab a drink, or grab some food – seeing life and energy come back into the city has been really nice,” he says.

Writer: Grace Callahan

Photographer: Ron Contarsy (for Highmark Studios)

Editor: Eiko Watanabe

Special thanks to EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)