First We Feast

First We Feast is an online food-culture magazine and YouTube channel.^[1] The site co-produces the YouTube series Hot Ones. The company began as off-shoot of Complex Media, its parent company until 2024.^[2] In 2024, BuzzFeed sold Complex to NTWRK, an e-commerce company backed by Live Nation Entertainment and Main Street Advisors, but retained First We Feast.^[3] Shortly after, in December 2024, the company was sold by BuzzFeed to a group of investors, including Soros Fund Management, Sean Evans, and founder Chris Schonberger for $82.5 million.^[4]

First We Feast

Type of site	Online food-culture magazine
Available in	English
Founded	2012
Country of origin	United States of America
Owner	Soros Fund Management, Sean Evans, Chris Schonberger
Founder(s)	Chris Schonberger
CEO	Chris Schonberger
Key people	Sean Evans (CCO)
URL	firstwefeast.com
Commercial	Yes
Current status	Active

Description

First We Feast began in 2012 as a food culture blog edited by Chris Schonberger, who had formerly worked for TONY.^[5] The blog was an off-branch of Complex magazine.^[5] The website gained a measure of popularity, and began to incorporate interviews and cooking guides into its website.^[6] In 2014 the website launched its YouTube channel, which produces a number of food-related video series, most notably Hot Ones (hosted by Sean Evans),^[7] The Curry Shop,^[8] The Burger Show (hosted by Alvin Cailan) and Burger Scholar Sessions (hosted by George Motz).^[9]

References

1. "First We Feast | Where Food, Drink & Pop Culture Converge". First We Feast. Retrieved 2018-09-27.
2. "Complex Networks Simplifies Image Management with Cloudinary". Odessa American. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
3. Mullin, Benjamin (21 February 2024). "BuzzFeed Sells Complex, a Pop Culture Start-Up, for $108.6 Million". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
4. Spangler, Todd (2024-12-12). "'Hot Ones' Studio Sold by BuzzFeed for $82.5 Million to Soros Fund, Sean Evans and Other Investors". Variety. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
5. Merwin, Hugh (10 October 2012). "Complex Launches Food Section, 'First We Feast'". Grub Street. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
6. "Announcing the Food Lineup for ComplexCon's First We Feast Lagoon". Complex. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
7. Smith, Dave (29 November 2017). "Inside the hottest show on YouTube, where celebrities answer questions while eating blazing hot wings". Business Insider. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
8. "First We Feast & Bira 91 Explore International Curry In New Series 'The Curry Shop'". prnewswire.com (Press release). Bira91. 8 October 2018.
9. Gutelle, Sam (21 February 2018). "With More Than 500,000 Views Per Episode, First We Feast's 'Burger Show' Is Off To Sizzling Start". Tubefilter. Retrieved 2019-03-06.