Hey there.
Lots of people I talk to think I have the best job in the world. And I do. I love, love, love my job.
But the first rule of food writing is this: You have to use your powers for good, not evil.
The second rule of food writing is: You have to accept that everyone's as human as you are.
The third rule of food writing is: You have to do your homework.
The fourth rule of food writing is: You don't know everything and you have to be okay with that.
The fifth rule of food writing is: Have mercy on others, for at some point, you will need them to have mercy on you.
So, here are good and bad reasons to become a food writer.
Bad Reason #1: "I have a discerning palate and am an excellent judge of service." Um, yeah. If you are taking it upon yourself to warn the masses off of places that don't meet your standards, please stick to Yelp. Seriously. I've read your reviews. There was an "off" taste to the sparkling wine. The waiter didn't call you "Sir" or "Ma'am." Your discerning palate can't tell corn in a can from frozen from something just cut off the cob. And if you have food allergies that must be accommodated,you need to recognize that's not part of the algorithm for the rest of us.
Good Reason #1: "I LOVE eating out. I want to celebrate the Good Guys whenever and wherever I can. I've waited tables/cooked professionally/been part of the business and I want to do the Good Guys justice." Exactly. You count the number of tables and guests your server's working with and deduce that she's been given five extra tables because someone who's supposed to be here, isn't. You figured out that the weird rhythm of your dishes coming out of the kitchen is because the chefs both decided to watch NASCAR instead of showing up tonight, and you come back two weeks later to see what it's like when they're not being idiots. Then you find out how often they're idiots before weighing in.
Bad Reason #2: FREE FOOD!!!!!!! Okay, lookit. If this is your goal, it'll work for awhile. You'll either be a kiss-butt "reviewer" who loves even the worst of food, or you'll turn into an extortionist. I promise. The temptation's right there.
Good Reason #2: FREE FOOD!!!! I know, right??? If you have the right attitude, you express gratitude you're able to consume truffles, abalone and caviar when it comes along. And you don't dis the free tri-tip sandwich a street vendor gives you; if it's decent, you plug it when you can. If a brand-new business gives you overcooked lamb, you shut up and give them another six months to work out the bugs. You turn down freebies after you know you can't endorse the givers.
Bad Reason #3: You want to be SOMEONE. Get over it.
Good Reason #3: You want to be someone paid to write. Well, Go for it!! Get stuff in on deadline, or ahead of it. Make it readable and grammatically correct. I know there are editors, but the less they have to edit, the better they like it. Take assignments you don't want about stuff you wouldn't normally write about. You can DO THIS!
Bad reason #4: You want deferential treatment. No, you don't. In the first place, deference becomes annoying rather rapidly. You really don't want to freak out a hotel's Food and Beverage Manager (aka F&B), do you??? No, you don't. You really don't want fake respect, do you? No. Unless you're a total jerk.
Good reason #4: You want inside info: You do. You want to get to know the chef. You want him/her to pick up the phone and call you about the new dish at the restaurant, or the holiday special that's brewing. And you want to share all of that with your readers right away!
Bad Reason #5: You want to take your revenge on the evil places. Nope. A place is not evil or bad because they screwed up your 25th anniversary. Sorry. Your silver moment - especially without reservation - was subject to a lot of the vicissitudes of restaurants everywhere. You need to go into it with the attitude, "Our silver anniversary is coming up. I booked a restaurant. For better, for worse. . . " and like that. Relax and let it happen, if it does.
Good Reason #5:You want to celebrate the heroes' achievements: You went to a restaurant and the server/hostess remembered something - your birthday, your anniversary, that you went to France last month. . . Dangit, that's cool. Give them 20% plus. and thank them out loud. Profusely. Your fav place remembered that you LOVE mushrooms and HATE fried food. Any of those things.
That is all.
