Who doesn’t love food? But it’s one thing for all of us to love to eat well and another to be an expert in the creation of dishes, and that’s exactly what a food critic does! Sounds like a dream job, doesn’t it? However, it’s not easy to become a respected food critic.
Who doesn’t love food? But it’s one thing for all of us to love to eat well and another to be an expert in the creation of dishes, and that’s exactly what a food critic does! Sounds like a dream job, doesn’t it? However, it’s not easy to become a respected food critic.
That’s why Jobstoday.world wants to support you if this is your passion. Would you like to know everything about this profession? Then stay tuned to this post to learn everything you need to know to be a great food critic.
What Is a Food Critic and How To Become One
A food critic lives in restaurants. After all, his job is to evaluate and write reviews about all the restaurants that are open in his area. Thus, he will have to give his opinion on the dishes, including their presentation. But it is also important that you take note of the service provided by the restaurant. Were you served properly? How was the lighting? Was the decor pleasant?
In the end, a food critic has a big responsibility on his or her shoulders. A good review can boost a restaurant’s bookings, and a bad review can doom it to disappear.
The idea is to make his or her readers feel as if they were the ones who ate at the restaurant.
Remember the character in the movie Ratatouille? Well, that’s exactly the job of a food critic! And the way to get there is clear:
- Get educated. You won’t get very far without proper education. You will likely be required to have a Bachelor’s Degree in communications or journalism. This will be important so that your communication skills and writing are impeccable. It is also not a bad idea to go to a culinary centre where you can learn in-depth the different techniques. You will be talking about food for a long time, you better be informed!
- Do fieldwork. You must know how restaurants work and what you should value in your reviews. And that includes, of course, visiting and trying different restaurants. But something that can set you apart from others as a food critic is getting into the kitchens. Working in a restaurant can give you a great perspective to understand all the processes that go into running a restaurant. Take a look at the best food jobs on Jobstoday.world to get inspired.
- Stand out with the audience. Finding a job as a food critic can be a challenge. It’s hard to get into the top publications if you don’t have a name. That’s why it’s important to share your experiences independently. Take advantage of the Internet to make yourself known and don’t forget to check Jobstoday.world to find all the food critic jobs around the world.
Food Critic Salary and Main Skills
Rumour has it that, as a food critic, you can strike it rich – and that’s no lie! But, of course, not every food critic earns big money. The salary varies a lot depending on the country, the experience or the medium. Salaries can go as high as $90,000/year. However, most salaries are not that high and are closer to $40/hour.
If you want to become a great food critic, you must, of course, have great gastronomic knowledge. But that’s not enough! Great communication skills are essential, as well as excellent writing.
Another key point is to know how to keep your anonymity. While it may be tempting to make it known that you are a food critic so that restaurants will go all out, it’s not a good idea. If you draw too much attention to yourself, your experience will not be objective and you will eventually lose credibility with your readers.
Our Top 4 Famous Food Critics
Who should you look out for? It’s normal that, at first, no food critic comes to mind. Their faces are usually not very recognizable. However, it’s a good idea to get to know them and start reading their texts. Analyze how they write and you will be able to improve your own texts. Learn from the best!
This is our top 4 of the most famous food critics in the world:
- Jay Rayner. Who’s afraid of Jay Rayner? Well, any restaurant in the world! This TV food critic has worked continuously for The Observer, and he doesn’t mince words. His reviews are acidic and leave no stone unturned. His review of the restaurant Leon de Bruxelles is mythical.
- Marina O’Loughlin. Who is she? Nobody knows. In the age of the Internet, it is difficult for a food critic to maintain her anonymity when she reaches a certain level of popularity. But Marina O’Loughlin has managed it. This British writer has columns in several of the most important media and stands out for being direct and obsessive.
- Andy Hayler. The luxury writer has several books on food and an exquisite palate. He has eaten at every three Michelin-star restaurants in the world! He has his own review website, which he claims is the oldest on the web.
- Pete Wells. Another food critic who manages to maintain his anonymity is the wild Pete Wells. His bizarre review of the restaurant Per Se, where he called a soup “bong water”, is unreal. Restaurants, beware!
For all you foodies out there, Jobstoday.world is your place. Becoming a food critic can be hard, but that’s what we’re here for: find the job of your dreams on Jobstoday.world! Let’s work together.
See more:
- A good way to be aware of how a restaurant works is by entering server jobs.
- Bartender jobs are another good entrance to the food industry!
- While you get ready to become the best food critic ever, taking on seasonal jobs is a good idea to make some money.
