If you asked me 4 years ago whether I could see myself blogging for a living, hell no. For most of us, blogging is just a hobby and it does not bring in enough to pay the bills. I have no idea what happened exactly, but four years down the road, here I am, still blogging. The truth is, I’m really thankful to be able to do this full time.
Blogging gives me a lot of satisfaction, and nothing makes me happier than knowing that people enjoy reading my blog. Sometimes, people even call me a ‘food critic’. Yes, that’s right. Or a restaurant critic, if you may. You know, a person who eats (in the best restaurants) for a living. I’d always cringe at that.
I am not a food critic. Food blogger, yes. But food critic, no.
Certainly, it sounds really cool to put ‘food critic‘ as your occupation title when you are filling up a survey form or applying for a new credit card. But do you know how hard journalists work? No, you don’t. Most people only see the glamorous side where the media folks get to dine at fine dining restaurants in style. “Professional” food writers from newspapers and food magazines work for very long hours under tremendous stress and they do not get paid very well. A professional food critic is someone like Wong Ah Yoke from Straits Times. You are a goner if you fail to recognise him in your restaurant.
Would I want to write “professionally” for newspapers or food magazines? No, definitely not. I don’t think I am qualified. I have no culinary background and I can’t write very well.
Being a full time food blogger suits me better.
There are no deadlines nor any obligations to write about something that I dislike. I can choose to write whatever I want – nonsense or not. And I can even declare my undying love for desserts without having any “editors” stare at me in disbelief, as if I’m a nutcase.
“Why do you only write positive reviews? A food critic is supposed to be objective and writes about both the positive and negative aspects of the dining experience.”
Like I said, I am not a ‘food critic’. I’m hardly objective since I can go on all day about dim sum, brunches and cakes. And just in case you are wondering why I only write positive reviews – no, I am not toying with the possibilities of getting free food from posh restaurants. On a calculated average, I receive 4-5 food tasting invitations per week, and they are all from PR agencies and restaurants themselves. Most of the time, I would turn down 90% of them because there are simply too many invitations and it is really quite impossible to accept and attend to every single one. I’m not boasting about it, but hey, that’s a fact okay? You can read more about my post on food tasting 101.
Okay I digressed. The only reason why I do not blog negatively is simply because I have no time. Do you know how many backlogs I have? Restaurants that I’ve visited but yet to blog about? Too many. Since I am already struggling to cover the restaurants that I like – an average of 4-5 per week – what makes you think I have the luxury of time to dedicate entries just to criticise?
Besides, I believe everyone comes to my food blog because they want to find new and interesting places to try, and not because they really want to hear me rant about lacklustre service & mediocre food. Food blogs that do that are aplenty, and you are free to hop by those if you’d like.
So you want to be a food critic? If it has always been your dream, then good luck for it! As for me, I am happy with my title of ‘Food Blogger‘, and it is here to stay. I have a new post for you tomorrow, see you here!
Super “Like” this post!
Two thumbs up!
u sound pissed off Brad..chill dude..i enjoy reading your blog becos it allows me to try new food all the time =)
what a thoughtful view
:D:D
Love this post, Brad. I started reading your blog while I was working in the call centre& your post always make my workmates hungry. Right now, I am in a new job & I m still reading your blog – while I am on my way to work. And, of coz, I had introduced your blog to my new workmates.
Food blogger. Like!
I love your blog Brad! It has always been the first few 2 websites I visit every single day for new food to try out! (The other website is Camemberu)
I too love food and I love taking beautiful pictures of them! But I post them on Facebook instead of a blog. So am I a Food-FaceBooker? Haha. Just kidding!
Anyway, hope you will continue food-blogging so that I could try new food everytime!
I love your blog! Please keep it going, Mr ‘Ladyironchef’ ! =D
A lot of ppl mistaken food bloggers as food critics. Always love your amazing pictures and your clean layout.
Brad, I reall enjoyed this post as well. It is far too often that people confuse the two. They are very different and thank you for pointing that out. I cringe when being called a critic. That is just not what I choose to do, nor do I ever plan to hold that title. I like to focus on the overall experience, Blogging is what I love.
Once again, you were SPOT ON with this!
Thanks,
Dom
Thank you for writing this post. Unfortunately for you, I am one of those who agree with your detractors that not only do you not give objective food reviews based on taste or cooking methods, you do not write very well and do not seem to be genuinely interested in the origin, etymology or evolution of cuisine/food either. Many a time, I search for food information and am directed here but end up finding very cursory posts about eating places which seem to me that you are trying to show/promote a lifestyle you lead rather than about the actual food place. As a person genuinely looking for insight into good places to eat, it’s disappointing to me.
I am glad you recognise that and clarify it in this post though. I am not sure why then do so many restaurants, f&B establishments etc would invite you (as you said) when the reviews you give are cursory and I am glad I chance upon this post because at least you know there are really many others like me who feel the lack of value in your blog and you posted it probably to address this. You really should be thankful the returns you get affords you to do this blog as a full-time job without the very real world pressures of editors, deadlines, long hours and tremendous stress as you mentioned. Guess you are really blessed to be so lucky that sponsors and food places still seem to want to engage you for your blog post about them.
To be honest, it frustrates me when I search on the internet to look for food places and your website always comes up. I think you must have very good website settings (or so my daughter tells me when I ask her why do I keep getting such referrals on the search engine) to enable the search results on Google to always point to your website.