"Restaurant ratings identify restaurants according to their quality, using notations such as stars or other symbols, or numbers."
How to critically evaluate food and restaurants, and write fair and informed reviews.
Culinary Knowledge: Understanding the basics of various culinary techniques, ingredients and food cultures is essential to appreciate and analyze food critically.
Food Writing: A thorough understanding of the unique writing style and approach required in food journalism, including food description, storytelling, recipe writing, interview techniques and more.
Food Criticism: Understanding the fundamentals of food criticism, including its history, purpose, and key principles.
Restaurant Reviews: Key elements to consider when reviewing restaurants, including ambiance, service, menu offerings, taste, presentation, value for money, and more.
Ethical Considerations: The ethical ramifications of food reviews, including issues of fairness, transparency, and conflicts of interest.
Sustainability: Awareness and consideration of the sustainable and ethical practices of restaurants and food businesses.
Food Photography: An understanding of the role and importance of food photography in food journalism, along with tips for taking exceptional food photographs.
Food Blogging: Knowledge of the basics of setting up and running a food blog, including setting goals, writing engaging content, building a readership, and promotion.
Food Writing Careers: A comprehensive guide to food writing careers, including food writers, food critics, cookbook authors, and more.
Wine & Beverage: Essential elements of beverage writing, including the basics of wine writing and pairing, cocktail writing, and understanding the nuances of beer, coffee, and tea.
Interview Techniques: Techniques to conduct interviews with food professionals, including chefs, restaurateurs, food critics, and other experts.
History and Culture: Appreciation of the rich history and cultural significance of food, including the role of indigenous and regional cuisine, and the evolution of modern dining.
Social Media and Food Writing: The intersection of social media, food writing, and food culture, including the use of social media platforms to enhance food journalism and critique, developing an online brand, building a following, and more.
Food Television & Film: Understanding the role of food media in shaping and influencing public perception of food, including the role of food television, documentaries, and films.
Food Tourism: The connection between food and travel, including the rise of culinary tourism, the impact of food on regional economies, and the role of food travel writers.
Restaurant Reviews: These are the most common type of food criticism, where critics visit restaurants incognito and write detailed reviews on their overall dining experience, including the food, ambiance, service, and price.
Food Essays: These are feature-style articles that explore the cultural, historical, and social aspects of food, including food trends, food politics, and the impact of food on society.
Cookbooks Reviews: Critics review and analyze the content, style, and approach of cookbooks, offering opinions on their recipes, writing style, and overall value.
Recipe Analysis: This type of criticism dissects and examines individual recipes, evaluating their ingredients, cooking techniques, and overall flavor profiles.
Food News Reporting: This is a form of journalism that focuses on breaking news related to food, including food recalls, food industry trends, and policy changes related to food regulation.
Food Anthropology: This is a more academic form of food criticism that examines food as a social and cultural artifact, exploring its historical, religious, and symbolic meanings.
Food Science: This type of criticism looks at food from a scientific perspective, evaluating its nutritional value, molecular composition, and the impact of different cooking techniques on taste and texture.
Specialty Food Reviews: Critics review specific types of food or cuisine, such as vegan food, pizza, or sushi, focusing on their unique qualities and flavor profiles.
Food Travel Writing: This type of food criticism focuses on the role of food in different cultures and regions, offering travel tips and recommendations for local cuisine.
Food Photography Criticism: This type of criticism evaluates the visual presentation of food, including food styling, lighting, and composition, and how it affects the perceived taste and quality of food.
"Stars are a familiar and popular symbol, with scales of one to three or five stars commonly used."
"Ratings appear in guide books as well as in the media, typically in newspapers, lifestyle magazines and webzines."
"Websites featuring consumer-written reviews and ratings are increasingly popular, but are far less reliable."
"There are ratings given by public health agencies rating the level of sanitation practiced by an establishment."
"Stars are a familiar and popular symbol, with scales of one to three or five stars commonly used."
"Ratings appear in guide books as well as in the media, typically in newspapers, lifestyle magazines and webzines."
"Websites featuring consumer-written reviews and ratings are increasingly popular..."
"...but are far less reliable."
"Using notations such as stars or other symbols, or numbers."
"With scales of one to three or five stars commonly used."
"Typically in newspapers, lifestyle magazines and webzines."
"There are ratings given by public health agencies rating the level of sanitation practiced by an establishment."
"Restaurant ratings identify restaurants according to their quality..."
"Ratings appear in guide books as well as in the media, typically in newspapers, lifestyle magazines and webzines."
"...far less reliable."
"Websites featuring consumer-written reviews and ratings are increasingly popular..."
"...rating the level of sanitation practiced by an establishment."
"...with scales of one to three or five stars commonly used."
"...but are far less reliable."