Food Critic: Job Prospects & Career Options

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The industry of culinary arts brings job opportunities as chefs, restaurant owners, managers, sommelier (wine taster) etc. Compared to all these, the scope for the profession of a food critic/writer is much less. People who are passionate about food need only take up this profession.

Introducing new restaurants and new dishes to the public is a demanding and competitive job. But if you love to travel, enjoy tasting a wide variety of food and wines and having new exciting experiences this could be the perfect career for you. In fact, you can excel at it if you are fascinated by the preparation and presentation of food, have a critical eye for detail and is good at words. By becoming a food critic, you have the luxury of walking into the best restaurants and sampling the fare free of cost, and you even get paid to do it.

Food critic/writers are generally employed by food magazines, newspapers, review websites, city guidebooks, television channels and radio programs. In addition, you can do freelancing work as food writers/ critics. Food critics write reviews and food related articles for newspapers, magazines, web sites and blogs. They also submit sideline articles to cooking magazines and newspapers. It's also possible to start your own web site or blog about food where you can be a food critic. Ultimately one could even write their own cook book and publish it.

If you are a fresher in the field, it is not easy to get your work published. A fresher may require to travel extensively and review a host of different restaurants- small and large joints as well as well known and lesser known ones. Begin by evaluating local restaurants, and submitting reviews to local newspapers. The way of presentation is important for the success of a food critic, he has to impress the public.

Although most people seem to think that being a food/restaurant critic is an easy job that just about anyone can do, there actually are a few job requirements. Unless you make a name in the field and your reviews are liked by all and sundry, it is difficult to survive in the field. Those who have a passion for this profession could take it up part time.