Food Critic some time also known as Food Writer is an interesting option for those who want to make their career in some unconventional stream different from already existing old career choices. Unlike most other offbeat career choices like engineering, medicine etc. the job profile of a food critic is quite interesting as well as challenging as it is still in its infancy.
A prospective food critic requires a strong understanding and taste for good food along with a knack of writing and editing skills to provide comprehensive, thoughtful and well balanced rational opinion to the public. Here it become the responsibility of a good food critic to do his/her job with utmost honesty and professional integrity taking into consideration the fact that today most of the people prefer to read these reviews to know about food as well as the food courts and especially of upcoming eating joints, before deciding whether or not to go to that particular restaurant. Thus giving an accurate fair and balanced assessments of offerings and unbiased opinion is important not only for those about whom he is writing but also for his own credibility.
It will give a firsthand experience of the dishes he is going to critically analyse. For critically evaluating the foodstuff the prospective food critic should be able to differentiate various flavours. In fact, he should be an expert of cuisine. That can be achieved by searching out the finest, latest, rarest and most delicious incredible culinary knowledge.
Food Critic Eligibility
The minimum educational qualification for becoming a Food Critic is a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism or Hotel Management from a recognised university.
Food Critic Required Skills
- To become a successful food critic the aspirant should possess an incredible palate and be prepared to taste a wide variety of food and drinks without worrying about the strange or alien look of this foodstuff.
- They should be able to understand the reader’s expectations for food quality appraisal and service standards at various levels.
- They should have an intuitive appreciation for creative writing and an articulated gift for words.
- Food Critics should be able to manage a dynamic ‘social calendar’, and be mobile enough to travel, sometimes over a considerable distance.
How to become a Food Critic?
Prospective Food Critics require deep knowledge of two different basic elements that can be acquired by two different modes. One is good writing and editing skills and the other is professional knowledge of the food industry.
Although no formal qualification is required in any of the fields to become a food critic but to excel in this field, to have an edge our competitors and be efficient formal knowledge in one or other or both the field can prove beneficial in the long run.
The best way to acquire professional writing skills is to join a Diploma or Degree course in Journalism (provided by various institutions like Indian Institute of Mass Communication and universities like Panjab university or Kurukshetra university) as most of the food writers/ critics are supposed to write for some kind of mass media.
Educational Qualification for BMC
Minimum education to require a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism or Mass Communication is 10+2 class pass or equivalent.
Eligible candidates can take entrance test conducted by various institutes and universities to get admission in the bachelor in the mass communication course. However, some institutes provide admission on the basis of percentage of marks obtained in the qualifying examination.
For having in-depth professional knowledge about the food industry the aspiring candidates can look for hotel management degree/ diploma or attend culinary courses.
Educational Qualification for Hotel Management course
Basic minimum qualification to apply for hotel management degree/diploma course is 10+2 class pass (with 60% marks for some reputed institutes) or equivalent.
Eligible candidates have to take entrance test conducted by various institutes like Indian Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) to get admission in the bachelor’s degree course. However, some institutes provide admission on the basis of percentage of marks obtained in the qualifying examination.
Food Critic Job Description
Food critic’s job includes giving critical but unbiased opinions on various kinds of food/cuisine as well as on a particular restaurant, cafe, food court, food manufacturer or another food outlet. They visit these places, taste different types of food served and other factors that can influence the enjoyment of food, analyse them in an unbiased manner and then make their views public by publishing in any of the available mass media instruments be it print, electronic or Internet media.
Spurt growth in the tourism and hospitality industry and opening up of chains of world-class food courts and restaurants has created a huge demand for food critics in virtually all kinds of mass media industries. Good food critics can get job opportunities in print media such daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, food magazines, regional guidebooks, trade publications as well as electronic mass media like radio, TV stations and the Internet. Writing one’s own cookbook or publication of newsletter can be another good option for Food critics.
Other related job options are:
- Food Editor
- Freelance Food Writer
- Restaurant Reviewer
- Staff food Writer
- Syndicated Food Columnist
Food Critic Salary
Salary of a Food Critic entirely depends upon one ability and credibility among the masses. Good food critic with incredible skills can demand according to their own wish. However, to start with a well-educated food critic can expect an average salary in the range of Rs.12,000 to Rs.18,000 working with a reputed newspaper or another kind of mass media.
