There are many interesting professions in the world and, probably, many would dream of becoming a person whose work would be associated with delicious food, and besides, if they still paid money for it. Indeed, there is such a profession called "restaurant critic." However, one should not compare such a specialty with a taster; a food critic is a broader concept and requires a fairly high professional training.
Profession Features
An interesting question: "How to become a restaurant critic and what skills are needed for this?" First of all, a person of such a specialty must have an aesthetic taste in order to determine all the half-tones of the dishes that the cook laid in him. In addition, the professional gives a comprehensive assessment of the whole establishment: the service, the appearance of the waiters, the wine list, the dishes, notices and describes the little things.
The profession of restaurant critic suggests that a person should be well versed in cooking and write reviews well. Also, the critic must be impartial and incorruptible. No family or close relations with the owner should be reflected in the opinion of a professional.
To date, in reality there are few such people.
Where to begin?
Alas, in our country there are no specialized training courses called “Restaurant critic” in our country. But to become a professional, it is recommended to study as a journalist or cook. The first profession will allow you to learn how to create professional content, and the second will introduce you to restaurant business. Although the basics of the last profession can be mastered by directly starting to work in a restaurant.
However, if possible, then you can study in European schools.
Le cordon blue
Since the 16th century, this name has been synonymous with art in cooking. Today it is the most prestigious culinary academy on the whole planet with branches in many countries of the world. At school, you can get education at different levels depending on the length of study (from 3 to 9 months): a certificate of courses or a diploma, a higher professional diploma.
Training will not only allow you to get a “crust” about culinary education, but also learn how to cook well, surprise your loved ones or customers with extravagant dishes and, of course, understand the intricacies of the restaurant business and the cooking process.
Training takes place in English or French. The cost is from 8.5 to 49 thousand euros per course (from 680 thousand rubles).
Business and Hotel Management School
How to become a restaurant critic? You can take a course at BHMS. This is a university in Switzerland, which is recognized as a leader in the field of training in the restaurant and hotel business. Some of the most famous chain restaurants and hotels in the world collaborate with this educational institution: Sheraton, Hilton, Ritz-Carlton and others.
Here you can get a diploma of different levels:
- bachelor;
- master;
- MBA diploma.
However, in just one year of study you will have to pay about 25 thousand euros (2 million rubles). But most importantly, the university provides not only a theoretical basis, but also obligatorily sends its students for paid internships in the most famous and respectable restaurants and hotels.
International Culinary Institute Switzerland
Where to study for a restaurant critic? Above, another Swiss school is named, known worldwide and graduating the most qualified specialists in the field of hotel and restaurant business. At the university, training is conducted in English, but students who have completed the full course of study know at least 2 languages.
The educational institution offers three courses, different in duration of training:
- short-term (6 months);
- diploma program (1-2 years);
- undergraduate (up to 3 years).
Tuition from 25 thousand euros per course.
Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland
How to become a restaurant critic? Another Swiss university allows you to get an education in the field of restaurant business. Training involves a tight schedule of internships, so students receive not only theoretical foundations.
The institution also offers short-term courses with a certificate, a diploma course and a bachelor's degree.
The cost of training is from 2,200 Swiss francs per month (155 thousand rubles).
These are not all the famous and prestigious educational institutions in Europe, but they only provide knowledge about the culinary business and how the process in the restaurant is organized. Therefore, further training will have to be carried out independently.
Self-education, where to start?
How to become a restaurant critic from scratch? In addition to specialized culinary education or in the field of journalism, you will have to constantly study yourself.
If you have basic knowledge in the field of writing articles, then improve in culinary business, even if there is no way to take a prestigious course outside the country. Read books on culinary affairs of the most eminent experts in this field and written by culinary critics of the world. It is recommended to start with the books MFK Fisher, Calvin Trillin, Robert Courtine, AJ Liebling. Reading books will allow not only to learn about the intricacies of the case, but also to develop a culinary vocabulary.
Take culinary art lessons, attend master classes and tastings, including wine, cognac and others. Be sure to attend themed festivals, even if they are held at the regional level. If possible, go to wine production, because the quality of wine and the correct combination with dishes - this is very important in the profession of restaurant critic. Always look for new trends and be sure to try everything, even if they look at you as a strange person. By the way, such events are not only interesting, but will also help to develop a taste.
It will be useful to read about the history of the development of culinary art in different countries of the world. It will be great if you learn at least one “food language”: Italian, French or Spanish.
Start writing reviews
How to become a restaurant critic? In addition to self-education, start writing reviews.
Inspiration can be found in nearby restaurants. This is a good opportunity to check the boundaries of your own taste.
If you go to a brand new restaurant, take your friends with you and ask them to order completely different dishes. And of course, try each one. If you are on vacation or on excursions in another country, it is better to take a local resident to the restaurant and go to the very place where ethnic dishes are served. Thus, you can “kill two birds with one stone”: try traditional dishes and hear the stories of their appearance.
The main thing in this process is not to get carried away, if you try all the dishes of friends, then do not eat up at least everything at ease, it is better to take the rest home.
Never make notes in a restaurant; you should mentally photograph everything and remember the whole gamut of tried dishes. And you can write down your impressions only after leaving the institution. In no case should the restaurant staff know that you have come to evaluate the food and the establishment itself. And do not forget that the restaurant critic evaluates how things are going in the restaurant. Therefore, inspect the interior, cutlery and dishes, study the wine list. Watch how waiters serve customers. And most importantly, do not be discouraged if you couldn’t remember everything the first time, this is just an excuse to visit a restaurant for the second time with friends and try new dishes that were not ordered on a previous visit.
Incognita
How do they become restaurant critics? Until at least minimal professionalism is achieved, full anonymity will have to be observed.
If you write reviews under a specific name on the Internet, then book a table in a restaurant for a different name. After all, the person who writes the reviews will be served in a completely different way than other clients, and the critic should give an objective assessment. In addition, provocative articles about your reviews may appear on the same Internet, so only complete anonymity.
Do not write about attending special dinners and receptions, this is an occasion to impersonate. Unsubscribe from television shows. If you attend master classes from eminent cooks, then it is better to refuse to taste their dishes, especially from their assessment.
If you have Internet skills, then start your own thematic blog, naturally, under an assumed name.
Portfolio
To become a famous restaurant critic, you must create your own portfolio. It is recommended that it contain at least 40 articles. Even if you write only one article in one week, then a portfolio can be created in a fairly short time. With this document you can already come to the editor of a newspaper or magazine and offer yourself as a restaurant critic.
It is clear that at the beginning of your career you should not count on high fees, it is possible that at first you will be taken to the print media, but not to maintain a column on food. In any case, you should start somewhere.
The most popular professionals in Russia
Do not forget to read the reviews of restaurant critics in Russia and Europe. We have such people, for example, Boris, whose surname is still unknown to anyone. By the way, no one knows what this Boris looks like, but he has already reached the international level. He visited restaurants not only in major cities of our country, but also wrote reviews about restaurants in Milan, Helsinki, Rome and others. You can familiarize yourself with his reviews on his website, and Boris also has his own author’s program on the Business.fm radio station.
There is a popular blogger, Mikhail Kostin, who has been working in restaurants in Moscow since 2003, the main credo of Mikhail is delicious food, and the service is in second place.
Svetlana Kesoyan is called the legend of gastronomic journalism. In addition to going to restaurants and writing reviews, she released a book called Cake, and is the editor of a gastronomy magazine.