A food critic is also termed by other names such as a food writer, food columnist, and restaurant critic. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage of a food critic is $40470. Moreover, BLS states that the profession of a food critic employs more than 20,000 people nationally.The data by the Economic Research Institute (ERI) states that the average base salary of a food critic is INR 8 LPA. All over the world, 69% of women want to become food critics as opposed to 39% men. More women than men are interested in making a career as a food critic at a ratio of 1.06 to
Courses that can help individuals become Food Critic are Diploma in Hotel Management, Bachelor in Hotel Management, BA in Culinary Arts etc. Some of the top colleges offering these courses are IHM Bangalore, IHM Hyderabad, IHM Lucknow etc.
The average course fees range from INR 1.5 - 2.5 Lakhs. Post completing the course students can expect an average salary ranging between INR 3.5 - 5 LPA.
- How to Become a Food Critic: Quick Facts
- What does a Food Critic do?
- Steps on How to Become a Food Critic
- Types of Food Critics
6.1 Diploma in Hotel Management
6.2 Bachelor in Hotel Management
6.4 Bachelor in Journalism and Mass Communication
7.1 UK
7.2 USA
7.3 Canada
7.4 Australia
10.2 Specialization Wise Salary
10.3 Gender Wise Salary
10.4 Experience Wise
How to Become a Food Critic: Quick Facts
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s Degree in relevant subject |
| Average Salary | INR 4 - 5 LPA |
| Job Opportunity | Food Hygiene Master, Food Blogger, Food Journalist |
What Does a Food Critic Do?
Food Critic is an upcoming booming career option for the youth. All those who are interested in the field of journalism, as well as culinary arts, must definitely give this career option a try.
- A food critic can be termed as a passionate writer, who travels to various happening and trending places, mainly restaurants to give a detailed review or feedback on the menu via his writings.
- In other words, a food critic tastes, analyzes, reviews the food menu of an eatery. In addition to this, a food critic recommends improvement of the dishes, décor and ambience of the restaurant.
- A food critic takes into consideration several factors after giving the final review of each cafeteria or restaurant. He judges every aspect from the preparation of the food, the cooking methods to the final presentation of the food items.
- Apart from this, a food critic places a great emphasis on the health and hygiene protocols at the restaurant. Above all, a food critic is a good communicator.
Steps on how to become a Food Critic
Every job needs a certain amount of dedication and passion in order to excel in the said field. Below mentioned steps are the basic guidelines that students can follow who aspire to make a mark as a Food Critic,
Decision Making
The candidate aspiring to become a food critic must take the right career decisions for his/her career. They must themselves take sole responsibility for their educational qualification. None (parents, grandparents, mentors, guardians) should decide on your behalf. One cannot become a food critic if he/she isn’t willing to do the same. A food critic is a person filled with passion and love for food and cultures. And, passion cannot be induced forcefully. Choose the management background career-wise for pursuing the profession of a food critic.
Self Development
One must enrol himself in self-development or a personality development course. This can be beneficial in many ways. Firstly, it will improve communication skills. Secondly, it will mould your personality. Thirdly, the self-development course lets you learn new things about your personality. Thus, you develop as an individual.
Learn Online
Watch via online social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook. Read books on related subjects such as culinary arts, dining manners, serving styles, kitchen hygiene, traditional cultures, food decoration and more.
Enrol in a Short Term Course
An aspiring food critic must always be ready to learn. The career of a food critic is not a nine-to-five job. It is a challenging as well as an interesting job where the food critic must be ready to eat every kind of food. So, the students must enrol themselves in a short term course related to the field of culinary arts, or management, writing, photography, photo editing, video production and editing. Follow the principle of growing while you learn. In addition to this, the students must expand their knowledge of food.
Subject Choices
There is no hard and fast rule that the food critic aspirant must study some specific subjects to pursue his dream career. But, the commerce stream can serve as a golden lining for this profession. In Particular, the students can choose a management background after their 12th standard. However, the candidate can study some other subjects such as Journalism, Catering Technology, Culinary Arts, Language course (English).
Entrance Exams
Prepare yourself for the management level entrance exam. The students must clear their basic mathematical concepts. The entrance exams have questions related to logical reasoning, communication skills, and analytical reasoning. Read newspapers to keep yourself updated with current affairs.
Find the Perfect College
Many institutions offer courses for the job role of a food critic. However, the students must themselves analyse which college is the best for them. Go with the college that provides training along with regular study.
Take Writing Internships
The students must enrol themselves in creative writing based internships. It will give you industry-relevant training in the field of writing. Work on writing projects at the college level. Write for your university magazine. Be a part of the culinary arts society of the college, if there’s any. The majority of the food critics are established journalists or writers before they emerged as food critics. A writing internship improves your writing skills, builds a network in the publishing industry and builds a portfolio in the journalism domain.
Write Independently
Lastly, start writing independently without any authoritative control. Think and write independently. Start your own blog or a website. You may also write articles for newspaper or magazine columns. This is the most important and the easiest step to write about food. It will kick start your career as a food critic.
Types of Food Critics
The profession as a Food Critic can be broadly segregated into 5 parts, Food Blogger, Food Journalist, Freelance Food Writer, Food Taster and Food Safety and Hygiene Master. Below is a detailed description of the mentioned job profiles for your reference,
Food Writer/Blogger: A food writer or blogger writer reviews pieces of the eating outlets. As a matter of fact, blogging is the most popular platform to mark a presence on social media. Hence, the food bloggers utilise this digital boon for stabilising their careers. Social media has given food bloggers a wide platform to monetize their skills, energy, as well as talent. A food blogger evaluates key elements of the dishes and writes a detailed report in his blogs.
In simple words, a food blogger is a multi-talented person with skills such as photography, cooking, writing, and reviewing. A food blogger expresses his/her true experience at an eating outlet so that all other foodies can visit that food joint. He lists the specialities of the restaurant. Also, a food blogger gives a detailed analysis of the other related information such as what to avoid at the restaurant, the prices, the quantity, the infrastructure, the staff, the discount, and how to reach the destination.
Food Journalist: A food journalist plays a somewhat similar role to a news journalist. As a matter of fact, he provides authentic reviews to newspapers, magazines, websites, and travel guides. The food journalist collects the food samples or tastes the food items from the desired restaurant to write and give their feedback. To maintain the originality of the write-up, food journalists take an extra effort to know the special ingredients of the culinary dish. In addition to this, the food journalists follow tight publishing deadlines. In other words, a food journalist writes a clear, crisp, and unbiased summary of the eatery.
Freelance Food Writer: The freelance food writers are the learning food critics. Freelance Food writer is the foundation stone of being a professional food critic. A food critic has to establish him/her worth in the industry. For this reason, the role of a freelance food writer comes into play. These food writers perform a similar role as food writers. The only difference is that the writers work on a freelance basis, that is, on their free will. They don’t follow strict timings standards and work as per their schedule. Freelance food writers work on wide-ranging food projects including restaurant reviews, recipe reviews, product recipes, and culinary knowledge. Working as a freelancer adds experience as well as knowledge to the food writers profile.
Food Taster: Multinational companies hire a third person named a food taster to get an unbiased taste review of their food product. The food taster tastes the final food at the end. He confirms whether or not the product is tasty, safe, or hygienic. The food taster must have active 10000 taste buds. That is, he must protect his taste buds because they play an active role in tasting the food ingredients. They are known by other names such as food technicians, food scientists, and product developers.
Food Safety and Hygiene Master: Food safety and hygiene master is a technical professional who analyzes food items based on different parameters. This is something which can be achieved only through a technical professional degree such as BSc or MSc in Food Technology, or Microbiology. As the name suggests, the hygiene master is responsible for judging the hygiene, safety, and security of the food at the eating outlet. Based on his knowledge, the food master recommends improvement areas to the managers of the restaurant. In simpler words, the hygiene master establishes food safety compliance through a routine inspection procedure. Apart from this, he is responsible for maintaining records of all monthly inspections.
How to Become a Food Critic in India
To become a food critic, one must develop a basic knowledge of all the ingredients such as different spices, special oils, traditional preparation methods, serving styles, distinct dishes and many more. Watching national and international food and lifestyle shows can aid your rescue. The students can work upon themselves from class 10th.
School Level Preparation
Start working on your vocabulary and communication skills at the school level. Follow food bloggers on various social media platforms to learn skills from them. Learn basic cooking so that you review other dishes. One must start to inculcate creativity as well as professionalism in his work because these two are the key elements for the profession of a food critic. In addition to this, the students can work on a part-time basis at a café or a restaurant to learn the functioning of eating outlets. But, the most essential thing to become a successful food critic is that the person must have a passion for food. Students can learn culinary skills from travel and food bloggers. Students must be aware of the traditional cuisines and culture of India. Know the famous eateries in your neighbourhood areas. Pay visits to them and taste the cuisines.
How to Become a Food Critic After 12th?
UG Preparation
The students aspiring to become food critics must score food on their 10+2 board examination. So, they can get admission to perfect colleges as well as courses of their own choice. During the 12th class, also prepare yourself for the entrance examination. Complete an internship with a top hotel or a news agency after graduation.
PG Preparation
No higher education such as post-graduation is required to pursue the profession of a food critic. However, if you want to go for higher studies, it is a personal choice. Post-graduation in the relevant subject will add more knowledge to the pre-existing knowledge. The candidates will get higher packages after PG.
Courses to Pursue to Become a Food Critic
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Similarly, one cannot become the best food critic in a day or a month. Practice your skills. Do more research.
The interested candidates can pursue the following undergraduate courses to realise their dream of a food critic.
Diploma in Hotel Management
- Admission Process: The students can directly enrol for the diploma in hotel management by registering themselves on the official website of the college. There is no Entrance Test for the diploma courses.
- Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must score 55 percentage marks in their 10+12 boards examination.
Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM)
- Admission Process: The top-level hotel management institutes release the application form in January and February. Candidates must appear for the management entrance exam for courses such as BSc Hotel Management.
- Eligibility Criteria: For the majority of hotel management courses, the eligibility criteria is a 10+2 boards examination along with relevant degrees issued by the board. However, the diploma courses intake the students based on the 10th board level degree.
BA in Culinary Arts
- Admission Process: Different colleges have diverse approaches to the admission process for BA in Culinary Arts. Some colleges admit students only based on the entrance exam, others follow a mixed approach (entrance and merit both).
- Eligibility Criteria: The basic eligibility criteria for pursuing the Culinary Arts course is that one must have a 10+2 degree with a minimum percentage of 55 marks. Moreover, the candidates with a degree in hotel management as a given preference over others.
- Selection Process: Candidates are selected based on the final scores in the previous exam and personal interview.
Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication (BJMC)
- Admission Process: The admission for the BJMC course is done via an entrance based mode. Different Institutes conduct entrance exams such as DUET, CET, IPU CET, and BCECE.
- Eligibility Criteria: The students applying for the BJMC course must have the necessary marksheet recognised by the state. Another requirement is that the candidate with a diploma in Mass Communication (55%) can apply for the course.
How to Become a Food Critic Abroad?
Each country has a slight difference in their admission procedure for the career of a food critic. The top countries where you can pursue food criticism are the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. Read more in detail from below.
How to become a Food Critic in UK
- As such, there are no country-specific requirements for a food critic. However, he/she must have a Bachelor degree from the United Kingdom to be a food critic.
- Students must meet the following criteria to enrol in the university in the UK.
- Visa Process: The country follows three visa protocols namely, Tier 4 (general with age restriction); Short Study Visa; Tier 4 (general without age restriction).
- Language: The student must be proficient in the English language. Submit IELTS or TOEFL scores.
- Documents: The students require many documents including current passport or valid travel document, evidence of financial ability, CAS registration, reference number, passport-size photographs, Assessment documentation, and ATAS clearance certificate.
- Cost of living: The average monthly cost of living in the capital city of London is 756 GBP. However, if you live in smaller cities, the cost is comparatively less.
Top Colleges
| College Name | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| London School of Economics | 2,328,624 |
| Goldsmith University of London | 2,034,250 |
| University of Leeds | 2,214,500 |
| University of Westminster | 1,802,500 |
| University of Leicestershire | 1,872,025 |
How to become a Food Critic in USA
- Food critics mainly opt for the United States of America because it is a growing career there. The students must pursue a degree in journalism or hotel management from the USA.
- The Indian students are the second-largest community of international students staying in America.
- There are about 58 institutions in the USA that offer hotel management courses.
- Students can refer to some of the basic criteria from the following points.
Visa Process: The aspirants must get themselves an H1B Visa which is mandatory for education purposes.
Language: The candidates are required to pass a general language test in English. The main aim of the test is to check the proficiency of the student in English so that he/she can easily communicate in a foreign country. Universities in the USA accept the score of TOEFL (68-80 for direct entry), Pearson Test of English PTE, and Duolingo English Test ,DET.
Documents: The students will require a passport, academic proofs, test scores, identity proofs and other related documents.
Top Colleges
| College Name | Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| New York University | 38 LACS |
| Boston University | 58 LACS |
| Purdue University | 32 LACS |
| Cornell University | 59 LACS |
| Michigan State University | 39 LACS |
How to become a Food Critic in Canada
- There are over 30 colleges that offer Bachelors level hospitality programs in Canada. A food critic is expected to earn around 47,133 CAD/ year, that is, 27.12 Lac.
- Canada is the hub of 42,700 new job seekers which makes it an employee market.
- Each student must satisfy the following criteria mentioned below.
Visa: The students must have a valid Canadian students VISA.
Language Proficiency: Canada accepts the language test scores of TOEFL as well as IELTS.
Documents: The students must submit many documents including official transcripts, resume, statement of purpose, a valid passport, and a letter of recommendation.
Eligibility: Candidates must have scored at least 65 percent on the 12th board exams.
Top Colleges
| College Name | Fee (INR) |
|---|---|
| Sault College | 9 LAC |
| Centennial College | 18.7 LAC |
| Seneca College | 8.7 LAC |
| Humber College | 9.8 LAC |
How to become a Food Critic in Australia
- A food critic must go to Australia to pursue his career because the continent is an emerging hotspot of kinds of seafood in the world.
- About 16 Universities offer hotel management and journalism courses in Australia.
- Check the following criteria before going to Australia.
Visa: To get a study VISA in Australia, the students must meet the eligibility criteria of Genuine Temporary Entrant.
Language Proficiency: Australian Universities teach in only English medium. As a result, English is the required proficient language in Australia. Students must have entry-level English skills.
Documents: The candidates must have relevant documents such as academic records, passport, overseas student health cover and other identity proofs.
Top Colleges
| College Name | Fee (INR) |
|---|---|
| The University of Queensland | 22 LACS |
| Griffith University | 23 LACS |
| Western Sydney University | 21 LACS |
| Flinders University | 25 LACS |
Benefits of becoming a Food Critic
A food critic is a dream job of many writers and journalists. However, there are many benefits related to becoming a food critic. Read more to know the following benefits.
- Eat Good Food: The most obvious benefit of becoming a food critic is that you will get a first-hand experience of tasting and reviewing delicious cuisines that too free of cost. Your work is to eat, sleep, and repeat.
- Earn a Handsome Salary: Food critics get handsome salary packages starting from INR 3lakhs per annum which is far more than other professions.
- Exciting Job: Food critics don’t work in a regular office as per the normal office hours. Rather, they pay regular visits to unique restaurants to try new cuisines. Eat new everything, that sounds amazing!
- Travels World: A food critic gets many opportunities throughout his lifetime to travel to different places of the world.
- Creative Freedom: A food critic has the full creative freedom to express his food reviews as per his will. There is no compulsion that you’ll have to praise the food even if you don’t like it.
- No work pressure: Eating food is no pressure. There are no strict time limits such as you have to finish your food within a specified time, or taste food for certain hours. Although, there are deadlines related to the write-ups which every food critic has to follow.
- Learn About Different Cultures: Visiting different places teaches new customs and traditions of different cultures. You may also learn a new language apart from new dishes and cuisines.
Skills Required for Becoming a Food Critic
A food critic must have the following skill sets that need to be nurtured and nourished for a successful career. Tabulated below are few of the most essentials skills for becoming a Food Critic,
| Good Verbal Communication Skills | Creativity |
| Excellent Interpersonal Skills | Attention to details |
| Broad Food Knowledge | Orator |
| Outstanding Writing Skills | Presentation Skills |
| Objectivity | Anonymity |
| Time Management Skills | Knowledge of Best Food Practices |
Salary of Food Critic in India
Read the table mentioned below to know the different salary scales based on specialisation, gender, and experience.
Average Annual Salary
| Name of the organisation | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Government | INR 6 LPA |
| Private | INR 5 LPA |
Specialisation Wise
| Specialisation | Salary |
|---|---|
| Food taster | INR 4 LPA |
| Food Editor | INR 6 LPA |
| Freelance Food Writer | INR 3 LPA |
| Restaurant Reviewer | INR 9 LPA |
Gender Wise
| Gender | Salary |
|---|---|
| Male | INR 7 LPA |
| Female | INR 6 LPA |
Experience Wise
| Experience | Salary |
|---|---|
| Fresher | INR 2 LPA |
| Experienced | INR 10 LPA |
How to Become a Food Critic: FAQs
Question 1: What is the difference between a food critic and a restaurant critic?
Answer 1: We tend to use both the terms, food critic and restaurant critic interchangeably in daily practice. If viewed from a wide-angle lens, both of these professionals critically evaluate the food in the form of a rating system. However, a food critic is a modern professional who visits cafeterias, eateries, food festivals, bakeries, and street shops. Whereas, a restaurant critic is a traditional profession whose working sphere is restricted to traditional restaurants only.
Question 2: How to know whether or not you are a correct fit for the role of a food critic?
Answer 2: There is no perfect criteria to pursue a career as a food critic. However, you must ask yourselves some of the basic questions which are as follows. If the answer to the majority of questions is positive, then congratulations you most probably a right fit for a food critic.
- Can you taste/eat any type of food? (Any includes spiciest, sweetest, saltiest, weird food combinations, non-vegetarian foods)
- Do you have an allergy to any food ingredients?
- Are you choosy about eating your own food?
- Are you suffering from certain health problems such as sugar, diabetes, heart problems?
- Can you write well?
- Do you aware of all the basic elements of the dishes?
- Do you enjoy eating all dishes and cuisines?
Question 3: Do food critics pay for their own food or does the company pays?
Answer 3: As a matter of fact, the food critics pay for the food they eat. Although, the company pays sometimes on behalf of the food critic. But, the food critic also gets reimbursements from the publishing companies. But the reality is that the restaurants don’t give menu items free of cost. Most food critics remain anonymous so that they can get genuine customer service from the food outlet.
Question 4: What are the qualities of a good critic?
Answer 4: A good food critic excels in the arts of balancing his experience and the reality of the eatery. He doesn’t get overwhelmed with the food and décor. He analyses each and every aspect so that the readers get a comprehensive review. An ideal food critic includes both positive as well as negative points about the restaurant. He makes sure that his readers are getting all the information in one place.
Question 5: What challenges do a food critic face?
Answer 5: Some of the most challenging work for a food critic is to explain the negative points to the loyal customers and the hardworking chefs. They might not agree with your honest review and might tag you as biased. Moreover, the popular food critics get special treatment at the restaurant. So, they might miss an ordinary dining experience.
Question 6: What is the work schedule of a food critic?
Answer 6: Food critics have no fixed work schedule. Their work might start from early morning till late night. Freelancers, however, choose their working hours. The daily schedule is not busy but it often engaging.
Question 7: What study books to read for gaining knowledge as a food critic?
Answer 7: The students can read the following reference books.
- The Pedant in The Kitchen by Julian Barnes
- Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl
- Rude Food and Drink by Vir Singhavi
- Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
- In Defence of Food: The Myth of Nutrition and the Pleasures of Eating by Michael Pollan
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