The unfiltered journey: Bluntness in food blogging

Why do I pay to write honest food reviews?

I love writing about food. I have written 150+ detailed reviews across Zomato, Google, and this substack. And I do not do it for money or free food (I have done a few in the past). On the contrary, I end up spending quite a bit to be able to explore new places. For example, I spent INR 3800 on the first of this year on one of the best lunches I have ever had.

I will come to the why I do it a little later. But let’s begin with why I don’t do it for money or free food like I have done in the past.

BLUNTNESS.

You could say I have no filter when I speak or write. So in 2018, when restaurants invited me to review their food on Zomato in exchange for free food, I did the same. I wrote honest reviews and as I tasted more food, I became better at explaining it. But this did not go down well with some PR folks and restaurants. They wanted 5-star reviews because “they were giving me free food”.

Someone even served Khao Suey with soured coconut milk and was yet not ready to agree that it had gone bad. The ‘award-winning’ chef said we (the folks invited to review the food) did not know about khao suey. So, when I mentioned in the review that the khao suey was not up to the mark, I got a call from the PR folks to tone it down. And that’s when I decided that I’d rather pay and write about it.

WHY?

So that I can make a small difference for folks who want to explore good food like me. Here’s an example from 2 days ago.

The café reposted it to their story and my small review got 10 extra views. It was a small victory, but it reinforced the belief that my unfiltered perspective resonates with like-minded people.

For me bluntness is a value that extends beyond my writing - it spreads across my personal and professional life. I expect friends and family to be blunt with me, the same way I expect my manager and colleagues to be blunt with me. Translating this bluntness into my food reviews is not just a choice.

Food according to me is one area where deception has no place. Imagine I recommended a subpar place (for incentives) and you had a bad experience. I would not only feel guilty for days because I lied but also because I know how bad food can affect my mood. I can have a bad day or even two if I have a bad meal. I could never wish that on my readers.

So, I prioritize honesty in my food reviews, choosing to pay for meals to maintain my unfiltered perspective. The aim is to guide readers toward genuine and memorable culinary experiences. For, in the realm of food, where flavors tell stories and each bite is a journey, there's no room for anything less than the truth.