Develop an appetite for food writing

Food writing ranges from captions for eye-catching photographs on social media to daily cooking blogs and restaurant reviews to writing a recipe book.

Some key principles apply to all of these forms of writing, with the most important being to develop your own style that you are proud of and allow your personality to shine. A reader may want to make your recipe simply because the introduction tells the story of why you love cooking it.

Develop your own style that you are proud of and allow your personality to shine.

Crafting captivating content about food is my forte and, before the pandemic shook things up in 2020, I had already decided to share my lessons on writing about culinary creativity.

I took my beloved one-day culinary writing course online, inviting enthusiasts to hone their food-writing skills at their own pace. Witnessing the evolution of passions, the birth of side hustles, and even new careers has been immensely gratifying. Some of our participants have graced the pages of the esteemed Gourmet Guide magazine.

Here are ten valuable things I’ve learned throughout my career as a food writer.

10 tips for food writing

1. 1. Engage all senses: Paint a vivid picture by describing not just the taste, but the presentation, aroma, and texture of the dish. Take your readers on a sensory journey.
   2. Diversify your vocabulary: One invaluable exercise in our course is “50 Shades of Flavour”, where we encourage you to broaden your vocabulary beyond “delicious” and “tasty.” Try exploring onomatopoeic words that resonate with fellow food enthusiasts, but avoid unnecessary embellishment. Writing about more than 40 Plated restaurants for the JHP Gourmet Guide without sounding repetitive remains a challenge!
   3. Tell a story: Dive into the background, origins, and cultural heritage of the cuisine you’re writing about. Engage your audience with captivating narratives about the protagonist, the ingredients, and the setting.
   4. Educate while entertaining: Don’t assume your audience’s knowledge level. Many home cooks are actually home chefs! Explain techniques and delve into details. (Pro tip: Sidebars are perfect for serving up extra nuggets of information.)
   5. Stir up nostalgia: Connect with your readers’ memories and emotions by evoking nostalgia through enticing words. Share personal experiences without oversharing.
   6. Quotes and anecdotes: Sprinkle in quotes from chefs or sommeliers to add flavour. Personal anecdotes breathe life into your writing. In a full-length story, using powerful one-liners as headings (known as “pull quotes”) can add visual value and break up lengthy text.
   7. Structure your story: Outline your piece with a headline, a compelling opening, detailed scene-setting, an engaging body, and a satisfying conclusion.
   8. Trim excess: Trim excess “fat” during the self-editing process. Weed out superfluous words like “really” and “just” to keep your writing crisp and impactful. It’s hard to let go of words and lines you love (writers can get very attached to their own writing!) but think objectively and remove anything unnecessary.
   9. Talk it out: Engage in a conversation with yourself or a friend about your dining experience, then jot down the words that flow naturally to capture the essence of your experience. Develop a habit of talking to yourself when you eat, noting what words come to you in the moment.
   10. Read widely: Before you begin your own writing, choose quality, credible writing sources to devour. A writer who doesn’t read is like a chef who doesn’t taste.

Personal anecdotes breathe life into your writing.

Stick to the golden rules of communication: understand your audience, be concise and accurate and, above all, relish the journey. After all, writing about food isn’t just a skill – it’s a delightful pursuit, especially when driven by genuine passion and love for what you’re doing.