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The Food Programme

Tech, TikTok and the Future of Food Writing

The Food Programme

BBC

Arts, Food

4.4943 Ratings

🗓️ 21 May 2023

⏱️ 29 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Leyla Kazim examines the growing influence apps, maps and lists are having on restaurant recommendations, food writing and the way we eat. Leyla sits down for lunch with Michael O’Shea from the restaurant recommendation app Jacapo, ‘the social network for people who love food,’ to hear why he thinks apps like his have the potential to reshape the way people find new places to eat. She meets Jonathan Nunn from online magazine Vittles in Green Lanes, North London, where they discuss the rapid trajectory of lists and map-based recommendations, and what these developments mean for the changing landscape of food media in the UK. We get the thoughts of three restaurant critics on the subject: The Telegraph’s William Sitwell, The Evening Standard’s Jimi Famurewa and Elite Traveler magazine’s Andy Hayler. In Glasgow producer Robbie Armstrong meets Julie Lin at her restaurant Ga Ga, where she talks about the way apps and tech now give restaurateurs instant feedback, and why she welcomes the social media reviewer as much as the classic critic. In Edinburgh, Robbie sits down for lunch with The Times Scotland Restaurant critic Chitra Ramaswamy to hear why she welcomes the democratisation of food reviewing. She outlines why critics continue to play a crucial role, and explains the ethics behind her approach to criticism. Social media influencers mvlondonreviews discuss the blurred lines that can emerge between restaurants and social media reviewers, and the reasons they set clear boundaries before a review. Finally, The Palmerston’s James Snowdon recounts the game-changing power a restaurant critic still holds. Presented by Leyla Kazim. Produced by Robbie Armstrong.

Transcript

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0:00.0

You don't need us to tell you there's a general election coming.

0:04.7

So what does it mean for you?

0:06.7

Every day on newscast we dissect the big talking points, the ones that you want to know more about.

0:12.4

With our book of contacts, we talk directly to the people you want to hear from.

0:16.8

And with help from some of the best BBC journalists,

0:19.5

we'll untangle the stories that matter to you.

0:23.0

Join me, Laura Kunsberg, Adam Fleming, Chris Mason and Patty O'Connell for our daily

0:28.4

podcast.

0:29.4

Newscast, listen on BBC Sounds.

0:41.0

Welcome to the food program. I'm Leila Kuzim and my career in food actually started in the online world. I had a restaurant and food blog I ran a couple of

0:44.8

social media accounts I was that person always taking pictures of my food

0:48.8

before I ate it and yes it pretty much always did go cold but all of this started as a hobby and it was the first step on the

0:56.7

journey to where I am today so having come from that

1:05.0

the world, and I'm still very much a part of it, I've noticed huge changes in the food media landscape

1:07.0

over the years, the way that lists and maps and social media

1:11.0

are completely changing how we look for places to eat. But what is that

1:16.3

going to mean for the restaurants themselves? For us as consumers and for the more traditional restaurant review.

1:24.0

That is what we will be covering in today's episode and I hope you enjoy it.

1:28.0

It's a barbed spring afternoon.

1:31.0

We are in Whitechapel in East London and we are about to meet Michael O'Shea who is the founder of an act

1:38.7

called Jackapoe.

1:39.9

We're really a reaction to how food media works now. So I guess it used to be quite easy if you

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