Food Critic / Writer
Job Title: Food Critic / Local Food Expert (US Market)
Employment Type: Freelance / Independent Contractor
Location: United States (US Only)
Role Overview
We are seeking experienced Food Critics, Food Writers, Local Journalists, or Regional Culinary Experts with deep familiarity of the US food landscape. The ideal candidate will have strong local knowledge, the ability to evaluate places, cuisines, and dining experiences, and expertise in providing high-quality, accurate food-related insights.
This role is similar to previous Lens data collection efforts, where hyper-local knowledge and strong contextual understanding were essential.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide expert opinions on food, dining, restaurants, and local culinary culture.
- Evaluate and recommend places based on cuisine, quality, ambiance, and regional relevance.
- Apply strong geographical knowledge to assess local hotspots, food trends, and neighborhood-specific experiences.
- Review and validate food-related data for accuracy, quality, and relevance.
- Contribute high-quality insights based on local familiarity and culinary expertise.
- Support content teams with detailed, trustworthy recommendations and critiques.
Required Skills & Qualifications
- Must be based in the United States (local familiarity required).
- Background as a Food Critic, Local Food Journalist, Food Writer, Restaurant Reviewer, or similar profile.
- Strong understanding of US food culture across cities, regions, and neighborhoods.
- Excellent geography skills combined with place recommendation expertise.
- Ability to provide structured and unbiased evaluations.
- Strong research, writing, and communication skills.
- Prior experience in local reporting, food blogging, culinary journalism, or related fields is a strong plus.
Preferred Qualifications
- Coverage of local dining scenes, restaurant reviews, or regional food guides.
- Knowledge of local culinary trends and emerging food movements.
- Deep familiarity with specific US cities or regions (e.g., NYC, LA, Chicago, Texas, etc.).
- Experience contributing to place-based data evaluations or rating systems.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are invited to share below details to sharmila@aceolution.com:
- Updated CV
- Primary region(s) of expertise within the US
- Experience in food critique or culinary journalism
- Expected rate per hour
- Available hours per week