Angela Roberts has written about over 80 plus restaurants, over 60 are in Nashville. Doug Roberts, a well-traveled foodie, also contributes to the food reviews.
Angela Robers is a food blogger, not a food critic. Critics will write about a restaurant whether they liked it or not. As a food blogger, Angela Roberts chooses only to share the good news about restaurants and food events she wants to recommend to her readers. There are places she has eaten that are intentionally left out. It’s not her desire to take on the role of a food critic, but more to evangelize good recipes, good places to eat.
Angela Roberts writes with full disclosure. She will always state whether she paid for the meal or was invited in by chef or owner as part of a food press event. It is made clear that she will only write about the restaurant if she believes her readers will enjoy a good experience. She understands the weight of a blogger recommendation, and her blog is written for the benefit of her readers, not for the benefit of the food establishments. However, she has a heart to support the locally owned restaurants, and focuses her writing on the local scene.
Angela Roberts, as part of the Nashville Food Bloggers Association, or as a food writer, will be invited to what is referred to as food press events. Sometimes these events are full dinners. Sometimes they are small gatherings designed to bring the Nashville press together, to make an announcement about a change in direction, a new menu, etc.
We now live in a world where local owners, chefs invite local bloggers and press in to tell their story. This is refreshing and good news, because there are many voices, many perspectives to share via social media, when in the past, there would typically be one food critic.
In most cases, a food critic is quite different from a food blogger. A food critic is hired by a third party, and paid for time and expenses. Food critics in the Nashville area will eat at a restaurant at least two times. They are compensated for both their time and for the expense of the meal.
The New York Times Food Critic gets an unlimited expense account to dine out and take friends. They can make or a break a restaurant by attributing stars or no stars. Spinach Tiger is not a food critic, and the success or failure of a restaurant is not on her shoulders.
Angela Roberts will try to eat at a restaurant two or three times, but that is not always the case. This will be stated in the blog post.
Spinach Tiger has over 1,000 recipes, mostly developed by Angela Roberts. Her understanding of food, cooking and her overall frequent dining out are what aid her in determining if a restaurant is news worthy and helps readers determine if her words are trustworthy.
If you have any questions about this topic, please contact her at angelaroberts@me.com.
