This week we caught up with, The Skinny Bib. The Skinny Bib Food Blog was born in September 2010. It is a celebration of food and the different cultures that food affords us a sneak peek into. The Skinny Bib travels widely and you can find reviews from all around the world. One thing we have always loved on the blog is the quality of the photography, good food shots really make the reviews POP! The Skinny Bib is not just out for the finer things in life (although they are important), they “share of truffle as much as a hot pot of dog’s penises.. as long as they taste good!”
On that note lets get into the interview, you can find The Skinny Bib on twitter @theskinnybib and on facebook here
What got you into food writing?
Food and writing have always been big parts of my life and the two coincide on The Skinny Bib. The blog started off as photo sharing with words on a personal online space. Then the words have taken over the photos. I am still trying to find the balance. In the mean time, I find food+writing a way of expressing (part of) myself and knowledge of food that I have so far accumulated.
How do you choose a restaurant to review?
My choosing is based on what’s interesting and new, bluntly speaking. I have been in London for a few good years and found this city constantly evolving – fun, fast paced and exciting. Nowhere else in Europe is comparable to London. The restaurant scene reflects this nature of London very well and I want my blog to capture this. Also, I try to reach out for ethnic cuisine offering. Not only that I am in search of authenticity, I am also interested in cultures from the margins and the ways eating informs me of those individual cultures. London is very multicultural and it’s incredible how food brings people of different ethnic backgrounds under the same roof or even to the same table!
Who is your current favourite chef?
This is a killer question. I have a long list of my favourite chefs and may have to rephrase the question to which chefs I’d like to chase for food. I love Ben Spalding (formerly of Roganic), James Lowe & Issac McHale of The Young Turks and James Knappett (Bubbledogs & formerly of many cool places). All are young, bright talents and have their wild sides. I have found their cooking extraordinary and can’t predict what they are cooking next. This excites me. I also find chef David Thompson inspirational.
Most underrated Local Restaurant?
I don’t think Londoners talk much about Beirut Express – a casual Lebanese eatery – but it’s always packed with Middle Eastern diners. I also love Sushi of Shiori and Ikeda very, very much.
How has blogging in general changed your outlook on food/restaurants?
I feel for restaurants more and appreciate the effort that has gone into running both the dining room and the kitchen.
What’s the biggest mistake a restaurant can make in your opinion?
Bad service. It kills the experience as much as when I am served poorly executed food.
What do you think the London food scene is missing?
London can give me (nearly) everything I want. What’s missing is that there are usually hardly any very good, reasonably priced restaurants near tourist’s attractions. I usually struggle when I have to take my visiting friends around for food and sightseeing.
Who’s your favourite food writer/critic?
I like Richard Vines of Bloomberg and find his writing easy to read, meticulously researched and insightful. I also like Gourmet Traveller blog. We seem to have similar preferences for food. A lot of food critics talk too much about themselves and not enough about food.
and……
What has been your all-time favourite restaurant experience to date?
I don’t have an all-time favourite restaurant experience in London but the experience that comes close to it is at Plusixfive Singaporean Supper Club. I am not from Singapore but I feel nostalgic every time I eat there. Goz’s cooking is not only delicious but full of life and soul.
Thanks so much,
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