Richard Gorelick has been the Baltimore Sun’s restaurant critic since 2010. Before joining the staff full time, he contributed freelance criticism and features articles about food to area and regional publications. He is a native of Lochearn in Baltimore County. Read Richard’s diner blog for the Baltimore Sun here.
1) What’s your top story for today?
Lately I’ve produced a lot of online content. This includes a few blog posts and a 10-slide photo-gallery, “Richard Gorelick’s Favorite Restaurant Week menus.”
I don’t like photo galleries when they serve no purpose except as click-bait. But I think this one, which I’ve done versions of now for 2 or 3 previous Restaurant Weeks, is actually legitimate. In the past, it’s done fairly well online, numbers-wise. It’s the kind of thing that can build my numbers up a little, which makes the big bosses happy – which then makes the small bosses happy.
2) Tell us about your dream assignment.
I’ve always wanted to follow a restaurant from conception to opening. I’d love to find out, and tell readers about, all of the thousands of decisions and tasks that go into developing a restaurant. I see it maybe as more than a book than a feature article, even a long one. And some of it would be devoted to mundane things like getting permits and signing leases. I’m fascinated by the challenges presented by the owners of a new restaurant – everything from hiring to choosing vendors to picking out napkins.
3) Describe the wackiest story you’ve written.
Who had whom in a headlock is the focus of a dispute between a Baltimore chef and a diner.
4) What is your PR pet peeve?
We all like to be first, but we understand that PR folks have other media to take care of, too. It’s okay to be up front with us. We just don’t like surprises.
5) Top trend in the industry you’re currently covering or are interested in.
I think we’re going to be reporting more on restaurant employee issues such as taxes, tipping and healthcare. Payroll is the largest line on a restaurant’s expense sheet, so I’m hoping to partner up with one of our paper’s business writers to do this.
6) Tell us a little about yourself.
I did media relations for various nonprofit cultural institutions before turning to journalism. It started small with reviews for Baltimore’s alternative weekly. So I get where PR people are coming from. It’s a hard job.
Questions or comments for Richard? Let him know in the “comments” section below or follow him on Twitter @gorelickingood.
Richard – thanks for the post, it’s nice to have a journalist on our blog from the “other” coast. And, do you have a favorite restaurant in San Francisco? Mine is SPQR, an innovative, modern Italian restaurant on Fillmore St. with one Michelin star. PS, Baltimore, hands down, has the best crab cakes in the country. Cheers, David
Richard,
Thanks for your contribution. I worked in restaurants years ago and do appreciate the challenges and also that it was a lot of fun too!
Sean
I’m definitely one of those people who clicks through the entire photo gallery if it’s pictures of food– so post away!
Richard, thanks your for contribution to our blog! Great to get the perspective of someone on the other coast.
Thanks for the insightful post, Richard. It was always a blast working with you on food-related stories. Can’t wait to check in on your Diner blog and see how the Baltimore restaurant scene is evolving.
Thanks for the great post, Richard! As a native Californian, I’m always interested to hear perspectives from media pros on the East Coast (especially when they talk about one of my favorite topics – food!)