If you're friendly, a good schmoozer, and love eating out, you might find your calling as a restaurant publicist. These über-communicators work for new and established restaurants and have the all-important job of helping them stay in business by promoting them to the public and the media. During a typical day you might write a press release about a new ingredient being used in the kitchen, follow and respond to comments on Twitter, book a TV appearance for the chef, or host a press dinner for writers to show off the restaurant. Publicists also help brainstorm about the restaurant's overall image, and might give feedback about things like the logo, menu, or plans for a cookbook. The most important asset for this career is a passion for food, cooking, and the places you're representing. Because if you can get excited about your clients, you'll be able to make others excited about them, too.
The Details
Some chefs participate in elaborate charitable events to help raise money for hunger organizations like Oxfam. As a food publicist, you'd need to spread the message about these worthy causes.
Fern Berman is arguably one of the food industry's most famous publicists: She's represented big biggies like Julia Child, Jacques Torres, and the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.
