Blog Spotlight: BurpAndBelch
January 03, 2016 Blogs
Dubai-based food blogger Dev Haldar has chronicled his culinary adventures at BurpAndBelch since 2009. He spoke with MediaSource about his inspirations, his take on the local 'foodie’ community, and the changing dynamics between PR and food bloggers.
What motivated you to start blogging?
I began blogging pretty randomly on various subjects, including food, and decided to migrate all my food writings to a dedicated domain - and so started my food blog BurpAndBelch.com. My basic motivation is my love for food. Food talks to me and I talk back to it. What I write is basically a screenplay of my conversations with food. And it is serious business!
You were nominated for ‘Best Asian Blog’ at the Masala! Awards in 2015. How was that experience?
Recognition in any form, on merit, is always welcome. It is like that warm, welcome feeling you get while eating risotto!
What can we expect to find on your blog?
My food blog has three sections. There is the ubiquitous restaurant reviews. The second section deals with recipes I try at home. It could be recipes by my mother or friend-who-is-blog-weary or a derivative of a popular recipe by any chef. And the third section is my favourite that I call Food For Thought. It is basically food philosophies I subscribe to. You will usually find an opinion piece in there.
Are you open to being contacted by PRs and marketers?
Yes. I am a media/marcom bug and I understand the dynamics of working with bloggers. That said, I do not post press releases on my blog space – ever! My writing is a tale of my food trek, certainly not done with the dry, hired words of an agency. I am also pretty choosy about where I want to be seen and the kind of restaurant I want to review. As a principle, I clarify with any PR agency that my review will be honest, truthful and not a ‘paid’ writing in exchange for freebies.
How would you describe the foodie community in the UAE?
I want to understand what the word ‘foodie’ implies? Does it mean a person who can eat copious amounts of food? Or does it signify a person who understands and can describe food in more adjectives than ‘awesome’ and ‘superb’?
There is a large food community in the UAE. What separates the meat from the fat is a handful of bloggers who are doing meaningful work in the sphere of food. Too many to mention here, but I follow their work, and also learn from global chefs with a conscience. I particularly appreciate the new curve of vegetarianism that is emerging among chefs and bloggers.
How do you differentiate yourself as a food blogger in the region?
I am happy that my blog enjoys a loyal readership thanks to my honesty and humour that translates every food experience into a story. Other than that, a few collaborations with known food influencers and Michelin-starred master chef Vikas Khanna have helped me reach out to a greater audience.
I am not a blogger who is on the lookout for a free meal. Neither am I a blogger who posts a picture of a dish and writes “Osum food”. A review like that does nothing for anybody. I blog because I like to write. And I like having a long-standing affair with food. Food makes me happy!
What is the best way for PRs and brands to get your attention?
A personalised mail from a small agency that took time to read my posts and mentioned it in their invite touched my heart. Anybody likes true appreciation. That works.
How can the relationship between PR and food bloggers be improved?
This is the new age of dating between PR agencies and bloggers. The game dynamics are changing fast. PR agencies need to understand that the right fit is necessary. Getting a mixed bag of bloggers just so you can clock your number of targeted reviews is, shall we say, an insipid way of working. Repeat only when necessary.
Bloggers also need to understand the importance of editorial writing over advertorial writing. The latter can be bought. And that would mean manipulation. Monetising blogs because a blogger gets invited to four events in town is slowing the maturing process of food blogging in the region.
I hope this relationship gathers more meaning than just being ‘friends with benefits’.
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