One Woman, One Food Blog, and 20,000 Followers

Read on as Crave List: dives into the intricate details of her success, informs us of how she manages her account as a “one woman show”, discusses why she dislikes everyone’s favorite food, and clarifies the misinterpretations of what it takes to be a famous food blogger.

Crave list. The Crave List. A food blogger, food photographer, a food directory, food list curator, food reviewer, a food writer, and a local sensation. Everybody depends on Crave List to tell us what the most recommended dishes taste like. But what intrigued us mainly about Crave List, is how she occupies so many roles, with amazing quality!

We first asked Crave List “Did you always plan on having a food blog and what was the inspiration behind Cravelist” She responded by saying that she had never anticipated that she would have become such a well renowned and successful food blog. She knew that there was some passion and interest in food when she would be fascinated by the presentation, plating, serving, and the variety of the dishes when she was just 13-14. But it wasn’t until 2007, that crave list made its first little debut. She documented food, fashion, concerts, and culinary experiences. Although this fizzled out once she was busy in university, the passion for food never left. Her friends would always depend on her to order for the table, that’s how much she trusted her taste. She would make lists of top notch restaurants on their phone to guide them and their friends on what to eat and where. Her mom and a friend, suggested that she make a food blog. She wasn't sold on the idea as she was out of her comfort zone by blogging and she wasn't sure if people would stay attentive. But the Crave list hilariously added “I’m glad I was wrong”. And thus, The Crave List was born.

Secondly, as we noticed that Crave List consistently includes advanced culinary vocabulary and specifies culinary techniques in her cooking tutorials. We asked “Do you have any culinary experience like a culinary school or courses, perhaps?”. We were all shocked when the answer was no. Then she followed it up by saying that she took inspiration and context by watching Gordon Ramsay in Masterchef Australia, UK, and USA. Crave List then added that this caused her to pay close attention to the culinary details. She would stare at menus for so long that her friends would worry and say “Are you studying the menu?”. But one thing that built up her knowledge of culinary techniques, were the chefs that she met over time. Meeting them allowed her to collect their professional habits and understand the dos and donts of the culinary world.

Thirdly, we hit Crave List with a burning question of ours: “What is the most intriguing part about food?”. She analysed how hyperglobalization has affected how nations are entangled, in more ways than one. Crave List declared that “Food in my opinion is the most humbling gateway to another culture”. For instance: she has learnt about prohibited cultural traditions only by trying Japanese cuisine, and she hasn't even been to Japan. She learnt that rubbing chopsticks together is considered bad luck, She learnt that matcha tea is prepared ceremoniously and must be prepared with the utmost precision. She concluded that the most intriguing part of food is how it can bring such distant communities so close together. That all communities can come together and have a honest, peaceful, civil, meaningful discussion over a meal. So much can be told from just a few bites of a well prepared cultural meal.

We then asked for her professional opinion on what should be considered when deciding some of the best food, as she is a trusted food list curator: “what is your rubric when deciding the best foods?”. She informed us that she starts by taking collective suggestions and recommendations from their followers and friends which she calls “trusted sources”. Then she tries it for herself and takes other’s opinions too, and does an average review. We also asked her about her many roles and many struggles: “What is the hardest part of your journey so far?”. Crave List expressed that difficulty lies in managing the account, there are so many roles to fulfill and fulfill with excellence so it is quite time and energy consuming. “I take the photos, edit them, write the caption, attend the events, meetings, prepare voices, manage financials and that’s just for the food blog”. She revealed that she also occupies a full time job, so ensuring that attention and efficiency is distributed amongst their food blog and full time job can become quite burdensome.

“You manage to do a lot: food directory, curating food lists, food photographer, food writer. How do you manage to do all of that and do it with quality? Does your passion drive your effort?”. She rapidly answered that her passion most certainly drives her effort. “I would stress about persistence, persistence, persistence”. She found that when you are passionate about something, the obstacles included are simplified due to your will to perform well. If you have the grit, the patience, and the ability to remain mentally strong, you can surpass anything that could possibly interfere. She finalized that this applies to everything in their life, not only the food blog. This refers to how we all expect things to be quite simple, but everything comes with obstacles, and if you walk in with a confident mindset you will walk out with what you came in for.

Lastly, we saved the best question for last “Was it hard for you to give bad reviews or was it easy as it was something you always did?”. She vocalised the mistake she made in the early stages of a blog of freely posting bad reviews. She began to realise that her words or bad reviews could seriously affect their jobs. “I realized these people work for a living, my words can alter these people’s lives”. Crave list has stated this to advise other bloggers that something so simple as a few honest sentences in a caption, can deteriorate the longevity of a brand. Bloggers must ensure that these chefs are given constructive and politely delivered criticism. Crave List then enlightened us on their diplomatic approach on a bad review: If she don’t like the food she speaks to the chef privately to fix it, but if the chef doesn’t fix it she will not post about it publicly instead she will only tell others their review on the restaurant if she is privately messaged and asked about it. “I wouldn't go out of my way to bring any restaurant or person down,” she added.

Interviewing one of the biggest local influencers in Bahrain gives great insight into entrepreneurship and the skills within it. Craves List is an impressive woman who does it all, and The Monthly hopes her messages of passion, respect and persistence resonate in the young students reading.