Food and dining create common bonds among readers | Allison Ballard

I once dated a guy who would say he wished he could take a pill instead of sitting down to eat a meal. He was a sometimes chef who was often disgruntled, so I’m sure there were some underlying issues behind his desire to get necessary daily nutrition requirements in an easy to consume form.

And I know there are others, somewhere, who think of eating as a necessity, rather than a pleasure. However, the conversation with my ex is the closest one I’ve ever had to someone saying something like that directly.

Most people, by far, prefer a different sort of talk.

“I love food,” said one woman I recently met at a wine event.

Of course you do! Who doesn’t, right?

It’s one of the benefits of covering the restaurant scene in the greater Wilmington area. I always have something to talk to people about – even complete strangers. This woman and I, and a nice couple nearby, ended up chatting about ice cream, oysters and Italian vacations. As different as people can be, food is something we all have in common. And it’s one area where we seem eager to hear recommendations and advice from others.

I’ve been a journalist in Wilmington for 25 years and I’ve written about a wide variety of topics. This gig is definitely one of the most fun. I get to write about burgers and pizza and some of the favorite local restaurants.

But I don’t enjoy every aspect of the work, such as writing about restaurant closings. All of it, though, is important I believe.

I was recently talking to a friend who also happens to be an advocate for local businesses. She said she always thought she understood the restaurant / economy connection, but it really became clearer during the pandemic. Fewer people were eating breakfast, lunch or dinner out, so they also weren’t running errands nearby or shopping in local stores. Food and drink are definitely economic drivers.

And food is a great way to look at a community's business environment. There’s something unique about food entrepreneurs -- these people who want to open up shop in a notoriously difficult industry with sometimes comically thin margins. They do it because they believe in what they do. They have a passion for serving good food and offering a memorable experience.

All journalism can facilitate important conversations. That goes for food reporting, too. It can launch discussion of the challenges of business, help uncover what is and isn’t working, and contemplate the future of hospitality. My work allows me to shine a spotlight on the workers who make the industry possible and introduce readers to some of the diverse offerings that make the local food scene so fascinating.

I don’t think there’s anyone in journalism who doesn’t get critical, negative, or sometimes downright rude emails and messages. Me included. I’m fortunate enough, though, that I get to write about something that so many people enjoy.

I even get to say that (maybe?) the majority of comments I get from readers are positive. Even when they’re not entirely in agreement with what I wrote, they also make sure to mention how much they enjoy reading before they offer their suggestion.

Thanks for writing about (this random food topic), the emails say, but I think you should have (suggestion). It’s our favorite, they continue. We love food and we love going out to eat.

Me too! And thank you for reading.

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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her ataballard@gannett.com.