Are you an aspiring chef or baker? Do you want some free PR? If you answered yes to both of those questions, just get yourself on the Food Network!
If you watched my About Me video, you would know that my passion for cooking came from my love of watching the Food Network. I love Cupcakes Wars, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and Down Home with the Neelys. Before I learned a lot about public relations, I would see restaurants or bakeries on shows on the Food Network and think, “Oh, I definitely want to go there!”
Recently, while watching the Food Network I realized all of these places get free PR. Yes, FREE PR.
Now I’m not sure about the logistics of bakeries getting on Cupcake Wars or exactly how Guy Fieri picks the diners he goes to, but having those places on Food Network is all the restaurants and bakeries need to get business going. When a viewer sees that a bakery was a contestant on Cupcakes Wars, they are more likely to go check it out. In return, the bakery can say they were featured on Cupcake Wars giving some credibility to the place.
The same goes for restaurants featured on Diners, Drive-In and Dives, but those places have a different advantage. Not only is Fieri going to the places and raving about the food, but they also have the opinion of the customer. The show interviews different customers who are adamant about the place saying how they only go there for waffles or tacos. The public values these opinions and thinks if Fieri and a normal person like me like this place so much, I will like it, too.
Another Food Network show that drives some public relations is The Best Thing I Ever Ate. This show has Food Network starts like Giada De Laurentiis, Alton Brown and Michael Symon talk about the best thing they ever ate. What is better for a restaurant than a known Food Network star saying a dish they had there is the best thing they ever ate? The answer: NOTHING! Symon said that local Kent Bar Ray’s Mo-fo burger was the best burger he ever ate. Now a picture of that burger and a blurb explaining that Symon said that is on the homepage of Ray’s website. I guarantee Mo-Fo burgers were an frequently ordered item after that episode aired.
So, my two loves, public relations and food go quite well together. Let the Food Network know if they need some PR help, I’ll be a young PR pro soon! Also, don’t forget to check our my Pintrest widget to look at my recipes board for everything I think looks good!
Confessions of a College Cook 
Taylor,
I love your blog’s layout, first and foremost. Secondly, I have been a Food Network fanatic since the 7th grade. Some of my favorite programs are Iron Chef, Emerill Live and Man vs. Food. I can relate to this blog post because I too share a passion to emulate delectable dishes I’ve seen made on Food Network shows. I might even take a hospitality class as a post-graduate so I can hone my cooking and food presentation skills. I’ve always found it so interesting how virtually “no-name” restaurants gain incredible publicity and attention through the Food Network. As far as combining food and PR is concerned, I say “You can do it!” That would be awesome to do PR for Food Network, and I am definitely in the same boat of trying to land on one of its shows someday.
I am very enjoyed for this blog. Its an informative topic. It help me very much to solve some problems. Its opportunity are so fantastic and working style so speedy. I think it may be help all of you. Thanks.
A hospitality class sounds like fun! It is incredible how “no-name” restaurants become big-name restaurants because they were featured in the Food Network. Thanks for the encouragement!
Taylor,
I love your blog as well. I never would have thought about the combination of PR and food. I love watching the food channel and trying new recipes. I feel like your blog can relate to so many college students who have a love for cooking and are trying to keep that hobby as a college student. I really enjoy how personal your blog is by telling your stories about your cooking experiences as well as your roommates and boyfriend. That also keeps your blog super easy to relate to!