Writing for Examiner.com

As part of my writing project, I made a resolution to write more every day. I heard that a few friends wrote for the Examiner, a local content website that covers a range of topics including politics, parenting, restaurants, sports, etc. Then I was contacted by someone who saw my resume online and asked me if I was interested in freelance writing. After a quick application process including choosing your niche topic and submitting a writing sample, I was accepted and ready to begin writing, combining 2 of my passions - writing and food. I chose to write restaurant reviews for the Rittenhouse Square area, focusing on cheap alternatives to the usually high-priced area. I was excited to get more exposure, to write more but at the same time I was afraid of putting myself out there and possibly being criticized.

As I began writing, I heard mixed reviews about writing for the Examiner - yes the pay is minimal, but the exposure is good. Some complained about how they let anyone write, others said that they will terminate your column if its poor writing, unneeded or not following their rules. For me, I decided that I wanted to give it a shot. It gave me a chance to write more, to practice my writing and to get back into a schedule of writing. Although I write for work, not since college had I written regularly and in a more extended format. By committing myself to writing at least 2 articles per week, I began a structured schedule of Monday and Wednesday nights to write. I did some research but mostly I wrote from what I knew and experienced. I realized that the more I wrote, the easier it became. Words came easier to me. Ideas would pop into my head at random times of the day and I started jotting down thoughts and ideas all the time. When I went out to eat, I was that person taking photos of the food. And when I got home from dining out, I would make quick notes. But it doesn’t feel like I job. I enjoy the writing and getting feedback. My friends began asking me for restaurant suggestions, or telling me they tried a certain place because of my review. I also began making contacts with people in the restaurant world.

I’ve been reading some negative reviews online, saying it’s a scam or the pay is minimal. But I’ve been pleased with the results so far. You can’t quit your day job for this but it was perfect for what I was looking for. You have the flexibility to write as often or as infrequently as you like. You choose what you want to write about, as long as if falls within your topic. If there’s a week that I’m too busy, I can skip that week. As long as you write at least once every 60 days, you earn your pay. Rules are pretty easy to follow. Although they recommend writing 3- 4 articles per week, my 2 articles per week get me a steady traffic flow and some bonus cash each month. Pay depends on # of page views and interactions so its up to you to get traffic to your site. As a local Examiner, I also get $1 per article so the more you write, the more you earn. I share my articles on facebook, twitter & linked in. I tell everyone I know to check it out. Another great thing about Examiner is that you own your article so if I wanted to post here on my blog or on another site, I can. Of course you could make more money at other freelance jobs, but for my schedule and flexibility, Examiner is ideal for me. To be honest, the money I make is just a bonus. Another fun thing is I’ve googled certain topics I’ve written about and seen my articles indexed pretty high, even on the first page.

At the end of the day, I get to eat out, write about something I‘m passionate about, enjoy myself, make a little extra cash and share my writings with the world. Sounds pretty good to me.

Check out my examiner.com column for restaurant reviews

Next Food Network Star...Maybe?



Whole Roasted Pig, by Neal Santos

 For anyone who knows me, they know I’m obsessed with food. I love to eat food, I love to cook food and I love the Food Network. It's pretty much my standard go-to channel when there’s nothing else on, so of course I’ve been very excited that recently Food Network has been noticing the culinary talents of Philadelphia. First Bobby Flay had a few throwdowns – with Tony Luke’s over cheesesteaks, with Delilah over Mac & Cheese, and with The Preztel Boys over Pretzels. Then there was Jose Garces competing for the Next Iron Chef and winning! There have been mentions in Best Thing I Ever Ate – like Marc Summers picking the Margherita Pizza at Osteria and Robert Irvine picking the A&M Halal Food Truck, as well as Guy Fieri in DDD, recently visiting Good Dog Bar for their Cheesesteak Empanadas. So when I heard that they were filming an episode of the new show Outrageous Food with Tom Pizzica last Thursday at Jake's Sandwich Board, I was excited. On Saturday my boyfriend Drew & I made the trek to 12^th street, despite some flurries, to try the sandwiches and to check out the Eating Challenge that would soon be featured on TV.

5-lb Philly Challenge, photo courtesy of Jake's

The show is sort of like Diner's Drive-ins and Dives meets Man vs. Food on the Travel Channel, except in this show, Tom Pizzica (you may remember him from last season's Next Food Network Star) explores unusual foods and pits locals against the outrageous challenges. The Eating challenge at Jake’s is based on Phialdelphia favorites. The challenge involves a 2 lb cheesesteak, 4 soft pretzels, 24 peanut chews and 12 tastykakes along with a cherry champ… in 45 minutes. So far, there have only been 2 people to accomplish this.

We arrive at Jake’s Sandwich Shop around 2:30, on a quiet Saturday but there is camera equipment everywhere. Drew and I talk about how maybe its leftover stuff from the week's filming. We order our lunches – Drew "The Jake," a cheesesteak with roasted long-hots and me, the hand-carved  whole roasted pig sandwich. Typical slow eater that I am, I’m still only about halfway through my sandwich while Drew is done, when 3 people walk in, walk over to the camera equipment, take out clipboards and cameras and begin rearranging tables and chairs around the shop.

The Jake Sandwich (what Drew ordered)

Drew and I of course start whispering. Could it be? Are they filming? The next thing we know, one of the crew comes over and asks, “Would you like to be on the Food Network?” Well duh, of course. So they tell us that the challenge was filmed on Thursday but they need some more footage of people eating. So they tell me to wait to eat my sandwich, proceed to clean up our table a little bit, refill our drinks, move our coats. But something’s still missing. Aha, the lady producer realizes, and goes up to the kitchen to ask if they will make Drew another half a cheesesteak. And…without any more warning, we’re rolling.

  Lights. Camera in our face. And they film Drew taking a bit of his sandwich. Some awkward silence follows, where Drew continues eating and the producer and camera man are just smiling at him, then she asks him to speak, what makes a cheesesteak? What makes this one good? Where are you from? etc. And Drew tells them about the bread, about wiz wit, about the tender meat. Afterwards, he was kicking himself for not saying more, but I think he did a great job. And then its my turn. She tells me to take a bit of my pork sandwich, I do, of course there’s a string of cheese hanging from my mouth and my hair falls in my face. I’m waiting for her to ask me some questions but then she goes, that’s good for her. L I try to tell her how the pork sandwich is the true Philly sandwich and I can talk about that, but she says, we just need to hear about the cheesesteaks.

Drew outside of Jake's

So I may not have any speaking lines, but we have to start somewhere right? So tune in late Spring for Outrageous Food and check out my boyfriend and my Food Network debut. I’m the asian girl taking a bite of a pork sandwich.

For more about Jake's Sandwich Board, visit http://www.jakessandwichboard.com/