We’re working on a sort of “press release”, to showcase what makes our local culinary scene so special and unique. It’s designed to spotlight our local eateries to the food-lovers both in our community and visitors, from near and far.
Through stories and photos, I want to show the real taste of the Lyn Valley and want to excite readers and visitors with what to expect.
During the summer, Lynton’s eateries thrive, bustling with patrons, which is both profitable and excellent for PR—it’s the perfect time to “make hay.” However, to manage ongoing expenses like rent, utilities, and staff salaries, many of our local restaurants, cafés, pubs and shops need to operate throughout the year. Despite a few establishments closing during the winter, it’s crucial to promote Lynton as a year-round culinary destination.
This ongoing effort will help sustain our new and upcoming food scene and support the eateries that choose to stay open all four seasons, ensuring they continue to flourish.
Whilst promoting Lynton’s vibrant new culinary scene, we will be mindful not to overpromise on the offering. The press release will need to capture the authentic taste and charm of local dining without exaggerating what’s on offer. By setting realistic expectations, we will ensure visitors are as delighted with their food as they are with our words.
To help make this happen, I will need a little help. Here’s what I have in mind:
- Telling Your Food Story: Make your food offering first and foremost in this story. What are your most popular dishes, what makes your offering unique, what dishes have you perfected, what’s your signature dish, the dish that people love the most? Think of the provenance, or the inspiration that helped you create the dish, or your whole menu. Try to write a paragraph about each dish you mention.
- Everyone Loves a Piccy: Photos paint a thousand words! It would be fantastic if you could provide pictures of your most loved dishes, the signature dishes, working behind the scenes in the kitchen, special drinks, your quirky or elegant interior, or even the view.
- A Piece of Your Heart: Every eatery in Lynton has a unique story – it would be great to hear about how your establishment came to be, why you do what you do, what makes you proud, your mission, and particularly why you chose Lynton as your home.
- Recommendations and Reviews: Recommendations and reviews from your customers can provide a personal touch to our press release.
- Opening Season: All year round, Spring to Autumn, April to December?
- Anything else that sets your business apart
Could you please provide your story and piccies as soon as possible.
Initially, a single press release would be created, one that encompasses the width and creativity of Lynton’s overall food offering. This would be shared with local magazines, tourism and hospitality businesses etc., and also used on our own tourism website and socials.
Your individual pieces will also be created as standalone articles featuring each business who participates. These will be used on our websites, in print, and wherever possible.
Finally, don’t worry about grammar or spelling … I’m going to AI the whole lot to make it squeaky clean and tidy! Continue reading this page for some budget-friendly ideas to help you write your copy and take great pics with your smartphone.
Let’s put Lynton on every food lover’s map!
Focus on Your Food: A Guide to Telling Your Story
Here are some thoughts to help you write about your food and creations …
Pick Your Star Dishes
Start by choosing the dishes that are most loved by your customers or best reflect your culinary approach. Are there meals that capture the essence of Lynton and Lynmouth? Perhaps one that uses local Exmoor produce or hints at the coastal heritage?
Highlight What Makes You Different
Do you mix traditional British food with unexpected twists? Is your menu a classic representation of a quintessential cafe? Is your focus on local sourcing to support sustainable eating? Explain what makes your menu a must-try when visiting Lynton.
Inspiration Behind Your Dishes:
Every dish has a story, whether it’s a recipe handed down through generations, influenced by the stunning Exmoor landscapes, or the result of creative trial and error. Share how your signature dishes came to life.
For each highlighted or signature dish, write a paragraph covering:
Introduction: What is it called, and what are its main ingredients
Why People Love It: Share customer feedback or mention why it’s a favourite.
Perfecting The Dish: Talk about the process of getting the dish just right. Were there any challenges? What changes made it better?
The Signature Touch: If relevant, focus on your signature dish. Talk about how using local ingredients adds authenticity or discuss the cultural influences behind it.
The Role of Origin and Inspiration: Talking about where your ingredients come from adds depth to your menu’s story. Linking your dishes to the area’s culture, scenery, and seasons makes your offering more intriguing could connect your food to the local community and its traditions.
Sharing the inspiration or backstory of your recipes invites customers into a richer dining experience, turning a meal into an engaging story.
Still Struggling?
Consider using ChatGPT for crafting your food stories. It can be a game-changer for your content creation. This AI tool can help you generate creative, compelling stories around your dishes, highlighting their uniqueness and the passion that goes into making them.
It can save you tonnes of time by providing a solid base of text to work from, which you can then personalise to capture the voice and ethos of your business.
However, it remains important to thoroughly review ChatGPT’s output to ensure it aligns with your brand’s style and tone. Check it for UK-specific spelling, terminology that resonates with your business and audience, and the authenticity of the details ChatGPT provides.
By using it as a starting point, you can refine the content to truly reflect your establishment’s identity and offerings, making your food stories both engaging and genuine.
Wrapping Up
When you finalise your stories, aim to make potential customers feel they’re missing out if they haven’t visited your place. Your tales should make people not just hungry for your food but eager to experience the unique atmosphere your establishment offers.
By sharing your food stories, you help promote Lynton as a top destination for food lovers, drawing more visitors and food enthusiasts keen to discover what the town has to serve.
Taking Budget-Friendly Food Photography with Your Smartphone
Capturing mouthwatering photos of your dishes can make a big difference in drawing customers to your restaurant or cafe. Here’s a concise guide on how to elevate your food photography using just your smartphone and a few budget-friendly tips and tricks.
Lighting
Natural light is your best friend in food photography. Here’s how to use it effectively:
Position Your Dish Near a Window: The diffused light through a window creates a soft glow on your food, highlighting the textures and colours without creating harsh shadows.
Use Reflectors: If one side of the food is too dark, prop up a piece of white cardboard or a sheet of silver foil to reflect light back onto the dish, this may help even out the lighting.
Styling
The right presentation can make even a simple dish look gourmet:
Consider Plain Dishes: Simple, solid-colour dishes provide a neutral background that makes your food stand out.
Incorporate Kitchen Items: Use wooden cutting boards, napkins, or utensils you already have for an authentic look.
Add Garnishes: Fresh herbs or a dusting of spices can add colour and life to your photographs.
Leave Some Negative Space: Don’t overcrowd the frame; leave some empty space to make the dish the focal point.
Framing
The angle and composition of your shot are crucial:
Different Angles: Try taking photos from above for flat dishes like pizzas, at a 45-degree angle for burgers or a drink with garnishes, and side-on for layered items like cakes. Play around and see which angles suit your dishes.
Rule of Thirds: Enable the grid feature on your camera app. Place the main elements of your dish along the lines or at the intersections for a balanced image.
Portrait Mode
Using the Portrait mode on your smartphone camera can dramatically enhance the visual appeal of your food shots. This mode is designed to focus sharply on the subject while softly blurring the background, creating a professional depth of field effect.
It’s especially effective for close-up shots of dishes where you want to emphasise specific details, such as the texture of a crust or the garnish on a drink. The blurred background in Portrait mode also minimises distractions, ensuring the dish stands out clearly–and it looks super editorial.
Low-Cost Investment Ideas
If you decide to invest a little to enhance your photography, here are some cost-effective suggestions:
Tripod with Smartphone Holder: This helps keep your camera steady and can be a game-changer for sharp images, especially in lower light conditions.
Clip-on Macro Lens: These lenses can attach to your smartphone for detailed close-up shots, showcasing the textures in your food.
Portable LED Light: If natural light isn’t available, a small, adjustable LED light can simulate daylight and improve the look of your photos.
Background Fabrics or Boards: Different textures like wood, slate, linen or even wallpaper samples can be used as backgrounds for your photos to provide a variety of looks.
By applying these simple techniques, you can create stunning food photography with minimal expense, making your culinary offerings look as irresistible online as they do on the plate.
