EatGoSee is a review site focusing on food and restaurants with some travel and drone photography added.
This About Me page shares some background information about me and – importantly – outlines initial terms for invites or other collaboration proposals.
Connect With me
Brief Career Background
I am a full-time lawyer for a consumer goods company based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I studied law at Exeter University, Cardiff University and Kings College London before working in two law firms. I transitioned to a career as an in-house lawyer in 2006 and never looked back. I am married to the wonderful and patient Mrs EatGoSee.
How did EatGoSee start?
EatGoSee came about as a hobby that matured over the years. A love of great food, insatiable wanderlust, the want for local experiences while business travelling and a love of photography and drone photography
I grew frustrated with aggregate review sites (we know the ones). The sycophantic, hyperbolic and misinformed ‘bloggers’ on social media who do not know anything about food — or because they are in it for the wrong reasons.
I wanted to share my experiences with restaurants, hotels and more through a critical eye.
My view is social media clouded this space where self-interests overtakes honesty.
I love food travel. I plan my restaurants before anything else. I have the good fortune to go to some of the best places in the world. It could be a 50 Best, 3* restaurant or a sliding shutter serving the best pani puri you will ever experience.
It does not matter.
About EatGoSee
Eat
EAT naturally starts with food.
These are honest reviews on restaurants, food trends and what’s good in your area.
I do not post everywhere that I go so you can always reach out to me on eatgosee@gmail.com for other recommendations.
Go
GO focuses on travel.
This section reviews hotels, other stays and travel guides and recommendations in your area.
This section covers disparate destinations like Iceland, Seychelles, the UAE, Netherlands and more.
See
SEE focuses more on my journey through photography especially drone photography and photo editing.
Drone photography became a quiet obsession.
You will find reviews, inspirations and ideas for what to EAT, GO and SEE in this world based on my experiences. Some tips about how to see those must visit cliche places as well as those bolt-hole, off the beaten track spots that leave a lasting memory.
Collaborations and Invites
My absolute focus is to provide reviews that emphasis the highlights, lowlights and overall experience. Restaurants, for example, are reviewed on their own merits and relative to their peers.
I do receive invites from restaurants or PR agents from from time to time. My view is that invites and collaborations give at least the impression of a compromised or influenced opinion. Readers deserve to know when a review follows an invite.
Simply put, some bloggers or supposed social media influencers are simply four to five star ratings for hire. They get free food, nights out and the opportunity for content for their accounts. Frankly, they will go to the opening of an envelope and their accounts are a collection of adverts.
My Rules
I am regularly messaged online (especially through Instagram) to come to restaurants. So I want to set out some ground rules for invites in the spirit of transparency so we are clear.
This phrase is thrown around a lot. I am not aspiring to be an influencer. I am cynical of this phrase and the culture that has grown up around it. Oh the stories I could tell. I am a reviewer or aspiring critic. I am happy to talk about your business or client’s business, but we need to maintain a line. This takes us to the next section.
I aspire to give constructive feedback. The goal is to highlight what works, what needs help and what should be reconsidered. I reserve the right to provide a fair, honest and detailed review. I am not a reviewer for hire to secure your 4-5 star reviews. There are many social media accounts or bloggers that will kindly oblige.
All-inclusives and Airbnb rentals, fried chicken sandwiches versus Top 50 Best Restaurant listed tasting menus — not all places are equal. I judge a place on it’s own merits and draw parallels to similar offerings such as their peers. This means you will find high praise for simple sardines and disappointment in Michelin star amuse bouches. You will see me wax lyrical about private boat tours or hostel adventures. This is the nature of food and travel depending on budgets, locations and the overall proposition.
I have never been paid for a review. Nonetheless, I received invites where the meal is complimentary but I will mark this as #invite in reviews, posts, stories and similar in the interest of transparency.
I regularly provide detailed, actionable feedback and recommendations to restaurants and others. I appreciate it when owners reach out to discuss what works and what does not work.
