It’s time for another reader questions mailbag. I’ve been collecting questions for a while from readers, friends, random diners, and other people and finally got around to getting it put together for everybody.
I don’t mind interacting with readers at all and love having conversations about one of my true passions in Wichita: trying out new restaurants.
If you ever have questions or want to share your thoughts, feel free to e-mail them to wichitabyeb@gmail.com. I try to reply to every e-mail that is sent in. With that said, it’s time to hear from the readers. What you see below are real questions from real people. Enjoy:
Do you only eat Mexican and Asian food?
Sometimes I’m sure it looks like it. I have been to so many restaurants through the years that the ones I seem to learn about are the small little Mexican and Asian restaurants that keep popping up around town. Besides who doesn’t love a good picture of tacos? But don’t fret, I will eat and try any type of food. I’m a pig.
Could you write about my event I have coming up?
This is something I get asked quite a bit. With more request coming in, I felt it was time to finally get the events page up and going. While the Events Around the Community page is up and going, it’s still a work in progress. This is probably the best and easiest way for me to get as many events I hear about or am asked to write about up. Over the years, this blog has become a good platform to get word out on things in the community so I wanted to have one centralized location to put them all at. If you have something you’d like to contribute, please use our Submissions Page.
I’m looking to start blogging, what service would you recommend?
Use WordPress. I started on Blogger and just found it to be very limiting. I switched over to WordPress last year and haven’t looked back. It’s the best.
How do you go about choosing which restaurants you review?
Most of the time it’s all done at random. It’s whatever I feel like trying on a whim. If it’s a new restaurant that interests me, my friends, family or colleagues, we will do our best to try them out soon. I am not a picky eater so I will try anything regardless of the location or type of food.
If there are ever restaurants I should check out, I do take suggestions via e-mail. There’s been an uptick in restaurant review requests. I definitely try to get to everyone but can’t make any guarantees. I only have so much money, time and appetite……. who am I kidding, my appetite isn’t limited at all.
What’s it like doing a food review with you?
Not as fun as you think. It’s a total dictatorship. For most friends, coworkers and family, there are a few rules. Once we arrive, we usually have to get an appetizer or two to start off with then everybody has to order something different (that’s key). I don’t want five pictures of the exact same dish at a restaurant. Variety is always good. Ideally it’s best if people are open to trying new dishes. The only person exempt from these rules is my mother. Try telling her what to order and see what happens!
When I’m with my family, everybody is eating off of each others plates. We don’t care about germs. It’s a little different with friends and coworkers though.
From there, nobody is allowed to eat until I take pictures of the food. When it’s my family, we probably look like those stereotypical Asian tourists that take pictures of everything. After that, everybody eats and that’s it. Depending on how full we are, desserts are always last second decisions. My nieces and nephew take a long ass time eating but if it’s dessert they are hungry again all the sudden.
If somebody in the group is an extremely picky eater and/or judgy, it’s rare I’ll even take their opinion into consideration. People have to be completely open and unbiased when stepping into a restaurant.
What’s the formal process for you coming to check out my restaurant?
No formal process at all. Just e-mail me and I’ll see if I can fit it into my schedule. I usually try to accommodate all requests but between work, family and Netflix, it can get hectic.
I know you do mostly restaurant reviews but will you come check out my business?
Of course.
Have you reviewed (insert restaurant)?
I’ve been working on creating a directory of my past reviews. You can view that here.
How could you rate (insert restaurant) like that?
I only write what my taste buds tell me….well and my dining guests. People can either agree or disagree with us. It won’t hurt my feelings. I try to give an unbiased review and will judge a restaurant by the food, the people and the service. If you don’t like it, all I can say is…. “Happy Dining!”
Have you ever considered using a ghost writer or help?
I could never have someone else write reviews for me. I’d hate for someone to write something and make this blog lose all credibility. If I’m going to lose credibility, why don’t I just do that myself one of these days?
As for help, it’s tough. This site has taken A LOT of time and money over the years. If I didn’t have a passion for Wichita, writing and food, I would have quit this years ago. It’s been a one man operation since day one getting it all written, uploaded, content created, etc. Maybe one day when my nieces and nephews get older, I can pay them in ice cream to help out.
Have you considered doing a subscription service for your site to help pay for costs?
I would never charge anybody to read my blog. I’m not a big fan of pay walls and click bait to make you pay. My own friends and family wouldn’t pay to read what I write, my high school English teachers certainly wouldn’t pay, so why would anybody else pay. Hell…..I wouldn’t pay to read my own stuff! I’ll leave the pay walls to the professionals like the Wichita Eagle and the Wichita Business Journal.
If you’d like to support the blog, like, comment, share the articles on your social media and invite your friends to like Wichita By E.B. on Facebook. Just helping the reader base grow is all the thanks I need.
Favorite restaurant?
THIS. This is the most asked question I get. My reply is good luck getting just one restaurant from me.
Best meal you’ve ever had?
My aunt’s pho is easily the best meal I’ve ever had; no other meal compares.
Do you ever plan on putting together another Best of list like you did for the burgers?
Not sure my body will allow it. When I did 30 burgers in 3 months, that was probably the worst I felt after I was done. I could probably spend a year going from restaurant to restaurant trying the best pizza or pies or salads or spaghetti but knowing myself, I would start knocking them out every other day. I’d eat at 15 different pizza restaurants over a 5 week period and hate myself for it. One thing I learned, I have no self-control.
One thing I’ve contemplated doing is staying in every motel on South and North Broadway and ranking them based on cleanliness, price and service but the people who care about me have advised me not to do it. I’ve also wanted to do a week where I only use public transportation to see how hard it is but that would require me to wake up earlier……..
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Thanks for reading and thanks for the questions.
If you ever have questions or want to share your thoughts, feel free to e-mail them to wichitabyeb@gmail.com. I try to reply to every e-mail that is sent in.
To nominate your business or event to be considered for a review, please E-mail us with your information. We are always open to suggestions.
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