@UneditedFoodie is a modern take on classic food critique. Run by Raghvendra Singh, an academic adviser by day, the Twitter account is flooded with pictures of food from CoMo restaurants, along with hyper-local food news.
Drunken Pork and Baby Back Burger @grillabros with a side of Mama Zuma's Revenge #CoMoEats #ilikecomo @nightlifecomo pic.twitter.com/YAECBNBnmY
— uneditedfoodie (@uneditedfoodie) July 4, 2015
Along with an Instagram account, Singh gets a taste of all Columbia has to offer. Living and working downtown, Singh has a lot of opportunities to eat out. Singh has been to almost all of Columbia’s restaurants, but the downtown scene is his favorite.
“Unedited Foodie” has been up and running since 2013. Singh first moved to Missouri from India nine years ago. He graduated from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, became an adviser at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, then landed an advising position at MU in June 2013.
Singh wanted to acclimate himself to his new home and thought food was a good way to do so.
“As an immigrant myself, I have always been very fascinated with food,” Singh says. “I think that food is one of those things, culturally speaking, it helps you sort of not only get accustomed to a different culture, but also start becoming part of that larger culture.”
Some foods, such as beef, were new to him. In India, cows are considered sacred. Singh jokes, “I guess that’s how the term ‘holy cow’ came to emergence.” Now Singh says he eats anything from beef to escargot.
“It’s kind of easy to walk, you can go from one place to another,” Singh says. “You can start at one place and end for your dessert at another.”
Singh has a few favorites in the area. Cooper’s Landing, Booches or the Ozark Mountain Biscuit Truck are good casual places to go eat. Singh also loves how Pizza Tree tries different ingredients on their pizzas, such as Indian toppings. Though if you are looking for somewhere fancier to take family and friends, the Wine Cellar and Bistro and Sycamore are good options. At the Wine Cellar, Singh says the owners focus on local ingredients and even hold information and education classes at their home.
“I really appreciate what they’ve been doing in the community and I certainly enjoy the fact that they are basically practicing what they are preaching,” Singh says.
“@uneditedfoodie” changed Singh’s life tremendously. Through his hashtags, he gained Inside Columbia Magazine’s attention. Now, Singh writes a blog for them as well for Feast Magazine, which based in St. Louis.
Singh said he looked up to CNN’s Anthony Bourdain for inspiration.
Pimm's it is @SocialRoomCoMo #comodrinks @nightlifecomo pic.twitter.com/tA7N7DParj
— uneditedfoodie (@uneditedfoodie) July 3, 2015
Singh said he really did not think his Twitter account would grab so much attention and allow him to start writing for magazines. Besides writing, his Twitter account helped him become a part of Columbia through restaurant owners, chefs and people involved in the food community.
“I’ve made a lot of friends, and I’ve gotten to know Columbia and the community at
large much better through this perspective actually,” Singh says.
Singh wants to eventually start his own blog. He said with writing for publications, he is restricted in that he can only critique to a certain limit. He also would like to try out a video aspect to his blog and wants to continue to eat and try new foods in Columbia.
“It’s something that I enjoy,” Singh says. “It’s not something I consider work and I like sharing that with people.”
A chipotle inspired meal #comocooks #comoeats #ilikecomo pic.twitter.com/hz0CPi2SyV
— uneditedfoodie (@uneditedfoodie) July 2, 2015