Today we’d like to introduce you to Raina Kshetry.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Coming from a multicultural family with diverse food cultures, it won’t be cliche to say that food was most definitely in my DNA. Clubbed with this amazing love for food, was a flair for the written word and writing came naturally to me at a very early age. While everyone in the family has earned their merits in some form of science and business management, I continued my journey with writing starting with studying journalism and thereon taking vocations associated with writing and communication respectively.
I have worked as a lifestyle journalist, a social media manager, a public relations manager to now a Corporate Communications specialist.
Alongside managing my profession, the passion for food caught on. It started with me visiting a new cafe every weekend and writing about my experience on my personal social media space and a third-party food delivery platform. I was lauded for not just my wordplay, but also for my honest critiquing of fine dine and casual dining alike. It was in 2016 when a renowned Indian food blogger encouraged me to start my own blog.
I was guided to lay emphasis on the importance of connecting with your audience and no form of formal hospitality training was required to be a food blogger; your love and sound knowledge of food were enough. Thus, in June 2016, my food blog website A Pinch of Salt: Food. Fun, Functionality – was officially born. Why this name? To commemorate love from those who respect my honesty and criticism. I haven’t looked back ever since.
The blog is currently in its 5th year and alongside, made quite a presence with its Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube spaces. What remained constant, apart from the love of food, of course, was the love of sharing food knowledge. Someone new to my space and my regular audience alike will definitely love the #infostorywithapinchofsalt #breakfaststory and Salt Quiz I conduct every week.
Alongside, I have also attained my Professional Diploma in Blogging and Content from the International Council of Specialized Certification. I also have certification in Content Creation and podcasts ratified by IIM Bangalore and am currently pursuing a Professional Degree in Coffee Skills.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Throughout this gastronomical journey, the only obstacle perhaps was maintaining a balance between my profession and passion. With a 9-5 job in hand, food blogging from not one but two cities while keeping the quality of its content intact was a Herculean task. However, God was kind and I was blessed with individuals who respected both facets and provided support when required which makes me indebted to them.
Another big concern which most food bloggers have but never express is looking after their health. Eating out frequently to give our audience the right approach to food takes a toll on our health in the long run. Hence, maintaining the right balance in our eating habits is a must in this field. I took both these anecdotes with a pinch of salt (pun intended) and moved along the road.
A road that is smooth, isn’t a fun journey, to begin with.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My food blog is what I would call a Vanilla Blog: A foundation block of everything food. So you’ll not just find blogs on restaurant reviews alone, you’ll find food-related news, fun facts and so much more!
Think food travel, food products, food lifestyle, food history and we try to cover it all. In other words, we take great pride in giving you food experiences in unique, honest, and creative ways! What’s on the menu? Well, ours is a curated menu comprising of food-related travel, product reviews, restaurant reviews, guest posts, interviews, restaurant social media reputation consultation et al. Like all restaurants, our menu changes with the seasons.
What sets me apart from others is the willingness to give food a 360-degree approach which no other food blogger does. Some of my achievements include the following:
- Certified Professional Food Blogger and Creator by International Council of Specialized Online Certifications (ICSOC)
- Born On Instagram Certified Creator
- IFBA (India Food Blogger Awards) 2021: Best Food Blog Website and Best Instagram Profile (Runners Up)elicitated by Chef Varun Imandar and Kunal Vijayakar
- Finalist Nominee: SOCIAL SAMOSA Superwomen of Social Media 2021
Eastern India Top Food Blogger Awards:
- 2018: Best Drinks Blog, Best Style and Design Blog, Best Health Food Blogger of the Year
- 2019: Best Food Videos, The Obsessive Award: Special Interest Blog
- 2020: Best Storytelling Blog of the Year
- 2021: Best Food Videos
- 8th Journalism Awards 2019: Best Blogger Runners up, Felicitated by Former President of India, Late Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Recipe Contributor: “What’s In Your Dabba?”- a Celebrity cookbook by Juggernaut Books and Tweak Books by Twinkle Khanna - Featured in: Brut India, Indulge Express Bangalore, Times of India, CNN News18, and Tweak India. I was also a part of
- Internationally acclaimed Chef Saransh Goila’s video series #SadakChef Kolkata edition in 2021
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
The principles I abide by are honesty, hard work, dedication, creativity consistency, patience, and humility. If you can align these together, nothing can stop you from becoming successful.
There is a false notion that anyone can become a food blogger, create an Instagram page, buy some followers, write one-line captions, and doors of restaurants and hospitality open up for you. Food Blogging is so much more.
For those starting out, remember that nothing comes for free, fast or easy. If you’re ready to put aside some hard work, dedication, creativity, and consistency, there are loads of opportunities waiting for you. The most important aspect however is patience and humility.
You do not become smarter by blowing your own horn. You become smarter by being humble.
Contact Info:
- Email: saltpinch.wordpress@gmail.com
- Website: https://apinchofsaltindia.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_pinch_ofsalt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saltpinch
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/a_pinch_ofsalt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/APinchOfSaltFoodFunFunctionality
