Food critic Troy Johnson details his start in the entertainment industry from an indie-rock TV show to a San Diego Padres pre-game show. Troy reveals how he set out to conquer his fear of public speaking in college and came out of the other side with a degree in poetry. The San Diego native talks about living in the city he grew up in and how that motivates him as the San Diego Magazine chief content officer. He reflects on the pandemic’s impact on mom-and-pop restaurants and the efforts he made to support them, including hosting Instagram live interviews with the owners. Troy shares that it was in part to these conversations that he and his wife, Claire, decided to purchase the San Diego Magazine. Having covered food in San Diego for 15 years, he provides some secrets to the city’s delicious cuisine. The published writer reveals what it was like unpacking his childhood in his book, Family Outing, and how it was received. He recalls early memories of reading the dictionary front to back and using writing as a therapeutic tool. Troy dishes that he didn’t always want to be a food critic and even spent two years learning the ins and outs of cooking to perfect his reviews. He compares his reviews to his critiques as a judge on Guy’s Grocery Games, shouting out his favorite challenge on the show. He highlights his upcoming event, Del Mar Wine + Food Festival, that he hopes will lift up the local restaurants in San Diego.

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