By Eric Gray | Foodies are everywhere. They live with us, are related to us, they are our friends, neighbors, lovers, coworkers, etc… and they are definitely eating among us in Long Beach.
Every great city is known for their food. Take New York and San Francisco for example. Visitors know that when they are traveling to these cities, they can expect a wide variety of restaurants and food choices that will satisfy the taste buds and tantalize the mind.
Long Beach is no different. We are a growing city, and we do have great restaurants and eateries. This comes as a surprise to many people who first learn this. Take the recent Zagat Survey for example that awarded three local Long Beach restaurants #1 spots in three of their categories. Michael’s Pizzeria is listed as the number one pizza restaurant in Los Angeles, Michael’s on Naples is listed as Top Italian, and Sir Winston’s is listed as Best Décor located on the Queen Mary. The very same article that lists these results from blog.zagat.com felt the need to educate residents in Los Angeles to the fact that Long Beach is actually in Los Angeles County, and not in Orange County.
This brings me to why I believe we should grow our foodie reputation in the City of Long Beach. Foodie cities are more exciting, they bring in more money to the local economy, they help to create new jobs, they help to attract new businesses, and they add to the local tax base. I think it’s a win-win situation for the City of Long Beach and all of us who live here. We already have the great restaurants and Business Districts. Who hasn’t found a great find in Belmont Shore, Downtown, Retro Row, Cambodia Town, Bixby Knolls, or On Broadway for example?
In 2011, I created a Facebook Page called Culinary Long Beach to help grow the foodie reputation of our City of Long Beach. In the same year, we established the 2011 Foodie Awards and came up with 20 categories that people who were part of the Facebook page could vote on. Now, a year later, polls to the 2012 Foodie Awards are opening soon with new categories like “Best French Macaron” and “Best New Restaurant”. It’s exciting times in Long Beach, CA and I think now is the time to grow our Culinary Reputation.
If you would like to be “in the know” of new food establishments or if you would like to vote in the 2012 Foodie Awards, please like our Culinary Long Beach Facebook page below:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Culinary-Long-Beach-CA/220485687968943