From the kitchen to social media and beyond : chefs utilize social media for culinary tourism inspiration

Abstract

Social media has changed the way people communicate, connect and view the world. Media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WeChat and many others have become places where chefs, gourmands and food-minded individuals can express their creativity, innovation and inspiration for cuisine. These platforms have given chefs and culinarians a level of access to cuisines that was not previously available before. A previous study that examined chef’s inspirations via culinary tourism and Asian cuisine revealed that many of the chefs took to various social media platforms to review and research indigenous foods, dishes and cuisines prior to or doing their culinary tourism travels. This paper seeks to expand on those findings and further demonstrate the relationship between chefs’ inspirations for culinary tourism and social media platforms.