@JoelECarlson – Hello everyone, and welcome to the Food-Friday Twitterview of @StephMarch. Set your timers to 1hr and lets get cooking!

Q – #1    So @stephmarch, where did you grow up and what led you to doing the work that you do today?

A: I am a Minny girl, from the Orono area, and I guess I am just always hungry.

Q – #2    Obviously by your Twitter Avatar image, you are in the food business. What kind of work specifically do you do?

A: I am currently the food editor for MSP Magazine and I have a radio show on MyTalk 107.1 called Weekly Dish.

Q – #3    So for the @MSPmag, are you given assignments as to places to check out, or do you do your own “hunting”?

A: I am the one who doles out the assignments, which means that I am rabidly watching all media for mentions of new places.

Q – #4    Ah! So do you work then with @DeRushaEats & @FreshTartSteph? Any new trends in restaurants in MSP right now?

A: wow. Nice gaffe :) While I love and appreciate those cats, they write for “the competition”. I’m at @MSPMag.

As for trends, it seems to be all about cassoulet, agnolotti and octopus right now. And you can bet the small plate revolution

going to keep on keeping on. Plus I think you’ll see other cities grasping more in the way we do. And bourbon, It’s all about bourbon

Q – #5    OOOPS! My sincere apologies to you and @MSPmag. :)  Any trends that you’ve seen locally that will continue?

A: Hakuna matata! I also think you’ll see a lot more cross-collaboration between restos. Like when @ScottPampuch cooked at

The Local the other night. This generation of chef buddies that’s currently at the stoves all like to hang and travel together,

despite the different employers. It’s going to be a fun ride over the next couple of years.

Q – #6    What do you see or envision with the coffee shop & cupcake scenes? Will they continue to grow?

A: I think the coffee scene is blooming right now, what with all the fiends doing one-cup brewing. I’m a fan. So I think

we’ll still see growth there, but not hugely like Starbux, because it’s anti-commodity. Cupcakes aren’t dead, but might

have a little while longer. They’re fun, but places like @patisserie46 and Solveig’s new Sun Street breads will lead a new level of

baking in town. Also, donuts are the next cupcakes.

Q – #7    I’ve tried @YoYoDonuts and they are fabulous! Now your Favorite: casual restaurant, store, winter activity & grocery.

A: Picking a fave resto is like choosing a fave kid (of which I have 4), but I will say that I like burgers at Lion’s Tap

and I’m enamored with the pizza @PizzeriaLola and I can’t stop thinking about the dry rub wings @ PsychoSuzis. Winter is for braising

and dark beer drinking. Although I am known to road run in the snow to keep the size of my butt manageable. Grocery is a toughie, I

stop at a lot of places to get what I want, and yes I buy giant pork shoulders at costco so that I can have pulled pork for days, but

I’m a Kowalski’s fan, but more often frequent Lunds.

Q – #8    How have you found the use of Social Media for getting your thoughts, ideas and views out to your audience to be?

A: I luff it. I am ridiculously addicted to the twitter and I think it brings foodies, especially, close together. I love

when people tweet about what they’ve eaten, it helps give a good understanding of what restos are doing from the eaters perspective

My fam gets a little annoyed when I tweet during dinner, but whatevs. I think the conversations about food are fresh and driven by

hunger and passion and heart. You don’t find that in a lot of industries. Nobody in carpentry is tweeting about carving, are they?

Q – #9    Ah, I don’t think so. The foodies literally talk from their gut right? :) Any advice for future food writer/reviewers?

A: Food writers/reviewers need some credibility, I think, so I’d say get your butt in a resto job at least once. You can’t

really measure a place unless you’ve been in their shoes in some way shape or form. Also, eat everything. If you don’t think you like

shrimp or bleu cheese, eat it at least 10 times. And then keep trying it. Breaking into the paid world of food writing is super hard

you have to make connections and be out there with a real and unique voice. So keep tweeting and meeting and eating. Sorry :)

@JoelECarlson – Good advice from someone that knows! Thank you very much @stephmarch for your time and insights today. Have a great evening!

@StephMarch – Cheers! Off to Happy Hour!!! With Bourbon!

@JoelECarlson – Hello everyone following, and welcome to the Twitterview of local Twin Cities PR-guy @cbetancourtPR. Lets get our Tweet on!

Q – #1    So @cbetancourtPR, where did you grow up, and what kind of schooling/training did you receive to do the work that you do now?

A: I grew up near downtown in NE Mpls and attended the University of Minnesota, where I studied PR (@umn_sjmc) and policial science.

Interestingly, I started as a poly sci major and fell into PR while working on a US Senate campaign.

While working on the campaign, I produced a love for PR and declared PR as my second major. I had an amazing experience at @umn_sjmc!

Q – #2    @cbetancourtPR So what kind of PR work do you do now, and is blogging involved?

A: Currently, I my job is charged with creating online content (blogs) for our legal clients, who are mostly law firms.

On any given week, I write 30+ blog posts on topics ranging from DUI to car accidents and drug trafficking to medical malpractice.

Additionally, my group is also exploring new ways to support law firms in other social media capacities. Never a dull moment :)

What’s great about my position is that I get to research and develop stories on various topics, like a journalist would.

Q – #3    I see. Now when you blog, are Key Words or SEO important in the making of your posts?

A: Absolutely, when blogging, this is a key consideration. Clients want interesting, original content that drives traffic to their site.

SEO is critical to my position. Being about to write creatively while mixing in SEO keywords and making them flow is key.

Im thankful for the SEO training I obtained in college, other positions and at my current job. Its an invaluable skill to have in PR.

As PR continues to be charged with online content creation and SM, SEO skills will continue to be important to the profession!

Q – #4    @cbetancourtPR Now what kind of work did you do in the past with @lulugrimm & @kmskala regarding PR locally?

A: I currently work with @lulugrimm & @kmskala on the Comm Committee for @MinnesotaPRSA.

Currently, I serve as the social media lead for @MinnesotaPRSA and I manage all the social sites for the org.

@Lulugrimm and @kmskala lead our awesome committee of bright minds and we continue to push the envelope when it comes to Social

@MinnesotaPRSA has been a great playground for us to experiment with social media.

Q – #5    Good to hear from @lulugrimm & @kmskala on your work @cbetancourtPR! What are some other groups/orgs that you are a part of?

A: In addition to @minnesotaPRSA, I serve on the marketing board for a nonprofit, ARC Greater Twin Cities.

Currently, I’m assisting ARC to create an online presence and assist in other mktg activities. They own Value Village, so its fun too

For the most part, @MinnesotaPRSA keeps me busy the most, which I love.

Q – #6    Let move you your FAVORITES: Restaurant, store, sport(s), Mpls Neighborhood & gadget.

A: Fave Restaurants: Chino Latino, Stella’s, Fogo de Chao, Cafeteria, anything Mexican :), True Thai, Pizza Luce. I know Im missing some

Fave Stores: Macys, @mallofamerica, Best Buy, Apple and any other store where I can fiddle with things :)

I live in NE Mpls and I love the stores/pubs around my neighborhood: Surdyks, Bulldog, Whiteys, Gastofs, etc.

Fav Gadgets: my blackberry, blu-ray player, Wii. Others I wish I owned: ipad, Macbook Air, Flip Cam.

Q – #7    For high school/college students interested in PR, what would you encourage them to do to learn/experience?

A: HS: I encourage them to shadow PR pros and really learn what we do. Its not for everyone and not everyone can do it.

College: I encourage them to be involved in #PRSSA and do as many internships you can. Invaluable experience.

Also, take some business classes. Company’s want PR pros that speak the language of business. Probably my most important advice!

@JoelECarlson – Thank you @cbetancourtPR for your time and your in depth comments today. Have a great weekend & enjoy the winter!

@cbetancourtPR – Thx!