Later I found out mine was the only application packet they received. Three people went so far as to call the managing editor to express their interest and assumed their connections would get them the job. I will never discount the value of a business appraoch to editors. All that work paid off. Sadly, it has expanded my middle as much as it has expanded my horizons.
Food writing is the combination of creative cooking with creative writing.
It's joyous and promising. Every dinner I eat out or recipe I create or revise is playtime. Newspaper editors are always on deadline so they like brief contact. Some are very responsive and helpful, others leave you hanging, steal ideas and insult you. Overall I've learned to accept the different personalities if I want to write for them.