SCOTT JOSEPH, RESTAURANT CRITIC
Dining out was a special occasion for Scott Joseph growing up in Moline, Ill.
That changed substantially during adulthood.
Joseph established himself as an expert on the Central Florida dining scene during his 30 years as a restaurant critic — first for the Orlando Sentinel until 2008 and then on his own blog, Scott Joseph’s Orlando Restaurant Guide.
Still, Joseph never forgot where his restaurant experiences began.
“I always wanted to make sure, for people like my family, it was going to be worth their money,” he said of his reviews.
A midlife crisis steered Joseph into a job as the food editor of a weekly publication in Phoenix.
After six months, he had developed a passion for writing about food — but found himself in need of another job.
Joseph was hesitant to apply for the Sentinel’s restaurant critic position but soon became impressed with the newsroom staff, as well as the city.
When Joseph took the job in May 1988, Orlando had a reputation for being a city full of chain restaurants. It still fights that notoriety, but it’s slowly beginning to change, he said.
He started his food-centric career with no main objective, but one has developed.
“My goal has been to elevate the quality and the reputation of Orlando restaurants,” Joseph said.