Tabitha Lorck, 24, is a solicitor based in Auckland. By day, she deals with clients and contracts; in the evening, she enjoys dinners out with friends. So far, so normal.
But Tabitha has a second life: she’s an Instagram food influencer (@fattab). When she dines out, which she does at least once a day, she photographs the meal carefully and writes a short review. Then she posts it for her 9,000 Instagram followers – who like, comment, repost and, as often as not, visit the restaurant themselves.
Food influencers like Tabitha have popped up en masse in recent years. You’ve probably heard of Albert Cho, the foul-mouthed superstar behind @eatlitfood, whose 65,000 Instagram followers hang on his every word. Herne Bay’s Bacio café told me that when Albert favourably reviewed…