Myrtle Beach Restaurant News: Coverage Decisions

Myrtle Beach Restaurant News	March 23, 2012

Coverage Decisions

Technology has made it easy for all of us to stay informed on local, regional, national and world news. Have you ever wondered how decisions are made on what - and who - to cover?

Money has a lot to do with it, of course. Media companies are in business to make money, so articles that will generate many clicks and articles about advertisers are desirable.

So why in the world would I often choose to not cover topics that mainstream media (MSM) is covering, and then turn around and write articles the MSM is ignoring?

In the case of not covering some restaurant-related news, it's because I am just one woman working hard to give a voice to more than 2,000 restaurateurs from Little River to Georgetown. That's a big beat, so if four television stations and three newspapers are covering an event or story, I know you're informed about it and may decide to skip it and use my time more effectively.

However, sometimes I provide coverage on the big stories if I think I have an angle or information the other sources are missing.

My mission is to provide restaurant news the MSM overlooks or ignores, for whatever reasons. That means I write about small restaurants who don't have advertising budgets, big ones that do have advertising budgets but don't necessarily spend any of it with me and people who work hard in the industry and deserve recognition and a voice.

I choose to cover important and relevant topics that the MSM does not give you, like this week's article about Chef Giovanni Giannone suing local television personality and restaurateur, Cecil Chandler. I find it interesting that when Cecil Chandler was involved in the Surfside Pier controversy the MSM was all over it, but when a small business owner sues him over a sign, there is a deafening silence.

I am the only full-time food and restaurant reporter in the Grand Strand area. It's a responsibility I don't take lightly, and will continue to work hard to bring you useful and relevant news.

News such as exciting dishes at an excellent new Ohio-style pizza shop in Myrtle Beach, a soon-to-open burrito shop, a behind-the-scenes peek at the new Pine Lakes Tavern, a $10 buffet so spotlessly clean even the DHEC inspectors dine there - and much more.

Dive on in and enjoy big tasty scoops of restaurant news. I serve them every day.

Becky@TheFoodSyndicate.com

(843) 446-6502

P.S. - I'm giving away a Donato's free pizza certificate later today on the Myrtle Beach Restaurant News Facebook page.

Cecil Chandler Sued
Over restaurant name change

What's in a name? Quite a lot is at stake when it comes to similarly named Italian restaurants within blocks of each other.

Burger Brothers
Bigger, better

Diners are lining up for the $10 dinner buffet at the new Burger Brothers Buffet & Steakhouse in Conway.

A Peek into Pine Lakes
Much-anticipated tavern in final stages

Pine Lakes Tavern in Myrtle Beach is eagerly awaited by locals - here's a look at what to expect.

The Sassy Server
Beyond flirting

Every waitress knows that in order to get decent tips, sometimes a little flirting is necessary, but what happens when diners take it too far?

Weekend Roundup

Cupcakes, benefits and freebies

This week's culinary collection includes:

A new frozen yogurt shop opens today.

People are going cuckoo for Coccadotts.

A few tasty weekend benefits.

A skinny kid eats an 80-ounce steak.

Free food at a Facebook fan get-together.

And more deliciousness!

Gem City Pizza
A taste of Ohio

I did not know Ohio had its own pizza style until I tasted what the owners at the new Gem City Pizza are offering. It's now my favorite pizza!

New Burrito Restaurant
Opening soon in Myrtle Beach

You have to love the diversity in this area, like this soon-to-open burrito restaurant with Irish influences.

DHEC Changes
Equipment temps, date labeling

For the first time in 17 years, DHEC staff is proposing changes in its commercial food service regulations.

Restaurant Scores

Four Bs

Rolling papers and tobacco in the kitchen and chemical buckets used to hold ice contributed to a Murrells Inlet bar and grill receiving this week's lowest health and safety inspection score of 79. At a Georgetown restaurant, employees didn't wash their hands after handling raw chitlins.

Coming Up Next Week

The famous area singing busboy has a new restaurant home, and I'm working on an article about a restaurant that hasn't given its servers paychecks for months. Also - another new frozen yogurt shop opened, and this one is serving exceptionally healthy treats.

Want more restaurant news? You can visit MyrtleBeachRestaurantNews.com every day for the freshest news, and you can also catch Becky Billingsley on Rivertalk with Jack Murphy

every other Monday (the next one airs April 2). The show is on Mondays - Saturdays at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on HTC Cablevision channel 4 and weekday mornings at 7:30 a.m. on broadcast television WWMB The CW-21, HTC channel 16 and Time Warner Cable channel 8.

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