Professional Experience
I'm currently working as a freelance travel and food writer, and photographer. I spent two years at StarChefs.com, the culinary on-line magazine for the industry insider. My articles have been published in New York, NY and Richmond, VA. After graduating from Columbia University and recovering from the tragedy of not being able to read Camus books for a living, I attended The Culinary Institute of America, where my scone consumption rose drastically. Fluent in French and Italian, I've worked in some of New Yorks top restaurants and covered food-related stories in a number of publications, from The Richmond Times-Dispatch to Time Out New York.
Expertise
Editor
2 Years
Writer
3 Years
Photographer
2 Years
Specialty
Travel
1 Year
Other, Specify
2 Years
Food
3 Years
Industries
Magazine - Local/Regional magazines
1 Year
Magazine - Large Consumer/National magazines
2 Years
Book Publishing Consumer
1 Year
Total Media Industry Experience
4 Years
Media Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)
StarChefs.com (10+), Time Out New York (1-2)
Other Work History
Culinary Writing Employment
Features Writer, StarChefs.com,
New York, NY,
Dec 2010 Dec 2011
-Generated ideas for publication
-Researched and wrote chef profiles, technique and ingredient features and restaurant features
-Gathered and edited materials for publication
-Arranged and attended tastings
-Photographed dishes, restaurants and events
-Attended trade shows
-Managed editorial interns and editorial assistants
Editorial Assistant, StarChefs.com,
New York, NY,
Feb 2010 - Dec 2010
-Researched and wrote features
-Gathered and edited materials for publication
Freelance Food Writer,
New York, NY,
July 2009 - Feb 2010
Published in:
-The Richmond Times-Dispatch
-The Virginia Sportsman
-Examiner.com
Eat Out Editorial Intern,
Time Out New York,
New York, NY,
Sep 2008 - Apr 2009
-Wrote numerous listings for restaurant openings
-Assisted Eat Out staff by fact-checking and researching articles
Technical Skills
Writing, editing, food photography, basic photo editing, blogging, basic HTML layout
Foreign Language Skills
Fluent French, working knowledge of Italian
Unions
None
Computer Skills
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Word, Excel, Internet research, Pages, In Design, CMS systems (Drupal), basic HTML
Equipment
Laptop, digital camera (Nikon D90), audio recorder, flip video camera
Work Permits & Visas
Legal resident of U.S., UK citizen
References
Email me at villeneuvefrancoise@yahoo.com to request references
Awards
Honors
The Culinary Institute of America
2006 Master Chefs Scholarship
2006 Spring Food Writing Contest Scholarship
2007 Master Chefs Scholarship
Columbia University
Deans List 2004, 2001
Associations
Culinary Historians of New York
Columbia College Women Mentorship Program, Mentor and Team Leader