Oh, hello!
My name is Liam Collens, and I am a voracious eater and a veracious writer. I launched EatGoSee in 2019 after starting EatGoSee on social media in 2017. I am a restaurant critic, food writer and travel writer. I write for EatGoSee and other publications below! I occasionally appear on radio shows or podcasts.
I am a passionate traveller, having touched down in over 60 countries. I grew up in the Caribbean, pursued university in England, then Wales and worked professionally in the United Kingdom and the Middle East for over 15 years.
I am a UAE resident for nearly ten years! I frequently travel worldwide for unique dining and travel experiences, focusing more on the Middle East, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom. I am an amateur, licensed drone photographer, something that I enjoy doing during travels as a great way to get to know a surrounding area.
I am investing more time in studying wine and making wine. I hold a WSET Level 2 Pass with Distinction. (As we are here, Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo and Riesling are currently my favourite grape varieties.)
I am also a full-time lawyer with over 15 years of experience. Currently, I am General Counsel for a leading cosmetics company with both a Bachelors in Law and, Masters in Law, as well as multiple other post-graduation qualifications. I was awarded General Counsel of the Year in the Middle East Legal Awards 2022, and I am featured on the Legal 500 GC Powerlist 2022 and 2023, among other awards.
Contact me.
You can email me here. You can also find me on social media via my handle @itsliamcollens on Instagram, Threads, Facebook, TikTok. I have X/Twitter but I never use it. I am also on Linkedin. I am also on Vivino.
Publications and appearances
At a high-level, please find below my publishing, appearance and press history:
Publications
Owner, EatGoSee
Vogue Arabia, Contributing Writer
FACT Magazines (Dubai, Saudi Arabia and London), Contributing Writer
Uncredited “staff writer” for various publications
Media and Podcasts
DubaiEye 103.8FM
Press Trips
Bangkok Press Trip, 2024
Cairo Food Week Press Trip 2024
Brunico / Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler Press Trip, 2024
Inja Restaurant & New Delhi, India, 2023
Raffles Doha, Qatar, 2023
Qasr Al Sarab Resort by Anantara, Abu Dhabi, 2023
Ein Prosit, Udine, Italy, 2022
Other
Judge for various awards regional and international awards
Writer of the Menu Foreward for Tresind Studio’s Rising India menu (Tresind Studio is a two Michelin-starred, World’s 50 Best, MENA 50 Best Restaurant).
A note for publishers, hospitality teams, restaurant owners, public relations teams and more.
I am not an influencer. Instead, I am both a writer and a critic.
As a writer, I write about experiences, culture, guides, advertorials, restaurants, hotels, tourist experiences and more. I am delighted to talk to you about those opportunities and my rates for doing so. For EatGoSee, I occasionally receive invites where a meal, a stay, or a press trip is complimentary. Still, I will always mark this as #invite in reviews or social media posts in the interest of transparency. For other publications, I follow the editorial policy and guidelines of those publications, as required.
In a critic’s capacity, not all things are equal. I am happy to write about your business or your client’s business, but there is a line. I reserve the right to provide a fair, honest and detailed review. Here, the reader is the client. “All-inclusive” vs. Airbnb rentals. The bustle of the local fried chicken shop vs. the slow romancing over a fine-dining tasting menu in a Michelin-awarded, World 50-something restaurant – not all places are equal.
This is the nature of food and travel. Broadly, my assessment criteria focus on quality, technical skill, impact, locations, a concept’s originality, and value for money. I assess a proposition’s merits. I usually draw parallels to similar offerings, such as comp-sets and peer groups. This means you will find high praise for simple sardines on toast and disappointment in degustations. You will see me wax lyrical about private boat tours and hostel adventures.
Private feedback
I am delighted to discuss opportunities to consult with your business to provide direct, actionable feedback. The goal is to give you constructive, actionable feedback. The goal is to highlight what works, what needs help, what should be reconsidered and identify opportunities missed.
If you are interested in writing for EatGoSee.
There is room for creative, aspiring voices in food and travel writing. I am more than happy to receive pitches from those of you who would like to write and have the opportunity to write on a platform. Please get in touch with me here with your proposal, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
