Joan Lang

I'm a Jesse Neal award-winning journalist and editor who has covered food, restaurants, and health and wellness issues for more than 25 years. Before starting my own editorial consulting business, Full Plate Communications (www.full-plate.com), I worked as a business reporter for Standard & Poor's Corp., and have served as both Executive Editor and Food Editor of Restaurant Business magazine.

I helped launch several publications and websites, including Vintage, Allure, the Portland Phoenix, Catering Business, and thesauce.com. Other clients have included Esquire, The New York Times, New Jersey Monthly, Saveur, Self, Vogue, and Woman's Day, as well as numerous restaurant companies, food manufacturers and marketing boards.

I've worked extensively as a restaurant critic for national and local publications, and presided over the introduction of a number of new titles for Zagat Survey, including "U.S. Hotels, Resorts & Spas" and "America's Top Restaurants." My resume also includes stints as a contributing editor and columnist for Restaurant Business, FoodService Director, Flavor and the Menu, the Culinary Trend Mapping Report, and Seafood Business, specializing in menu and business trends analysis.

I am a graduate of the New York Restaurant School and holds degrees in architecture and journalism. Cape Elizabeth, Maine, is my home.