Now in my 12th year writing Mouth by Southwest, my strategy for covering Phoenix metro area restaurants, breweries, and bars has been simple: Short, to-the-point posts focusing on openings, closings, and events.
It’s what analytics tell me readers want, and it’s certainly found an audience. More than two million people have turned to MXSW for this local news.
Next week, though, I’m launching a new feature on the website – MXSW Insider, a subscriber-only series of posts for readers looking for more in-depth coverage.
I’m talking about things such as:
- Profiles of great but under-the-radar restaurants that get little publicity;
- Q&As with the Valley’s top restaurateurs, chefs, brewers, and other newsmakers;
- Guides to help you find best places to take out-of-town visitors, find the best pizza, or enjoy the best IPA;
- Valley food and drink trends, such as how your favorite restaurants are coping with rising food costs.
I’ve got a lot more ideas, and I’d love to hear yours as well.
If you like MXSW as it is, don’t worry – none of its current coverage is changing or being taken away.
For those willing to pay $5.99 per month, however, you’ll get access to three or four feature stories per week that non-paying readers won’t.
I’m also working on some value-added perks like a monthly happy hour gathering or special restaurant discounts for MXSW Insiders. For now, those ideas are works in progress.
The first MXSW Insider post – a guide to every Valley brewery with descriptions, histories, photos, maps, beer recommendations, and more– will be published on Monday.
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Roberto Centeno, co-owner of Espiritu in downtown Mesa and grill master at Bacanora in downtown Phoenix, won Tuesday’s episode of ‘‘Chopped’’ on the Food Network.
