James Hastings

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Location
Chiang Mai, Thailand
School
Collingwood College
Expertise
Craft Beer, Southeast Asian Cuisine, Sustainability In Hospitality
  • Before becoming a food writer, James spent over 16 years in the hospitality industry, working in eight countries around the globe and gaining skills in almost every type of venue imaginable.
  • While beverage manager at Charley Noble, a Chef's Hat-awarded restaurant in New Zealand, James' team won Cuisine's Best Drinks List in 2017 and made the national GoodFood list of Top 100 Restaurants in 2018.
  • In 2023, he was also awarded "Best Newcomer" by BrewDog, Europe's largest independent craft brewery.

Experience

James is a feature writer at Daily Meal and has amassed a wealth of experience in both the writing and culinary worlds. His background features a blend of hospitality experience, freelance writing, and digital strategy, with notable contributions to food publications. His time working for a range of high-end independent businesses has resulted in extensive knowledge and interest in craft beer, spirits, cocktails, and fine wine. He has also been fortunate enough to work with industry powerhouses such as Heineken and BrewDog, where he indulged his love for teaching by running beer schools. Before becoming a food writer, James spent over 16 years in the hospitality industry, working in eight countries around the globe and picking up skills in almost every type of venue imaginable. When he's not writing about food and drink or experimenting with avant-garde cocktail recipes, James works as a Stop The Bleed instructor in Southeast Asia, providing emergency first aid training to local communities.

Education

James studied English and history in college.
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Stories By James Hastings