Could it be you? (Or that food fanatic friend of yours? Let them know!)

WANTED: FOOD AND DRINK CRITIC

The Portland Mercury is looking for a new food/restaurant/drink critic to add to our stable of great writers. COULD THAT BE YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW? Let's find out:

The successful candidate will have strong/snappy writing skills, a passion for food and drink, demonstrable knowledge of what makes a great dish and eatery, and a brain crammed full of information regarding the Portland restaurant scene. Reporting skills are a definite plus, as is prior food/drink criticism experience.

Duties include writing one restaurant review per week for the print edition, and publishing at least three blog posts per week on Blogtown, as well as being heavily involved with our bi-annual food/drink issues. This is a FREELANCE position, which allows the candidate plenty of time to have other employment, and this person can choose their own hours—as long as deadlines are met.

Pay is $125 per week, and meals eaten for review purposes are paid for (within reason of course) by the Mercury.

Interested parties should email editor Wm. Steven Humphrey HERE (put "FOOD AND DRINK CRITIC POSITION" in the subject line) and include the following:

• A cover letter describing why you're so awesome.

• A resume that includes pertinent experience.

• Up to six published food/drink writing clips (blog posts are acceptable, as are PDFs and URLs). No published clips? NO PROBLEM. Send in a 600-word review of a place you've eaten at recently.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014.