Bernadette Machard de Gramont
(She/Her)
As seen in:
MSN,
Yahoo Life,
The Guardian,
Yahoo Canada,
Yahoo News UK,
Aol,
National Geographic,
Allrecipes,
The Strategist,
Flipboard
and
Covers:
Food, wine, spirits, travel, France, beauty, lifestyle, culture
Doesn't Cover:
Politics, parenting, kids, cannabis, zero-proof cocktails
chieuse. writer. pilates instructor. angeleno. @foodandwine @thisisinsider @food52 @thekitchn @thequalityedit @wineenthusiast etc
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Interviewing the head chef and owner of a small fermentation business based in Sonoma County to talk about her "why".
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes - and I even won an award for typing when I was in 8th grade.
How is social media changing news?
Everything moves quickly, which is good and bad; the hardest part is fact-checking before something goes viral.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Lois Lane
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means being a storyteller while also delivering truth.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I recently saw
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
A succinct email will suffice - give me the who, what, when, where, how, and why without too much fluff!
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Google Drive, Gmail, Slack, and my trusty Macbook Air.
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram
Who do you wish followed you?
Michelle Obama
Why did you become a journalist?
I've always been curious, so it seems like a natural fit.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes, I was a copy editor. And we mocked up the issues using printouts and waxing (IYKYK).
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
My explanation of non-vintage versus multi-vintage Champagne for Wine Enthusiast. I am very passionate about Champagne and winemaking!
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Integrity is everything.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Middle of the week, middle of the day.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I'm keeping this one under wraps—you're going to have to keep reading my work to find out.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I can't stand celebrity hype without substance, so I'll just say anything pitched to me with a lazy celeb focus.
What's your favorite drink?
A spectacular gin and tonic, but if we're talking zero-proof, a really good horchata.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Teaching a Pilates class!
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Gueuleton, a French magazine about bon vivants
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That I'm constantly eating and drinking amazing things. It's not always great; there's a lot of mediocrity hiding behind good lighting.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.