Who is Tom Sietsema? Washington Post's elusive food critic steps down, reveals his face for the first time

The Washington Post's elusive food critic, Tom Sietsema, has revealed his face for the first time after years of anonymity. The news outlet shared an exclusive interview with Tom on October 7. He explained that he is now revealing his face as he is stepping down from his role at the Post after 26 years. Tom dropped a column and shared his experience of maintaining anonymity as a food critic.

In a video shared by Instagram user @eatvoraciously, Tom's face is gradually unveiled behind utensil lids. He greets his followers and says,

"It's nice to finally meet you."

He explains that "anonymity" might seem unnatural now, or rather difficult to maintain. However, it was what most "big city critics" did back in the day. He added,

"Things could really change for a recognised person in a restaurant. "

In his Washington Post column, Tom details his plans for the future and reveals that this is not a "goodbye" or a "breakup."

Washington Post's elusive food critic Tom Sietsema steps down

Washington Post's food critic reportedly managed to maintain his anonymity, to "avoid preferential treatment." A quick look at Tom Sietsema's Instagram profile shows that he managed not to post any photos revealing his face and was able to stay under the radar. In his column, Tom revealed that he will now have more photos of people and himself than food as he steps down from his role after 26 years.

He clarified that he is far from "retiring" and added that he has

"plans to cook more, travel more and stay connected with fellow food enthusiasts."

Tom Sietsema described the changes that are to follow in his personal life and wrote,

"No longer do I get to tell companions what they have to eat so that I can try the range of a menu. My partner is looking forward to sitting at the prime seat rather than facing the wall every meal. I still plan to eat out, just not 10 or so meals a week. Oh, and I’ll be paying for it all myself. That’s going to sting."

He elaborated that it would be strange to "put his real name" while booking a table, but noted that he is "free."

Tom Sietsema is set to step down as The Washington Post's food critic. He opened up about his experiences in the news outlet's column and signalled a new guide about his favourite 40 restaurants "in and around Washington" which is set to be published on Wednesday. Tom hopes to carry his love for his food and enjoy taking photos with his friends and family.

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