James Hastings

Photo of James Hastings
Follow
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 across eight countries around the globe, picking up 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.
  • When he's not writing about food and drink or experimenting with avant-garde cocktail recipes, James works as project manager for Wild Response, an international wildlife conservation nonprofit.

Experience

James is a feature writer at Food Republic 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 and specialized work in the nonprofit sector for reforestation and wildlife conservation. James' knowledge of the food and beverage industry is broad and deep, having worked in both the on and off-trade sectors, and demonstrated by his hospitality accolades from the UK, France, and New Zealand. 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. Currently based in Thailand, most of James' memorable experiences in the region have something to do with food, like motorcycling the length of Vietnam to experience the breadth of the national cuisine or sharing meals with hill tribe families in the Golden Triangle. With a passion for writing and a seasoned background in the hospitality industry, James brings a unique combination of skills and experiences to Food Republic, ready to further explore and share stories from the diverse world of gastronomy.

Education

James studied English and history at college. He is currently pursuing additional studies in the field of wildlife conservation.
Food Republic Editorial Policies

Food Republic’s industry-leading coverage is created by qualified and experienced writers, and is reviewed and fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure everything is accurate and timely. Outside experts are also consulted whenever possible to help deliver factual, up-to-date information.

Our mission is to publish knowledgeable, engaging articles to give readers the information they're looking for, whether that is the news of the day or cooking tips, tricks, and trends. We also bring you recipes you can depend on, as well as reviews and recommendations. In an effort to provide the most comprehensive, current, and accurate content, our team is constantly reviewing and updating articles as necessary. Additional information on our editorial process available here.

Stories By James Hastings