Continuing with our brand spanking new series of interviews with the best bloggers in the biz, we talked to Bethany Kehdy, the blogger behind Dirty Kitchen Secrets, about the rise of the citizen reviewer, Lebanese barbecues and why cooking is sexy.

Qype: Can you tell Qypers who you are and what it is you do that makes you so awesome?

Bethany Kehdy: I’m Lebanese-American and I write the food blog called Dirty Kitchen Secrets where I share recipes on Mediterranean cuisine with a strong Lebanese influence along with sultry food photography. Cooking is sexy, messy, and explosive. It’s very important for me to remove the intimidation factor from the kitchen. I always endeavour to keep recipes and ingredients simple with clear guidelines, step–by-step photography and video blogging.

Qype: What prompted you to start your blog, and what elements do you think have contributed to it becoming so popular?

Bethany Kehdy: As I love to cook, hosting naturally followed it. Friends and family would always ask for the recipes. My cooking style is explosive and things just happen as I go along. I don’t measure and many times would forget what I put into what. So, I started documenting these recipes in a word document under the title Dirty Kitchen Secrets, with the hopes of many years down the line to publish a cookbook. One day I came across online publishing and that very same night DKS was born!

I think people enjoy DKS because the recipes are not fussy or show-off, they are designed for the home cook and are delivered in a witty way with luscious food photography. It’s also important to know that all recipes are tried and tested. It’s not only about what I had for dinner. I make sure the recipe is going to work for my reader before I publish. I also get numerous emails from readers asking for help in their cooking and I’m very adamant about answering their questions within the same day.

Qype: Where does your love of food come from?

Bethany Kehdy: Not to overuse the cliché but I come from a Middle-Eastern family that loves the kitchen which definitely nurtured my passion for food and eating. Growing up I was always salivating about my next meal and loved testing out dishes on family and friends.

Qype: Got any thoughts on the rise of the ‘citizen reviewer’? Are the bloggers/Qypers becoming as important as the Jay Rayners and AA Gilll’s of this world? Do restaurateurs need to sit up and take more notice of the ‘man in the street’?

Bethany Kehdy: Oh yeah! And I think they are gaining more credibility slowly but surely. The Internet has changed the world and has brought many new opportunities. The reason why citizen reviewers are gaining such a following is because they are real people and can relate to their readership which really helps them in covering angles their readers are most interested in and thus making them even more influential.

Qype: What cooking tip would you give to Qypers?

Bethany Kehdy: Listen to your instinct just like our ancestors did. Let it guide you and your mouth & tummy will never be disappointed.

Qype: If you had to pick one London restaurant for your last meal on earth, where would you choose?

Bethany Kehdy: It wouldn’t be in London but seaside in Beirut with a full Lebanese spread. There is no better way to go out!

Qype: What would your perfect London Sunday consist of ? (Let’s assume it’s a perfect Sunday weather-wise, and the tube is working perfectly, and you have a perfect bank balance).

Bethany Kehdy: Hanging out in the garden with loved ones; some chill-out music in the background, a bottle of chilled Rose and perhaps some oysters or mussels for starters followed by a Lebanese barbecue.

Qype: Give us one place which you think every Londoner should have in their little black book of hidden gems?

Bethany Kehdy: At the moment I’m really enjoying Busaba Eathai. I recommend the Pad Thai, Mussaman Duck Curry and the mouth-wateringly delicious Tom Kha Chicken soup.

Check out Bethany Kehdy’s blog here, or email us if you have any suggestions of London bloggers you’d like us to interrogate on your behalf.