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by sam rhodes
Taylor Swift watermelons to pumpkin carving: if you are going to post your food don’t do it for nothing with YumTuc.
A lockdown project turned app, George Thwaites and his son were inspired to make the food app YumTuc as they missed being able to sample different cuisines.
Vowing to try global food once the lockdown ended, they wanted to take a trip around the world without a passport through food. George said: “I’ve always had an interest in food and community and I just put the two things together and thought people are obsessed with posting photos of their food but they don’t get anything really in return beyond a few lines.
“I thought there must be a way to create something where people start getting rewards and prizes for doing what they will be doing anyway so that’s how YumTuc was born.
“I’ve spent the last few years thinking about it and then creating something that is still in its infancy but people are enjoying it and it’s in the early stages, but I’m hoping that people will see if they are taking photos or videos that are food related, if you’re going to post, then don’t do it for nothing.”
Not just for sharing food, George emphasises the importance of the fun and positive experience he wants people to have on his app. To reduce the negativity seen online, there is no option to downvote or dislike the posts, the focus is on celebrating food.
“You can do it at home, you can do it in a restaurant, you could do it on a plane. It doesn’t matter where we all eat just sharing what they eat, celebrating it and having fun with it.
“We had someone, an amazing food sculptor, who posted an amazing photo of Taylor Swift carved out of a watermelon!”
On the app, people are invited to ask questions about the food and if answered people get points on their posts. One of the big development challenges for George was translating his ideas into reality and with his limited technical skills he needed to bring in experts on a “fairly tight budget.”
“It’s been a fun but at times painful process, but it’s nice to have something out there that people are enjoying and engaging with.”
“There’s a small but growing community of people who are posting and sharing stuff and then engaging with each other and getting something in return, some restaurants, have been involved already, but the idea is to develop it further, so more restaurants and food brands are welcome.”
Finally, George explained, with great difficulty and deliberation, his death row meal.
“It may be hard to resist a good fish and chips but I feel like I need a burger as well.”
“I’ll have to start with a mini burger or a small steak, then graduate onto the fish and chips. I’ve got a very sweet tooth, so I probably have to have Eton Mess or Sticky Toffee Pudding but you also have to throw a brownie in there – ideally, a bit of everything.”
“But then there’s Italian as well with pasta and pizza – and also Turkish Delight … a mini portion of everything.”
all pictures taken by the amazing people who have subscribed to yumtuc
