Celebrating the New Year with a Social Media Sensation from the Estates
SDCE homeowner and food writer Dan Edwards, known as @foodobservations, was recognized for his passion for spotlighting local dining after earning the San Diego North County Social Media Sensation Award at Yelp’s annual Yelpies celebration.
As we kick off the new year in a town where locally owned restaurants are part of the community fabric, food observer Dan Edwards has become a familiar name behind the lens. Known for capturing thoughtfully composed images of dishes and dining spaces, Edwards documents the food scene in Ramona across San Diego County highlighting the flavors, presentation, and atmosphere that make each spot unique. Through his food observations, he offers residents and visitors alike a closer look at the culinary experiences found right in their own backyard.
Edwards has been a San Diego Country Estates homeowner for 24 years and is known online as @foodobservations on Facebook and Instagram. He is a prominent San Diego-based food writer, photographer, and blogger who shares his culinary adventures and restaurant finds on social media platforms and Threads showcasing the local food scene as a passionate eater, not a foodie.
He focuses on local experiences sharing his reviews and visuals of San Diego’s diverse eateries. He primarily focuses his reviews on Ramona, San Diego and surrounding Southern California areas and expands his reviews when traveling for work. His professional job is working for the aerospace and defense industry. He has recently expanded his reviews to Arizona and has reviews across the United States. “I have posts in my feed from establishments in Virginia and Ohio,” says Edwards.
He is a regular customer at The Oaks Grille and Par Lounge. He says they have the best brunch in Ramona, and they have a chef driven menu that changes with the seasons. The restaurant is a three-minute drive for him which makes it convenient. He says they live so close, and everyone knows he and his wife when they dine at the resort.
He started his food blog, which is a hobby, 15 years ago and his inspiration was his father. His father would take photos of his food in the 1980’s with a 35-millimeter camera and would photograph his food before it became popular in recent years. He remembers his father would photograph pancakes he made and Edwards has always been interested in the hobby of photography.
He has been doing food reviews for almost 15 years and he photographs food with his iPhone. His wife and he are always up to date with the latest iPhone, and he currently has an iPhone 17 Pro Max. “I always have the latest and greatest,” says Edwards. He takes it to the next level with composition and lighting. He also has software to further enhance the images.
Edwards likes to photograph all types of food and says certain types of food photograph better than others. He likes to photograph chef-inspired fancy hamburgers. He added that Asian foods photograph well such as dumplings and wontons and likes the shadows in these photos. He says that sushi photographs nicely under the right circumstances. He can photograph any type of food and make it look incredible whether it be Taco Bell or a fancy restaurant. He’s not just into upscale cuisine, one day he can dine at Ruth’s Chris and the next day at McDonalds. He says he can make a Big Mac look amazing.
He recently won an award for the Social Media Sensation Award for San Diego North County. It is part of the annual Yelpies event that Yelp hosts for the San Diego & North County San Diego Yelp Elite community. It was for individuals content contribution who post more than others. It was at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, and it was an enjoyable time. There was good food, and he got dressed up. “It was a nice, unexpected award and I was given a trophy, gift bag, and flowers,” says Edwards. “They went all out.”
As we start a fresh calendar year, it’s fitting to spotlight this reviewer who has helped so many navigate the county’s ever-evolving food landscape. His enthusiastic coverage, shared through Yelp, Facebook, and Instagram, makes every meal feel like a local adventure.
Here’s to a new year full of delicious bites, new discoveries, and more great recommendations. Whether you are seeking comfort food classics or the must-try destination, local voices like this help guide the way, one review at a time.
Photos courtesy of Dan Edwards.
