Some of you may have noticed that food-trail is alive and making posts, comments, and replies. Well you aren't seeing things. Food-trail is alive again. Food-trail is here to reward the best posters in the food and related categories. If you want to get a vote from food-trail, you should know there are few criteria that I look for:
Originality: In any food-related field originality is big. I'm not saying you necessarily have to post your own recipe, but if you're going to take a page from "The Joy of Cooking" then please at least give credit where credit is due. I'm also not saying that if you see a lemonade related post that you don't want to make another lemonade related post, making another one with a different twist is fine. However, If you're thinking of taking someone else's hard work and posting it as your own then just..... don't. I've seen a lot of plagiarism lately going through these posts. It seems to be running rampant and it's fairly easy to spot.
Creativity: Keep in mind that there's a real person reading and voting for these posts. Posting something boring and unexciting doesn't make anyone smile. Be creative!
Effort: Posting one paragraph or just a few lines of text with one picture of a bowl of soup is not a lot of effort. A post like that is not likely to get a vote from me. On the other hand, showing step by step instructions with lots of text along the way in between several sets of well photographed pictures will definitely make me smile and is likely to get you a vote and a comment.
Another thing I'd like to say is that food-trail is interested in helping and encouraging minnows and young dolphins. If you have half a million steem power, you are unlikely to get a vote even though your post may be fantastic. I apologize for that, but you just may well get a comment with a thumbs up anyway.
Finally I would like to add full disclosure here: I am the new curator of the food-trail. if you spoke to someone months ago about food-trail, then that person was not me. Food-trail is alive again and the curator is 
Happy fooding and keep the good posts coming!