PRIVACY POLICY

Local Culinary Insider (“LCI,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy.

This Privacy Policy explains how we may collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you visit localculinaryinsider.com, subscribe to our communications, submit information, purchase products, or otherwise interact with Local Culinary Insider.

1. Information We May Collect

Depending upon how you interact with LCI, we may collect information you voluntarily provide, including:

• Name
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Restaurant or business name
• Job title or relationship to a restaurant
• Mailing or shipping address
• Restaurant information
• Messages and correspondence
• Newsletter subscription information
• Restaurant submissions or nominations
• Photographs, logos, biographies, or other materials submitted to LCI
• Purchase and transaction information

If payments are processed through a third-party payment processor, LCI may not directly receive or store complete payment-card information.

2. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the website, certain information may be collected automatically through cookies, analytics technologies, server logs, and similar tools.

This information may include:

• IP address
• Browser type
• Device type
• Operating system
• Referring website
• Pages viewed
• Approximate geographic location derived from IP address
• Date and time of visits
• Links clicked
• Website interaction and usage information

We may use this information to operate, secure, analyze, and improve the website.

3. Cookies and Similar Technologies

LCI may use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Operate website functionality
• Remember preferences
• Understand website traffic
• Measure content performance
• Improve visitor experience
• Detect security issues
• Support marketing or advertising activities, where applicable

Some cookies may be provided by third-party services used by the website.

Where required by applicable law, visitors may be provided with choices regarding non-essential cookies.

You may also be able to control cookies through your browser settings.

4. How We Use Information

LCI may use collected information to:

• Operate and maintain the website
• Deliver requested content
• Send newsletters and editorial updates
• Respond to inquiries
• Review restaurant submissions
• Communicate with restaurants
• Research and prepare editorial content
• Produce customized recognition products
• Provide licensed digital materials
• Improve LCI content and services
• Analyze website performance
• Maintain security
• Prevent fraud or misuse
• Maintain business records
• Comply with legal obligations

5. Email Communications

Visitors may voluntarily subscribe to LCI newsletters, including editorial updates, restaurant features, culinary articles, and other communications.

Marketing emails will include a method for unsubscribing where required.

Unsubscribing from marketing communications does not necessarily prevent LCI from sending transactional or administrative communications relating to permissions, inquiries, or other existing relationships.

6. Restaurant and Professional Information

LCI is an editorial publication and may research restaurants, owners, chefs, culinary professionals, and other subjects using publicly available information.

Information used for legitimate editorial purposes may come from sources including:

• Restaurant websites
• Public business listings
• Public social media accounts
• Press releases
• News publications
• Professional biographies
• Public interviews
• Publicly available business information
• Information supplied directly to LCI

Information processed solely for journalistic or editorial purposes may be treated differently under applicable privacy laws.

7. How Information May Be Shared

LCI may share information with service providers that assist with legitimate business operations, such as:

• Website hosting
• Email delivery
• Analytics
• Payment processing
• E-commerce
• Shipping and fulfillment
• Cloud storage
• Customer communications
• Website security
• Professional services

These providers may process information as necessary to perform services for LCI and are subject to their own contractual and legal obligations.

LCI may also disclose information when reasonably necessary to comply with law, legal process, enforce agreements, protect rights or safety, investigate fraud, or respond to lawful government requests.

8. Sale or Sharing of Personal Information

LCI does not sell personal information for money.

Depending upon the advertising, analytics, or marketing technologies eventually implemented on the website, certain data transfers may constitute “selling,” “sharing,” or targeted advertising under some state privacy laws even when no money is exchanged.

If LCI engages in activities that trigger such requirements, applicable notices and opt-out mechanisms will be provided as required by law.

9. Third-Party Services and Links

The website may contain links to restaurants, social media platforms, reservation services, publications, payment processors, and other third-party services.

LCI does not control the privacy practices of these third parties.

Information you provide directly to a third party is governed by that party’s privacy policy.

10. Data Retention

LCI retains personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, including providing services, maintaining business and editorial records, fulfilling transactions, resolving disputes, protecting legal rights, and complying with applicable obligations.

Retention periods may vary depending upon the type of information and reason it was collected.

11. Data Security

LCI uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures intended to protect personal information.

However, no website, electronic transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Visitors should use appropriate caution when transmitting information online.

12. Your Privacy Choices

Depending upon where you reside and applicable law, you may have rights concerning your personal information.

These may include the right to request:

• Access to certain personal information
• Information about how personal information is collected or used
• Correction of inaccurate information
• Deletion of certain information
• A portable copy of certain information
• Information regarding categories of third parties receiving information
• Opt-out from certain sales, sharing, targeted advertising, or profiling activities
• Limitation of certain uses of sensitive personal information
• Non-discriminatory treatment for exercising applicable privacy rights

These rights are subject to applicable exceptions and eligibility requirements.

LCI may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests.

13. California Privacy Rights

California residents may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act, if LCI becomes subject to those laws.

Applicable rights may include rights to know, access, correct, delete, and obtain information regarding certain uses or disclosures of personal information, as well as rights concerning the sale or sharing of personal information.

LCI will provide any additional notices, request mechanisms, or opt-out tools required if and when applicable.

14. External Websites

LCI articles may contain links to third-party websites.

Once you leave the LCI website, the privacy practices of the third-party website apply.

LCI is not responsible for the privacy practices or security of independent third-party websites.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

LCI may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in its website, services, technology, legal requirements, or information practices.

The updated Policy will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date.

Material changes will be communicated as required by applicable law.