Officially, the North Country region doesn't have a true food critic, it hasn't in years.

But a Lewis County man, who loves to eat, is quickly becoming the next best thing with a blog that gets tens of thousands of views per post. So, our Brian Dwyer toughed out a morning breakfast with this blogger, at one of his favorite restaurants, to see why he's become so popular so fast. Did we mention he loves to eat?

With the willful glee of a kid in a candy store, Lee Hinkleman is getting ready to, well, he says it's work. Truth is, food is Lee's passion. He's a foodie.

He loves to visit family-owned restaurants and share their story on his Facebook blog, 'Eating in Upstate New York and Beyond'. But don't call him a food critic. It's not what he does.

His blog is just a hobby. If he has a bad meal, he doesn't write about it.

"These are family-owned restaurants that are out here. These are the people who really need our support right now," Hinkleman said.

And his words are becoming so popular, restaurant staffs not only recognize him now, they're genuinely excited to see him walk in.

"Every time one of these blogs is published, we get a lot of positive feedback, a lot of shares on Facebook and people tagging us, reaching out to us and it actually brings a lot of people in here," Spook Hlll Bar and Grill Manager Meghan Metheney said.

Lee tries to get a post written no more than a day or two after his meal. The taste still fresh in his mind. A typical post averages 25,000 to 35,000 views. Some posts reach well over 50,000.

It's a hobby that's become more enjoyed than he could have ever expected.

"I think the community wanted to have someplace they could reach out, learn about new restaurants and try different things," Hinkleman said. "I love what I do."

Obviously the foodies in Upstate New York, and Beyond, do too.