Comments on: Does Writing About Food Make You an Asshole? http://davetavius.com/2008/06/29/does-writing-about-food-make-you-an-asshole/ Sat, 24 Jul 2010 11:55:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Paul http://davetavius.com/2008/06/29/does-writing-about-food-make-you-an-asshole/#comment-112 Paul Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:54:44 +0000 http://davetavius.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-112 Thank the heavens, I thought I was the only one. However, I have to disagree with you when it comes to Anthony Bourdain; unlike Guy "Fee-ay-day," Bourdain actually makes an effort to expose his viewers to a little bit of the rest of the planet while using food as an excuse to do so. I'm not quite as opposed to some guy waxing poetic about the virtues of roasted meat or some obscure root as long as he's doing it in a setting that's halfway interesting. Fieri seems perfectly content to wander the U.S. in his midlife-crisis-mobile and show us Americans the same crap we've been eating all our lives (as disturbing as that sounds, considering some of the "food" he shows off), stuff we could easily find without the aid of his "brilliance" if we had no other way to kill a weekend. As far as travel shows go, I don't think Bourdain does any worse with his "screw the touristy crap, let's see what ELSE there is around here" approach than any other traveling host. As pretentious as he seems sometimes, he still exposes people to countries and cultures they probably wouldn't have had the intellectual curiosity to seek out on their own; whether that's good or bad is up for debate, I guess. Thank the heavens, I thought I was the only one. However, I have to disagree with you when it comes to Anthony Bourdain; unlike Guy “Fee-ay-day,” Bourdain actually makes an effort to expose his viewers to a little bit of the rest of the planet while using food as an excuse to do so. I’m not quite as opposed to some guy waxing poetic about the virtues of roasted meat or some obscure root as long as he’s doing it in a setting that’s halfway interesting.

Fieri seems perfectly content to wander the U.S. in his midlife-crisis-mobile and show us Americans the same crap we’ve been eating all our lives (as disturbing as that sounds, considering some of the “food” he shows off), stuff we could easily find without the aid of his “brilliance” if we had no other way to kill a weekend. As far as travel shows go, I don’t think Bourdain does any worse with his “screw the touristy crap, let’s see what ELSE there is around here” approach than any other traveling host. As pretentious as he seems sometimes, he still exposes people to countries and cultures they probably wouldn’t have had the intellectual curiosity to seek out on their own; whether that’s good or bad is up for debate, I guess.

]]> By: Dan http://davetavius.com/2008/06/29/does-writing-about-food-make-you-an-asshole/#comment-72 Dan Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:04:49 +0000 http://davetavius.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-72 Awesome article!! Did you know Guy FeeEddie's (lol) real name is Guy Ferry?? Check it out on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fieri More can be found at: http://guyfierisucks.blogspot.com Awesome article!!

Did you know Guy FeeEddie’s (lol) real name is Guy Ferry?? Check it out on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fieri

More can be found at: http://guyfierisucks.blogspot.com

]]> By: Peter Thompson http://davetavius.com/2008/06/29/does-writing-about-food-make-you-an-asshole/#comment-19 Peter Thompson Mon, 20 Oct 2008 03:12:13 +0000 http://davetavius.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-19 I recently traded rejoinders with our local hack. There was an act of fellatio masking as a story on a well-known overpriced Tahoe tourist joint. So I wrote: See, this isn't an article...it's an ad. I have no problem with that, but at least be honest that this was bought and paid for by a free dinner for Kathleen Steebins. Disclosure people. Why do you think nobody trusts newspapers anymore? It's the puff, stupid! Our local FOODIE, Jonathan L. Wright, was absolutely incensed! You are sorely and grievously mistaken. All formal restaurant reviews are paid for out of the food and drink budget of the Reno Gazette-Journal. Kathleen did not, and never has, accepted a free meal for a restaurant review. That is standard RGJ and newspaper industry policy. I would caution you about making recklessly untrue statements that could meet the legal standard for libel. I would also remind you of the terms of service for posting; comments that are libelous, abusive or otherwise impermissible under those terms of service can easily be removed. Please comment away, absolutely, but please do so responsibly and with respect to those topics on which you are qualified to comment. So I wrote: Don't point your stinky finger at me, Wright, you lunar tundra of culinary writing! Her's was a canned puff piece, in my opinion. While you're busy protesting a little too much about the sterling integrity of your paper's "foodies," I should think that you, more than anyone else, should stick to writing about things you are qualified to write about. You're a small-town hack, in my opinion, so I guess that means another visit to Red Robin and a box of red-colored wine for you. I would rather eat sushi from a vending machine than have to digest any more of your wastewater prose... What a little prick this man must have. Now he just goes in and deletes my comments before reading them. There can be no dissension in the ranks. Foolish and stupid. I recently traded rejoinders with our local hack. There was an act of fellatio masking as a story on a well-known overpriced Tahoe tourist joint. So I wrote:

See, this isn’t an article…it’s an ad. I have no problem with that, but at least be honest that this was bought and paid for by a free dinner for Kathleen Steebins. Disclosure people. Why do you think nobody trusts newspapers anymore? It’s the puff, stupid!

Our local FOODIE, Jonathan L. Wright, was absolutely incensed!

You are sorely and grievously mistaken.
All formal restaurant reviews are paid for out of the food and drink budget of the Reno Gazette-Journal. Kathleen did not, and never has, accepted a free meal for a restaurant review. That is standard RGJ and newspaper industry policy.
I would caution you about making recklessly untrue statements that could meet the legal standard for libel. I would also remind you of the terms of service for posting; comments that are libelous, abusive or otherwise impermissible under those terms of service can easily be removed.
Please comment away, absolutely, but please do so responsibly and with respect to those topics on which you are qualified to comment.

So I wrote:
Don’t point your stinky finger at me, Wright, you lunar tundra of culinary writing! Her’s was a canned puff piece, in my opinion. While you’re busy protesting a little too much about the sterling integrity of your paper’s “foodies,” I should think that you, more than anyone else, should stick to writing about things you are qualified to write about. You’re a small-town hack, in my opinion, so I guess that means another visit to Red Robin and a box of red-colored wine for you. I would rather eat sushi from a vending machine than have to digest any more of your wastewater prose…

What a little prick this man must have. Now he just goes in and deletes my comments before reading them. There can be no dissension in the ranks. Foolish and stupid.

]]> By: crankosaur http://davetavius.com/2008/06/29/does-writing-about-food-make-you-an-asshole/#comment-4 crankosaur Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:57:07 +0000 http://davetavius.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-4 At work yesterday, I saw that we had put up a sign about "localvores" (people who eat only local produce) and it reminded me of this post. At work yesterday, I saw that we had put up a sign about “localvores” (people who eat only local produce) and it reminded me of this post.

]]> By: joooooo http://davetavius.com/2008/06/29/does-writing-about-food-make-you-an-asshole/#comment-3 joooooo Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:19:21 +0000 http://davetavius.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-3 ACT III Int. T.G.I. Friday's booth - Day Guy Fieri And the pork chops to end all pork chops! end scene. ACT III

Int. T.G.I. Friday’s booth – Day

Guy Fieri

And the pork chops to end all pork chops!

end scene.

]]> By: moni187que http://davetavius.com/2008/06/29/does-writing-about-food-make-you-an-asshole/#comment-2 moni187que Sun, 29 Jun 2008 08:14:10 +0000 http://davetavius.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-2 i heart danny tanner, youre over 30 so , what you cant sing every word to creep by radiohead? whats wrong with you?diners drive byes and chingas is the all american show of the year.. you live in the south you should know where to get a fried pickle if you ever want to come out there. guy fieri sucks in those applechilibees commercials. ps by the way Food week started on Thursday out here in Sd, huge billboards all over saying "Foodies Rejoice!" you are so missin out i heart danny tanner, youre over 30 so , what you cant sing every word to creep by radiohead? whats wrong with you?diners drive byes and chingas is the all american show of the year.. you live in the south you should know where to get a fried pickle if you ever want to come out there. guy fieri sucks in those applechilibees commercials. ps by the way Food week started on Thursday out here in Sd, huge billboards all over saying “Foodies Rejoice!” you are so missin out

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