I LOVE TO EAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN SOMEONE ELSE IS DOING THE COOKING
My Why
The down and dirty is that food is a passion of mine. I love to eat, read about the cultural and historical significance of recipes, think about meals I can prepare at home for my family and travel to places far and wide to find new and exciting food. I truly appreciate a well written and objective critique of a restaurant. It's how I've found some of my favorite and most memorable dining experiences and how I know I've avoided bad ones. I have no formal food training beyond living in and eating around the best food city in the world for over a decade (Chicago) and traveling to some of the best food cities in the world (Florence, Lima, Cape Town, Buenos Aires, Paris and Beijing to name a few). And reading a lot of Adam Platt, the restaurant reviewer and critic for New York Magazine. I stan Adam Platt.
Let's just lay it out there. I have yet to read a critical review of any restaurant in St. Louis in any of the local food-centric publications (Feast and Sauce) or from the more news focused or lifestyle outlets. The "reviews" tend to be fluff pieces sharing logistical aspects of the restaurant, highlights of the owners and their pedigree and perhaps a call out of a signature dish or cocktail. There is no meat on the bone, so to speak. I think the people of St. Louis deserve more.
We are busy people. We may get one or two dinners out a month depending upon the availability of babysitters or the limits our professional or familial obligations place on us. We are not made of money. Or at least I am not. And though I may be more likely to spend my money on eating out, I still want the experience to feel worth it. I want it all. I want the ambiance and vibe of a well designed space, the warmth of a welcoming and polished staff and most importantly, I want incredibly delcious food.
My reviews will touch on everything I listed above: ambiance, service and food. Restaurants will be rated on a five point scale - 1.5 for Ambiance 1.5 for Service and 2 for food. I will commit to providing reviews of a broad variety of restaurants across price points, ethnicities and locations around St. Louis. I am also very aware of the labor shortage in the restaurant industry so will be sensitive and adjust my reviews and feedback accordingly. Sound like a good deal? Ok, let's eat!