February 26, 2008
Being a restaurant critic is one of the best jobs in the world, I’ll admit it. I get to spend five to six nights a week eating out in restaurants, and I get paid for it. Not too shabby, right? Sure there’s the issue of not gaining 50 pounds a week that does pose a challenge, especially for someone like me who need only look at a pork chop to have my thighs expand to ham-hock size. It’s a struggle at times, and it does require a religious dedication to the gym, but it’s a fine trade-off.
Lately though I fear that what may be suffering more than my waistline and my cholesterol levels is my hearing. I cannot remember the last time I went out to dinner and could comfortably hear my companions or myself without leaning in, shouting, or straining to hear what they’ve said. And it’s not that the music is too loud, though I guess that could be part of it. It’s that restaurateurs are not spending any money or time investing in designing a space with an eye (or ear) to acoustics.
And I find this curious considering how much time they’ll spend on everything that goes into making a restaurant work -- from basics like kitchen equipment and heating and air conditioning, to glassware, server uniforms, and high-end interior designers and architects. To me, there’s something lost from a meal when you have to text your date in order to converse.
Comments
Veronica wrote:
I was very ofended by the coments Erik made that Mexican food and fine dinning do not go together. He does not know anything about foods from other countries, there are amazing restaurants in Mexico that cater to the highest palets, and that was a racist comment funded on ignorance. Mexican food is not just tacos and flautas, but fresh intricate ingredients and wonderful spices.
Fajitas, sour cream, yellow shredded cheese, and crispy or shell tacos are not part of our cuisine, we do not consider these dishes "Mexican Food" (by the way enchiladas are never made with yellow cheese and we do not top everything with mounds of cheese gross)
I am very ofended by the racist, ignorant coments of this person who calls himself a chef, but I am more ofended by the producers that allowed this to be aired and not offered an apology or called him on it. Travel and learn about all the wonderful foods of all over the world and appreciate every cultural aspect of them, then call yourself a chef.
posted on March 28, 2008 at 12:03 PM