Gothamist: Amanda Hesser's Final Restaurant Review

news-

Fri, 13 Aug 2004 23:32:19 -0500

news

R

Wed, 09 Jun 2004 06:47:25 -0500

which average joe/jane would pay such high prices for (admittedly, a special meal)? glad she didn't give it any stars, glad grimes didn't write that review; now i don't have to feel pressured to eat there to be popular.

astrid

Mon, 07 Jun 2004 13:10:40 -0500

I totally agree that it was super-lame that she wouldn't give it stars. And if she's discredited herself as a reviewer... why did the NYTimes let her continue to write the reviews (and pay for her meals)?

Jen

Thu, 03 Jun 2004 09:09:59 -0500

astrid, I agree with you on what Hesser's power as a writer is. That said, I think this was a lame way to end her reviewing tenure. I mean, Alex Witchel has just as many connections, if not more, but she's not as young (hellow, Schadenfreude) and in the thick of things (although I think I do remember a dustup with her a while back...must go and research). As for how expensive the meal was, and the Times policy for these things, I remember when William Grimes when to Alain Ducasse when it just opened in either late 1999 or early 2000, and it was a thousand dollar bill BUT HE DID NOT WRITE A REVIEW. It seriously steamed me.

Brian Van

Wed, 02 Jun 2004 15:21:59 -0500

Side note: I had to find something on Amazon.com today, so I hit the mainpage... today's "The Page You Made" - what they think I would like based on past clicks - was "Cooking for Mr. Latte." Great. I heard even the jacket blurbs are can't-miss.

yojimbot

Wed, 02 Jun 2004 12:42:06 -0500

go to sushi of gari...better sushi, $100 per. masters of zen!

Tim N.

Wed, 02 Jun 2004 12:02:11 -0500

And, after all, why should a writer for the Times focus on facts (right, Mr. Raines)?

Brian Van

Wed, 02 Jun 2004 11:00:07 -0500

So then we just assume four stars, and avoid the tables? Oh, by the way, can someone lend me $300? Thanks.

astrid

Wed, 02 Jun 2004 10:56:30 -0500

I was a fan of Hesser's from the NYT Magazine days, and went to see her last month at Coliseum Books. When asked how much longer she would be reviewing restaurants at NYT, she said "I only have four more, thank goodness." She has definitely weathered quite a storm. I think her strengths as a writer are how she talks about food and relationships, not as a journalist focusing on facts.

Tim N.

Wed, 02 Jun 2004 10:38:37 -0500

My question is, who at the Times let her get away with this bird-flipping sign-off?

Mase

Wed, 02 Jun 2004 10:28:57 -0500

Thanks, Tim N., the Wine Spectator article helps one get a little perspective on Ms. Hesser. As good as some writers can be, especially considering the ongoing scandal at the NYTimes, her cavalier attitude was quite self-destructive.

jayKayEss

Wed, 02 Jun 2004 10:00:31 -0500

I have trouble feeling sorry for restaurant critics, even interim ones. Would that somebody paid me to eat!

Tim N.

Wed, 02 Jun 2004 09:37:11 -0500

Check out http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Daily/News/0,1145,2440,00.html for more on Amanda. I think Drew Nieperont And Bobby DeNiro have taken out a contract on her. And Amanda is not without resources. This expose by Wine Spectator resulted in the NY Times giving zero coverage to several WS events. Madamoiselle Hesser may be doing someone else besides Mr. Latte and Vong's Vong.