With the publication of the 2010 Michelin Guides (including the Bay Area/Wine Country version) on the cusp, Michelin is shining a spotlight on its mysterious crew of professional food critics. Not so much to reveal them, but to drum up excitement about these “famously anonymous” eaters whose yay or nay is cause for apoplectic fits in the food world.
It’s a strange strategy for a company that’s reportedly required these same critics to scribble notes in bathroom stalls and make up elaborate ruses about their true profession (in the name of secrecy, of course) to now flaunt their latest restaurant jaunts on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter. Already, they’re tweeting stuff like “Looking forward to trying the new “American Box” lunch format at Fish & Farm to see what Chef Chad @cnewton9 has created.” on @MichelinGuideSF.
Uh, that doesn’t seem particularly furtive to me.
Then again maybe no one really cares. The 2009 Michelin Guide met with about as much enthusiasm as warm glass of white zinfandel in Wine County, with critics questioning a number of notable exclusions and curious inclusions. With a flood of opinions, from Zagat to Yelpers to local blogs, there’s no shortage of local restaurant coverage that’s — if nothing else — a bit more timely than an annual publication.
That doesn’t mean BiteClub won’t be first in line to see who’ll be in and out this year. The SF Michelin Guide will include 111 new restaurants included in this year’s Bay Area guide. And it’s no secret that several local chefs are holding their breath to see if they’ll be awarded another coveted star on October 20 (the release date for the Bay Area guide). Or have them plucked.
What’s your take?
Check out the New York Times story about the “famously anonymous” reviewers in its advertising section recently, outlining the plan.
Two sources are better than one…use a guide like Michelin or Zagat for an unfamiliar area — then go to Yelp to get a sense of what local diners think. Or vice versa — check local sources, then look to see if Zagat or Michelin include the join in their guide. As BiteClub says, when reading local “real people” reviews, one never knows who those “real people” are or if their tastes match one’s own. Best of all, of you live close to a restaurant you’re curious about, just go eat there and decide for yourself!
Here’s the thing about that…
If I’m familiar with the area, then yeah, I prefer to listen to real people and I couldn’t care less about Michelin or Zagat.
Where I get a little wiggly is when I’m not as familiar with a region. Sometimes with “real people” reviews its hard to know what’s the good stuff and what’s just crap. The gnarly truth is that a very large percentage of people think Red Lobster is fine dining and don’t know the difference between kobe and kale.
I’m not saying that to be snarky, but from years of doing “Best Of…” issues of magazines and newspapers where the popular vote usually goes to a chain.
So when I’m not sure, I do go to Michelin or Zagat. Just my .02
I know it’s prestigious fo a resturant to recieve a star, but I don’t really care. I trust comments from people who like me who ate there. It’s like wine. Do you really care what Robert Parker or the wine spectator thinks?