It's a wonder they didn't serve her

[Gob]

a nice meal with a large helping of "Chef's special sauce" in it...

Anonymous food critic outed by Los Angeles restaurant


A US food critic who remained anonymous for 16 years has had her cover blown by a Los Angeles restaurant.

S Irene Virbila, who works for the Los Angeles Times, had her picture taken at the Red Medicine restaurant in Beverly Hills and was then asked to leave.

The restaurant then posted the picture on the internet.

Noah Ellis, managing partner at the restaurant, said some of Ms Virbila's reviews had been "cruel" and had cost people their jobs.

In a post on the restaurant's blog he said Ms Virbila "was recognised" while she and her party were waiting for a table.

He said he took a picture of her and then asked her to leave.

He wrote: "I asked her and her party to leave, as we don't care for her or her reviews.

"Our purpose for posting this is so that all restaurants can have a picture of her and make a decision as to whether or not they would like to serve her."

He said he believed some of Ms Virbila's reviews had been "unnecessarily cruel and irrational" and had "caused hard-working people in this industry to lose their jobs".

The blog post was later removed but widely reported in the US media.

Mr Ellis also included the false name under which Ms Virbila had booked her table, and her telephone number.

Ms Virbila, quoted by the Los Angeles Times, said: "I always knew at some point a blogger or somebody would take a secret photo. But I never expected that a restaurateur would stick a camera in my face."

She said anonymity was important for a restaurant critic.

Restaurants could change their behaviour or serve different food if they recognised a critic with a wide readership, she added.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12074138

[dales]

If the restaruarant got bad reviews, so what?

Change the way you do business/ prepare food and grow a thicker skin.

Many places in SF have been given bad reviews and the establishment doesn't resort to this beahvior.

SF is a foodies mecca where sub par service and cusine will not be tolerated.

[Crackpot]

From the sounds of it, it wasn't them that got the bad reviews.

[tyro]

In a post on the restaurant's blog he said Ms Virbila "was recognised" while she and her party were waiting for a table.

Not much of a cover then.

[SisterMaryFellatio]

First rule as a Restauranteur.....


Get the critic pissed then sit down with said critic after he/she has eaten not revealing you know who he/she is then drink with critic and get him/her even more pissed. Finally, put pissed critic in cab at 2am and pay for cab.


Fabulous reviews everytime! Worked for me a coupla times!



Have more horror stories about what chefs I have worked with done to peoples meals.....dosn't matter if its five star dining or cheap chain junk food...they all do it.......always be nice to your server!

[rubato]

Her appearance suggests that she has successfully avoided the 'cult of the body and health' which is so common on the West Coast and centered squarely in the City of Angels.

http://eater.com/archives/2010/12/22/la ... ateurs.php

Too much booze, too much food, &c. A trip to Betty Ford followed by losing 50lbs would be good for her. Make her less nasty as well.


yrs,
rubato

[oldr_n_wsr]

I have found that most critics are frustrated 'whatevers', chefs, actors, etc. I don't give what they write an ounce of credibility. I have gone to movies they said were good (example: The Piano) and have been bored to tears. I have gone to resturants they said were mediocre at best and found the food to be great.

opinions <==> assholes
we all know what comes next

Try it out for yourself is my motto.