Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Mercredi, c'est ravioli.
VICTORY!!!!!
Our pointing the obvious works. Our constructive criticism has been acknowledged. Yes, we have a point, thank you to make this clear. And thank you for being grown up enough to admit we were right, and changing your ways. We should be graceful in our success, but we have had so little with you so far, we have to brag about it. Victory!
For the first time, Meredith reviews an Japanese place, and gives it the whole review. No two-restaurant-for-one-review combo, no movies digression. Of course, the only reason she does it is because the place is rather high-end, and Meredith respects the authority of the wealthy. But still, it breaks Meredith's rule #1: only Cal-Ital-French --read, non-brown-- restaurants are worthy of a full review.
A couple weeks back, a Chinese restaurant got a full review (granted, it served live lobster) and this week, it is Kiss.
We work hard to get Meredith to write better reviews, and it is nice to see our work recognized. We'll be glad to provide more feedback. Just right now, as a matter of fact.
Meredith, you heard us about all cuisines, be them Euro-centric or not, deserving the same attention and the same respect. You are welcome. Now, can you do something about the phony quotes? They are irritating. They are stilted, and they sound so made up, it breaks your flow. Peter did not say: I loved every dish we got, but I was still jealous of everything he prepared for others that we didn't get to taste! No one is that precious.
[But Kiss does not break rule #2: if it is ethnic food and Meredith visits it, then it is the best of the bay. Kiss is the only Japanese restaurant Meredith has visited in ages. Her intro admits so much (please admire the non-segitur in the first sentence, which implies she tried dozens and dozens of sushi bars without actually saying so, since it would be a big bold lie. How cunning! How sneaky!):
With dozens and dozens of sushi bars in this hungry city ... I still hadn't found my raw-fish nirvana. [Ed: truth be said, she did not try very hard.] I'd had memorable dinners at Kabuto A&S, Kyo-Ya, Midori Mushi, and Ino, but Kabuto has new owners, Kyo-Ya is pricey..., Midori Mushi no longer exists, and Ino... never inspired me to linger.
In essence, I haven't been to sushi for so long that my fav places Kabuto and Midori Mushi have shut down or changed owners years ago. With such strong competition from dead places, it is rather obvious to say: Kiss will get Best of SF next May. This review is helpfully subtitled "The food duels with presentation at the best little sushi house in San Francisco" just so that there is no doubt about it. Clear some space on the wall, Naka-san, the plaque is coming.]
Our pointing the obvious works. Our constructive criticism has been acknowledged. Yes, we have a point, thank you to make this clear. And thank you for being grown up enough to admit we were right, and changing your ways. We should be graceful in our success, but we have had so little with you so far, we have to brag about it. Victory!
For the first time, Meredith reviews an Japanese place, and gives it the whole review. No two-restaurant-for-one-review combo, no movies digression. Of course, the only reason she does it is because the place is rather high-end, and Meredith respects the authority of the wealthy. But still, it breaks Meredith's rule #1: only Cal-Ital-French --read, non-brown-- restaurants are worthy of a full review.
A couple weeks back, a Chinese restaurant got a full review (granted, it served live lobster) and this week, it is Kiss.
We work hard to get Meredith to write better reviews, and it is nice to see our work recognized. We'll be glad to provide more feedback. Just right now, as a matter of fact.
Meredith, you heard us about all cuisines, be them Euro-centric or not, deserving the same attention and the same respect. You are welcome. Now, can you do something about the phony quotes? They are irritating. They are stilted, and they sound so made up, it breaks your flow. Peter did not say: I loved every dish we got, but I was still jealous of everything he prepared for others that we didn't get to taste! No one is that precious.
[But Kiss does not break rule #2: if it is ethnic food and Meredith visits it, then it is the best of the bay. Kiss is the only Japanese restaurant Meredith has visited in ages. Her intro admits so much (please admire the non-segitur in the first sentence, which implies she tried dozens and dozens of sushi bars without actually saying so, since it would be a big bold lie. How cunning! How sneaky!):
With dozens and dozens of sushi bars in this hungry city ... I still hadn't found my raw-fish nirvana. [Ed: truth be said, she did not try very hard.] I'd had memorable dinners at Kabuto A&S, Kyo-Ya, Midori Mushi, and Ino, but Kabuto has new owners, Kyo-Ya is pricey..., Midori Mushi no longer exists, and Ino... never inspired me to linger.
In essence, I haven't been to sushi for so long that my fav places Kabuto and Midori Mushi have shut down or changed owners years ago. With such strong competition from dead places, it is rather obvious to say: Kiss will get Best of SF next May. This review is helpfully subtitled "The food duels with presentation at the best little sushi house in San Francisco" just so that there is no doubt about it. Clear some space on the wall, Naka-san, the plaque is coming.]
Comments:
Ced, I would like to commend you for your relentless advocacy on behalf of the reading and eating public. Gavin should give you a key to the city.
Next week: Meredith eats in Potrero Hill.
Next week: Meredith eats in Potrero Hill.
i couldn't believe it either ... an entire food column devoted to ...(wait for it) ... food. but didn't this line grate on your nerves?
"Even the way he placed the plates on top of the glass fish case was thoughtful, as in a tea ceremony, but never precious."
"precious"? the guy is working -- something meredith has probably never had to do. people who are working aren't self-consciously examining their every movement. poor meredith must be the most neurotic published writer this side of virginia woolf. can't a cook just put a plate onto a counter? does he have to be experiencing some inner turmoil while he makes the placement? just write about the food, meredith, the food ...
"Even the way he placed the plates on top of the glass fish case was thoughtful, as in a tea ceremony, but never precious."
"precious"? the guy is working -- something meredith has probably never had to do. people who are working aren't self-consciously examining their every movement. poor meredith must be the most neurotic published writer this side of virginia woolf. can't a cook just put a plate onto a counter? does he have to be experiencing some inner turmoil while he makes the placement? just write about the food, meredith, the food ...
# posted by 
: 3:21 PM
: 3:21 PM
Seamus: thanks. I'm glad all this effort is eventually paying off. A whole review focused on the food of a single Japanese restaurant. Dang, I am proud of myself.
Winky: well, Meredith cannot go about without cliches. I noted the one about serving sushi as ceremonial as sado; but also cliche numero uno for a sushi place: the chef wields a mean knife.
Winky: well, Meredith cannot go about without cliches. I noted the one about serving sushi as ceremonial as sado; but also cliche numero uno for a sushi place: the chef wields a mean knife.
"I'd heard whispers about a tiny, eccentric one-man sushi place on the edge of Japantown."
Or 54 yelps, perhaps?
http://www.yelp.com/biz/USbpXRK2pFey0V24QcgXsQ
Perhaps she meant Pim's sotto voce post--last year:
http://chezpim.typepad.com/blogs/2005/04/post.html
Or the comments to this article from 2004:
http://www.vinography.com/archives/2004/03/restaurant_review_kyoya_the_be.html
How long does it take for a whisper to reach Walnut Creek?
Post a Comment
Or 54 yelps, perhaps?
http://www.yelp.com/biz/USbpXRK2pFey0V24QcgXsQ
Perhaps she meant Pim's sotto voce post--last year:
http://chezpim.typepad.com/blogs/2005/04/post.html
Or the comments to this article from 2004:
http://www.vinography.com/archives/2004/03/restaurant_review_kyoya_the_be.html
How long does it take for a whisper to reach Walnut Creek?
# posted by : 10:07 PM
: 10:07 PM
