restaurant critic outing

ok heres a link to one article, which will lead you to others- including a response by the la times- that gives all the info. i'll give a summary...

http://eater.com/archives/2010/12/22/la-times-critic-s-irene-virbila-outed-by-angry-restaurateurs.php

critic shows up at new resturant. owner somehow recognizes her, takes photo, kicks her out. then posts photo to tumblr. critic had managed to remain anonymous for 16yrs. how this dude knew her is not explained.

this is a slippery slope for me. our critics here are known, but i have no idea who those people are. never met them. and frankly dont care what they have to say. the only purpose they fulfill for me, is letting me know when new gin joints open up. with that said, there are days when i would love to be a restaurant blogger. not to be critical, but informative.

i could never, no wait, i would open a place up in L.A. i cant believe these people put sooo much stock into what a handful of people say, and that there are a bunch of sheep out there that would blindly follow ONE persons review!

given that, i think how she was outed is rather crass. i can feel her pain. she did try hard to be anonymous. the chef/owner had to have been personally wronged, as well as knowing someone else who did lose their job.

(side note: i'm watching "the will" about joan crawford. lesson: dont write stuff about people until their dead. j/s)

final thoughts: i guess one has to be comfortable in their own skin, and be honest when critics review your place. a lot can be learned from said review, but you have to soldier on. and the reviewer has to follow the same rules.
i pity the person who cant make up their own mind. {looks at LA/NY}