I was merely just trying to give you my point of view on things, it was just a discussion on more general terms, and an observation on how quality of restaurants, perceived value can be subjective and how (from my POV) it varies from country to country. (See comments section to Dabbous, I had a similar debate there as well)

I’m really sorry if you thought I was patronising, it really wasn’t meant to come across like that. I replied in the spirit of debate and discussion.

And yes, obviously, everybody is entitled to their own opinions, that’s why these comment sections exist. It is a platform to capture the discussions, and I obviously respect your opinion enough to take the time to write a thoughtful (if a little aggressive) reply. And I respect your opinion enough to also take the time to apologise for offending you.

To things I wrote years ago. Yes because it’s applicable for the time it was written; and No if things have moved on.

Some things have definitely changed over time, like take GBK for example. 10 years ago it wasn’t too bad, relative to the immediate competition. But today, the whole burger ‘scene’ has improved dramatically. It’s why I said what I said about how I think the perceived quality of restaurant industries vary from country to country. I believe it is relative to what is the immediate competition, and for me, I haven’t had the pleasure to travel around the world to benchmark (to satisfy my own curiosity) them against each other. I really can only compare them against what I’ve experienced. Some bloggers and restaurant reviewers have been able to do so, and I’m always so envious. (like Gourmet Traveller, she’s been everywhere)

Another one is Ledbury – that felt so long ago, I’d only just started writing my blog then. At that time, Brett was still considered a promising young talent and I went when it only held a star. Of course, now its reputation has improved quite significantly.

I’m just surprised because most people tend to forget the older stuff I’ve written, and focus the newest and latest trends. I tend to get carried away with new restaurants on a week to week basis as I update this blog.

I actually had to trawl through my own stuff to discover I’d actually written about Ben’s Cookies..! I hardly remember writing about it.

Listen, I try not to be rude, but I do curse a lot, and I get complaints for it. I get a little defensive at times. Yes perhaps its a bit of an occupational (blogcupational?) hazard, to be frank, some comments are irksome. I try my best to bite my tongue and think carefully about what I say. I can’t please everyone, and I think I do offend some people, but I do try to mend any when I can.

If you are offended by what I say, I’m sorry. I do respect everyone’s opinion, especially people who take the time to read my stuff and take the time to form their opinions. I take the time to reply accordingly and you must know that I do try.

So I hope you’ll forgive me for being a dick.

K.

PS: I think some of your comments are not coming through because you’ve put a link in the body of the comment. The spam plug-in running in the background holds back automatic publishing of comments with links on the basis that it suspects it may be spam. If you enter the link to your site on tab which says link to your site, it will hyperlink your username, and give you a link back to 3rdkulture.

My question was why you chose to write a review of these places but not of say others which are arguably more deserving (i.e. one’s that are not, by your own admission, completely “shitty”). By all means “explore” wherever you like, but by your reasoning, why not write reviews on McDonalds, Burger King or that 24/7 Kebab shop around the corner?

Also I am a bit confused as to why you chose to refer to “glamour” and “word of mouth” as inadequate criteria in choosing (or choosing to disregard) restaurants in your reply.

(A) I’ve never mentioned glamour was a basis for anything. If you are inferencing this from the list of japanese restaurants that I mentioned or from the list of “shitty places” I mentioned then you’ve falsely assumed and failed to put this in context. In respect to the former, as you have admitted yourself in your blog, good japanese food in london tends to be pricey. In respect to the latter, my opinion on those places is simply based on the standard of the food NOT anything else.”Glamour” is not in my criteria when judging food and I don’t appreciate people who imply that it is, based on some reckless presumption or prejudice that they have concocted in their mind. In fact, as someone who comes from SEA, I have had some of my best meals at street restaurants located underneath a highway bridge or by a dirty canal.

As a general observation however, it is an inevitable truth that when it comes to high-quality produce and talented chefs, the price you pay at restaurants is usually (not always but generally) a reflection of such. It’s the simple economics of supply and demand and reason why in most cases then not ‘you get what you pay for.’ Let me break it to you like this, there is a reason why the best restaurants in the world (as judged by relatively qualified reviewers) are usually quite expensive.

B) What’s wrong with word of mouth? If you trust certain people’s taste and agree with them, and if those people come back and tell you (or a friend of yours who you similarly trust) that they had the worst food they have ever had in their life at Restaurant X and that they strongly recommend not to waste either your money or time, is it not reasonable and in fact, of good judgement not to put Restaurant X on top of your list?

As for the restaurants I “picked up on”, I didn’t even look at the dates of the reviews and I do not see why this is of any relevance at all. Do you not stand by your reviews three years ago?

Food is definitely subjective and personal and I respect restaurant reviewers who appreciate that and who are willing to explore.

What I don’t respect and frankly what I believe completely discredits a reviewer, is someone who receives genuine questions or constructive feedback and reacts to such challenges in a patronizing and passive-aggressive manner.

After all, everyone is entitled to their own opinions and is entitled to voice them. As a blogger, you cannot possibly disagree with this.

Eva
http://the3rdkulture.wordpress.com/

My question was why you chose to write a review of these places but not of say others
which are arguably more deserving (i.e. one’s that are not, by your own admission,
completely “shitty”).By all means “explore” wherever you like, but by your reasoning, why not write reviews on McDonalds, Burger King or that 24/7 Kebab shop around the corner?

Also I am a bit confused as to why you chose to refer to “glamour” and “word of mouth” as
inadequate criteria in choosing (or choosing to disregard) restaurants
in your reply.

(A) I’ve never mentioned glamour was a basis for anything. If you are inferencing this from
the list of japanese restaurants that I mentioned or from the list of “shitty places” I mentioned then you’ve falsely assumed and failed to put this in context. In respect to the former, as you have admitted yourself in your blog, good japanese food in london tends to be pricey. In respect to the latter, my opinion on those places is simply based on the standard of the food NOT anything else.”Glamour” is not in my criteria when judging food and I don’t
appreciate people who imply that it is, based on some reckless presumption or prejudice that they have concocted in their mind. In fact, as someone who comes from SEA, I have had some of my best meals at street restaurants located underneath a highway bridge or by a dirty canal.

As a general observation however, it is an inevitable truth that when it comes to high-quality produce and talented chefs, the price you pay at restaurants is usually (not always but generally) a reflection of such. It’s the simple economics of supply and demand and reason why in most cases then not ‘you get what you pay for.’ Let me break it to you like this, there is a reason why the best restaurants in the world (as judged by relatively qualified reviewers) are usually quite expensive.

B) What’s wrong with word of mouth? If you trust certain people’s taste and agree with them, and if those people come back and tell you (or a friend of yours who you similarly trust) that they had the worst food they have ever had in their life at Restaurant X and that they strongly recommend not to waste either your money or time, is it not reasonable and in fact, of good judgement not to put Restaurant X on top of your list?

As for the restaurants I “picked up on”, I didn’t even look at the dates of the reviews and I do not see why this is of any relevance at all. Do you not stand by your reviews three years ago?

Food is definitely subjective and personal and I respect restaurant reviewers who appreciate that and who are willing to explore.

What I don’t respect and frankly what I believe completely discredits a reviewer, is someone who receives genuine questions or constructive feedback and reacts to such challenges in a patronizing and passive-aggressive manner.

After all, everyone is entitled to their own opinions and is entitled to voice them. As a blogger, you cannot possibly disagree with this.

Eva

The quality of restaurant invariably are relative to their immediate competition. The quality of Restaurant industries vary country to country, obviously with culture, but in part also due to logistics, availability of produce and also cost of living.

I think the best food writers are the ones who are most democratic and who explore things for themselves. Besides, food is such a subjective and personal thing. For some, a meal at say Noma may be a revelation, to someone else, it may be pretentiously expensive chef fantasy diarrhoea.

Personally, I would respect restaurant writers who choose not to disregard on basis of glamour and word of mouth, and someone who would eat out as comfortably at the Sportsman as he is at a dirty chip shop.

Besides, it’s interesting you’ve picked up on things I wrote almost 3 years ago.

Thanks for the suggestions, all on my private list which I am working my way through! I tend to stick to zone 1/2 restaurants but am endeavouring to venture beyond my comfort zone.

Tip for Zuma – prepare to “blow your load” as you have so graphically described in your The Square Review. I have been several times and every single time I found the sushi and sashimi lacking. I would stick with the grills and as I recall a MUST (at ridiculous £xxx prices – that’s not a typo, three BLOODY digits) is the Wagyu beef (recommend the sirloin). Admittedly, pretty BLOODY good.

Eva
http://the3rdkulture.wordpress.com/