The review of Paseo in today’s Seattle Times is my last.
I’ve been reviewing for the Times since 2001. It’s been a treat, and I would say that even if it weren’t required by the restaurant critic code of conduct, which says that you can never complain about being a restaurant critic. If your friend was dating a supermodel, would you have time to listen to them complain about the supermodel’s bad habits? You see my point.
I’m quitting to spend more time writing about home cooking and related topics, and because ever since Iris came along, being home for dinner has taken on greater importance. My byline won’t be disappearing from the Times, by any means. For several years I’ve been writing for the paper’s Sunday magazine, Pacific Northwest, but now I’ll be appearing there close to once a month.
Because I am a geek, I made a spreadsheet of all my reviews and calculated a few statistics. The majority of my reviews were “Dining Deals,” where I assigned a rating of Recommended or Not Recommended. But for the purposes of geeking out more fully, I went back through and reclassified a few as Raves.
**MAMSTER’S INDEX**
Total number of reviews: **95**
Raves: **13** (14%)
Recommended: **71** (75%)
Not Recommended: **11** (12%)
Places that I know to be out of business: **26** (27%)
Number of times I reviewed a restaurant that replaced another restaurant I reviewed: **4**
Raves given to Asian restaurants: **10**
Raves given to non-Asian restaurants: **3** (two American, one Cuban)
Those rave reviews went to:
* Ezo (closed)
* China Village
* Dahlia Bakery
* Mandalay Cafe (closed)
* Blue Willow Tea Room (closed)
* Akasaka
* May
* Maekawa Bar
* Dinette
* Green Leaf
* Salima
* Jack’s Tapas
* Paseo
Number one favorite: **Dinette**
Runners-up: **Green Leaf, Ezo, May**
Finally, now that I’m no longer a restaurant critic, I’m allowed to have my likeness appear in the media.
(photo by [Lara Ferroni](http://www.cookbook411.com))
Wait…you’re a dude?
:)
…a dude with a FACE?
hmmm.
So when are you installing the shuffleboard court?
You do realize that now you’ve published your photo, you can NEVER AGAIN be a restaurant critic. Is being recognized on the street by rabbid fans really worth burning that bridge?
Well, Neil, one of the precipitating factors was that I was asked to be on a TV show and had to say no. This is true. The show was called something like “American Idle.” Okay, that part is not true.
To answer your question, it depends whether the fans are hot or not.
What was the show going to be about?
Haven’t read your blog in a few weeks and WHOA! You’re not as skinny as I imagined (no offense, you look normal & relaxed). -Moose
Moose, everyone knows the camera adds ten pounds and glasses, and removes hair.
Ha ha.
If you want a different career, there’s some fun online copywriting jobs available at my work place. Unfortunately, it’s not food related, although there’s some backpacking freeze dried food involved. I work for the outdoor retail coop that used to have a store on Capital Hill, you know, the one with the acronym. -Moose