Comments on: The chefs’ war on bloggers http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/ The insiders' guide to food and drink in Melbourne. Since 2005. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:40:44 +0000 hourly 1 By: Phil http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-9842 Phil Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:00:47 +0000 http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/#comment-9842 Sorry to hear about the dog. I tend to get the opposite response from chefs/street vendors even when I point out that their food is crap - most people are just happy to get a tiny bit of recognition in Cambodia simply because blogging is the only food media here. Whenever I get the chance, I print my photos out and give them to the photographed street vendors - and they're generally over the moon. Sorry to hear about the dog.

I tend to get the opposite response from chefs/street vendors even when I point out that their food is crap – most people are just happy to get a tiny bit of recognition in Cambodia simply because blogging is the only food media here. Whenever I get the chance, I print my photos out and give them to the photographed street vendors – and they’re generally over the moon.

]]> By: Ed http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-9836 Ed Tue, 24 Jul 2007 01:04:43 +0000 http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/#comment-9836 No it wasn't the thief, the good one although he hasn't stolen any food for three days now - he must be upset. The Hun had just been a bit behind The Age and that's all about to change. Matthew Kitchin who was features editor is now running the website and will put it all online. I wonder what that will bode for my column refering to this blog or whether they will try and suck it into News. No it wasn’t the thief, the good one although he hasn’t stolen any food for three days now – he must be upset. The Hun had just been a bit behind The Age and that’s all about to change. Matthew Kitchin who was features editor is now running the website and will put it all online. I wonder what that will bode for my column refering to this blog or whether they will try and suck it into News.

]]> By: Davy http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-9834 Davy Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:24:33 +0000 http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/#comment-9834 Thanks Ed, the table thief dog? I'm sorry to hear that, glad she's on the mend though...hate cars when it comes to animals, bloody cold killing machines. Did the car stop or did they just carry on blissfully unaware? Isn't booze a wonderful thing? Although the recycling does sounds like a pub skip being emptied come collection day! I'm sure it wakes up about half a mile radius. Hopefully just the non-drinkers though. Yes, had a really good review from Dani Valent in The Sunday Age as well, we've been very fortunate with the press we've had...very conscious of the fact that things move on though... How come the Sun doesn't publish reviews online? They've really got a crap website compared to The Age generally, would've been handy to have the review to link to. Oh well. Cheers, Davy Thanks Ed, the table thief dog? I’m sorry to hear that, glad she’s on the mend though…hate cars when it comes to animals, bloody cold killing machines. Did the car stop or did they just carry on blissfully unaware? Isn’t booze a wonderful thing? Although the recycling does sounds like a pub skip being emptied come collection day! I’m sure it wakes up about half a mile radius. Hopefully just the non-drinkers though.

Yes, had a really good review from Dani Valent in The Sunday Age as well, we’ve been very fortunate with the press we’ve had…very conscious of the fact that things move on though…

How come the Sun doesn’t publish reviews online? They’ve really got a crap website compared to The Age generally, would’ve been handy to have the review to link to. Oh well.

Cheers,

Davy

]]> By: Ed http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-9833 Ed Mon, 23 Jul 2007 23:56:56 +0000 http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/#comment-9833 Don't worry. Hope Jo gets better. I saw you had a reasonable review from Simon Plant and I can't see why they wouldn't include you. Depending on the year the cut off point is 13/13.5/20. I've been contemplating our own disaster, our dog that was hit by a car at 6pm on Saturday - I think I drank nearly four bottles of wine that night and nearly as many Sunday as we didn't know if she'd pull through. She was knocked out and I had to carry her to the vet. Three of her legs were stiff, one floppy an she had alot of internal bleeding. The good news is she comes home today although she's still poorly. Let me know if you want me to delete any. Good luck Don’t worry. Hope Jo gets better. I saw you had a reasonable review from Simon Plant and I can’t see why they wouldn’t include you. Depending on the year the cut off point is 13/13.5/20. I’ve been contemplating our own disaster, our dog that was hit by a car at 6pm on Saturday – I think I drank nearly four bottles of wine that night and nearly as many Sunday as we didn’t know if she’d pull through. She was knocked out and I had to carry her to the vet. Three of her legs were stiff, one floppy an she had alot of internal bleeding. The good news is she comes home today although she’s still poorly. Let me know if you want me to delete any. Good luck

]]> By: Davy http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-9832 Davy Mon, 23 Jul 2007 23:41:35 +0000 http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/#comment-9832 Hi Ed, I think so, they contacted me to send some photographs saying that it doesn't guarantee inclusion but that it's pretty safe to assume...so I'm assuming! Strangely I think we'll be in Cheap Eats as well. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Hi Ed,

I think so, they contacted me to send some photographs saying that it doesn’t guarantee inclusion but that it’s pretty safe to assume…so I’m assuming! Strangely I think we’ll be in Cheap Eats as well.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

]]> By: Ed http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-9829 Ed Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:53:14 +0000 http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/#comment-9829 Davy, It's tough and you can often gauge how busy bloggers are by their frequency of posting although some people are just so damned disciplined. The guide is out at the end of August so not long now. Did you get reviewed in time? Davy,
It’s tough and you can often gauge how busy bloggers are by their frequency of posting although some people are just so damned disciplined. The guide is out at the end of August so not long now. Did you get reviewed in time?

]]> By: Davy http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-9826 Davy Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:41:52 +0000 http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/#comment-9826 Ed, I started a blog when we were setting up our place with the full intention of keeping it up to date but that went out the window once the renovating started! You're right though, it would be interesting, maybe I'll have another go... Incidentally, do you know when the good food guide is due for publication? Ed,

I started a blog when we were setting up our place with the full intention of keeping it up to date but that went out the window once the renovating started! You’re right though, it would be interesting, maybe I’ll have another go…

Incidentally, do you know when the good food guide is due for publication?

]]> By: Ed http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-9807 Ed Sun, 22 Jul 2007 23:12:55 +0000 http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/#comment-9807 Steve, I think the debate would be god. as long as in trying to get even they don't turn up on my doorstep with a rolling pin... Cheers Jon. It's good to see these list promoting local blogging (and me!) Davy, true most people are very busy but for a restaurant or business blogging is an essential part of marketing. All it takes is to link or write a sentence "we just got some lovely tough old mutton in which I'm going to slow cook for 3 weeks" I find it liberating that anybody can share their experiences with the world because I'm not sure we always get the best from the old media critics simply because they are so well known so et a very different service to the normal punter. I guess the thing is that blogging is about "the wisdom of crowds". Every restaurant is going to have a one-off that goes wrong. But sometimes the problem is more than a one-off. There are blog posts out there - on this site - where readers pile in with their bad experiences. Obviously there are some malicious people out there but I don't think it gives any of us any joy to write a bad review. Interestingly, I'v had more bad experiences writing for the restaurant guides than this blog. Steve, I think the debate would be god. as long as in trying to get even they don’t turn up on my doorstep with a rolling pin…

Cheers Jon. It’s good to see these list promoting local blogging (and me!)

Davy, true most people are very busy but for a restaurant or business blogging is an essential part of marketing. All it takes is to link or write a sentence “we just got some lovely tough old mutton in which I’m going to slow cook for 3 weeks”
I find it liberating that anybody can share their experiences with the world because I’m not sure we always get the best from the old media critics simply because they are so well known so et a very different service to the normal punter. I guess the thing is that blogging is about “the wisdom of crowds”. Every restaurant is going to have a one-off that goes wrong. But sometimes the problem is more than a one-off. There are blog posts out there – on this site – where readers pile in with their bad experiences.
Obviously there are some malicious people out there but I don’t think it gives any of us any joy to write a bad review. Interestingly, I’v had more bad experiences writing for the restaurant guides than this blog.

]]> By: Davy http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-9795 Davy Sun, 22 Jul 2007 11:12:21 +0000 http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/#comment-9795 Looking at things from my limited 'industry' experience...I'd hazard a guess that the reason so few chefs do blogs is that most of them are too f'ing busy doing 75 hour weeks..to be frank. Same goes for owner/operators. With regards to the general topic I think that these days restaurants are fair game in the blog world, it may take some of us a while to adapt to widespread 'amateur' analysis, what's more worrying is that it gives ANYONE, regardless of the motivation, a platform to bag something that you literally live and breathe every single day. Our business is to ensure customers leave happy, sometimes, despite your best efforts, things go awry and they leave disgruntled. You feel it. You don't just dismiss it offhand, however that single event can suddenly and irrevocably propagate around the web, sure, you have to take it on the chin but it still hurts. Looking at things from my limited ‘industry’ experience…I’d hazard a guess that the reason so few chefs do blogs is that most of them are too f’ing busy doing 75 hour weeks..to be frank. Same goes for owner/operators.

With regards to the general topic I think that these days restaurants are fair game in the blog world, it may take some of us a while to adapt to widespread ‘amateur’ analysis, what’s more worrying is that it gives ANYONE, regardless of the motivation, a platform to bag something that you literally live and breathe every single day. Our business is to ensure customers leave happy, sometimes, despite your best efforts, things go awry and they leave disgruntled. You feel it. You don’t just dismiss it offhand, however that single event can suddenly and irrevocably propagate around the web, sure, you have to take it on the chin but it still hurts.

]]> By: Jon Y http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-9709 Jon Y Fri, 20 Jul 2007 09:17:51 +0000 http://www.tomatom.com/2007/07/the-chefs-war-on-bloggers/#comment-9709 Whoah - food and blogging, quite the explosive mix! Congrats on your noisiness, Ed. Whoah – food and blogging, quite the explosive mix! Congrats on your noisiness, Ed.

]]>