Comments on: Huge shake-up to Victoria in Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:11:20 +0000

Thermomixer,
Exactly, who? They have a very narrow view of Melbourne and dining. Interesting to compare with The Age results last night.

By: Thermomixer

Thermomixer — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 07:03:27 +0000

Australian Gourmet what? Anthea and Pat who? Never heard of them… What would they know?
Asian – no, female – no, under 30 – no, still I enjoy Dan’s cooking.
I used to get upset by the weird scoring/judging. Too old now. Just go to places that I enjoy and get good food and service.
Too often I have seen restaurant critics fawning over owners, socialising with them and ingratiating themselves. I do all three too, but don’t make money out of presenting my opinions as independent and definitive.

By: Ed

Ed — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:12:58 +0000

Maria,Yes Michael lambie does terrific food.

Steve, taswhere?

MArty, it’s about fashionable chefs.

Ken, you were lucky. I’d make a return visitto checkthis out but may be lynched.

By: Ken

Ken — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 04:11:06 +0000

I went to Verge last Friday for lunch and thought it was fine. Barely a foam in sight. Nor any food reviewers frothing at the mouth.

By: marty

marty — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:12:46 +0000

I agree with your thoughts on Church St Enoteca. For it to not even make the guide at all is an injustice to the great food they produce. Strange days.

By: steve

steve — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:38:59 +0000

Sadly Ed, only one (very worthy mind you) tassie restaurant made the cut.

By: Maria@TheGourmetChallenge

Maria@TheGourmetChallenge — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:46:46 +0000

I’m really surprised about taxi. I went along not long ago and thought it was fab. a shame to see it all the way down at 100.

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:25:42 +0000

BAron, Like I said I only said Asian as they are the highest population in food blogging and eat out most but equally it could be any young woman. true about the memory bank but what happens when that palate fades? Can a wine tasters or restaurant critics palate go past it?
i know that one month off from just drinking dramatically improves my nose and palate – to the point I don’t even have to pick up a wine glass to analyze a wine.

Kat, when I reviewed it for Gourmet Traveller some years back I gave it a lower score than was published in the guide. The service is very good but I was on a crappy little table. But I haven’t eaten there recently

By: Baron Munchausen

Baron Munchausen — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:15:47 +0000

I work in wine, Ed, and the consensus is that though younger people physiologically have better equipment for tasting, it’s the palate memory bank and ability to express oneself that sets the old dogs (in the wine world, at least) apart; the basic registering of the information is a crucial but small part of the package.

And why young Asian women and not Italian or Moroccan or French or Mexican?

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:05:29 +0000

Conor,

Hope you enjoy yourself.

Baron,
The best plate you will find -and this is taught in wine making courses would be in a female aged about 20ish. I mention Asian girls because most food bloggers are while food writers and critics are male and invariably over 30 to middle-aged.
Therefore, food blogging is populated by more sensitive, better plates than food reviewing and writing and are arguably a better reviewers of delicate rather than full on old fashioned French flavours.
I’m with you on Cumulus and I just wonder WTF is going onat Verge and the people reviewing it.