So apparently Craig Clairborne is the culprit behind the damned stars.

I was cringing at the "man comes to women's section, professionalizes it and makes it be taken seriously" bit. However, there were some very good points there, and I've been a bit concerned by a lot of the food blogging I've seen. Here, Elizabeth has been very clear about how she reviews, and if one hangs around, you can get a feel for which of the regulars like what kind of things. But there are some really unethical, thoughtless people out there saying bizarre things about restaurants.

But there are some really unethical, thoughtless people out there saying bizarre things about restaurants.

I wish it were only restaurants.

I draw a distinction between critic and reviewer. A critic must bring a body of knowledge to bear on her subject, a reviewer may bring nothing, not even sensibility. Each will be judged on reliability or entertainment value or whatever readers value. Much the same can be said of restaurants and books. If I want literary criticism, I'll pick up Agee. If I want a good read, I'll check with JoAnne Schmitz. Ergo, Sietsema's undies are in a bunch for nothing. That's a review, of course, not a criticism.

9:32 is link spam.

And I'm with you, bra1nchild.

Tom Sietsema gets asked all the time on his WaPo chats about Robert Sietsema, and consistently states that they are not related. Which has got to be one of the most bizarre, if utterly trivial, coincidences in American life.

Hi Elizabeth. The two Sietsemas aren't related, though Tom admires Rob. Tom said so in a chat; what are the odds of two critics with the same unusual name?

For what it's worth, Lissa, I can't shake the feeling I've read this particular missive about Pauline Kael before.

To me, EL provides the right approach to restaurant reviewing for our fast-changing times. In the Sunday Sun, she provides a professional asessment, based on her experience and expertise. Here at D@L, readers are welcome to praise, bash, question and otherwise opine on local eateries to our non-pro hearts' content. Both are equally valuable in helping us decide where to go to dinner (presuming, of course, that it ever stops snowing.)

I just love it when jl says "ergo".