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Blog Tue Jan 20 2009
The Public Face of Pat Bruno
MenuPages Chicago Blog's Helen Rosner posted last week about Sun-Times food critic Pat Bruno appearing on the Food Network's "Throwdown with Bobby Flay." Today she posted a response from Bruno himself.
But what difference does it make should I be recognized? Will the restaurant in question suddenly, like magic, put out better quality food? Will inept service suddenly become "ept?" Nah.
He claims in his email that he used "a clever disguise" in his TV appearance -- presumably referring to his goatee -- and notes that plenty of chefs know what he looks like thanks to his years running a cooking school and small chain of cookware stores. He also points out that critics Phil Vettel, Penny Pollack and Dennis Wheaton have "been made" too. Of course, they haven't been made on national television. I have to agree with Helen that that's quite a bit higher profile than an occasional spotting in a restaurant.
Incidentally, MenuPages Chicago got a facelift today -- that unfortunately places The Bean on the South Side on the map.
