NY Times Restaurant Critic Debuts Blog
Frank Bruni notes in the introductory entry of his new blog, Diner’s Journal, that he eats out as often as seven nights a week, sometimes even twice in one night. While that may sound like a blissfully idle existence to some, such a life obviously nets Bruni a great deal of information, which he intends to share with his readers in the more flexible medium of a blog.
He notes, “This new blog is an attempt to capture and share more of my notes from the field. To provide, in something closer to real time, a sense of what’s being served in the city’s newest, oldest, most delightful and most frustrating restaurants and of how those restaurants are serving it. To flag trends and, less often and more selectively, flog underachievers. To report moments of real significance and incidents that just happened to be interesting. To keep a journal, and to keep the tone of that journal light, casual, accessible.”
True to his word, Bruni offers commentary upon the opening of Morimoto, the new Japanese-themed restaurant at 10th Avenue and 16th Street helmed by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto and owned by the perhaps overconfident Stephen Starr. Bruni describes the menu and the stark white decor, states that both are unique, then tells the reader, “So, on a separate note, are the bathrooms. Even if you don’t need to go, trust me: you need to go.”
He also posts tips on how to get a reservation at typically packed upscale restaurants which boils down to calling early, checking back often and maybe even giving Opentable.com a try.
All in all, Diner’s Journal represents what we will probably see more of: professional journalists and magazine writers teaming with the publications for which they write to create online supplements to their print media works. It is an excellent idea, and indicates that the popularity of blogs as an online alternative to traditional media has grown to the extent that the new philosophy for professional writers may be, “If you can’t beat them, join them.”
Welcome to the blogosphere, Frank! I’m looking forward to seeing what use you will make of this new medium.
