Is Grub Street's "Reporting" Sinking to the Level of Eater's?

[MitchW]

Just read this piece...Le French Diner is where your favorite chefs eat on their nights off.

Wherein the writer, one Chris Crowley, crows about how wonderful Le French Diner is, and how chefs love the place...
 

Quote

 

Le French Diner was opened in February 2014 by Aydeniz and Pierre Moulin, who had first come to New York for a three-month vacation in the early aughts.

 

But as I read this, I'm positive we went there before 2014. Many times.

Sure enough, there's a review from The New Yorker:

Quote

 

ZUCCO: LE FRENCH DINER

By Andrea Thompson

November 12, 2006

 

Dated a mere 8 years before this douche believes it opened.

But to give old Chris a break,  it did close briefly in 2013, before it reopened again.

[backyardchef]

22 minutes ago, MitchW said:

 

Dated a mere 8 years before this douche believes it opened.

 

Was there a time when Grub Street had good writing other than Ozersky? I guess Adam Platt gets a pass for his occasional musings. 

[MitchW]

Just now, backyardchef said:

Was there a time when Grub Street had good writing other than Ozersky? I guess Adam Platt gets a pass for his occasional musings. 

People definitely like/liked Tammie. Although Tammie might have jumped the shark.

[GerryOlds2TheReturnofGerry]

I'd like to give Chris the benefit of the doubt since he's done some great work previously, especially at Serious Eats. I'm kind of surprised that there's no mention whatsoever of the original place, though, especially since Grubstreet wrote about how the first owner died at the restaurant.

Why do we think Tammie jumped the shark?

[small h]

It’s an inexcusable oversight, and at least the comments are calling it out.

[backyardchef]

19 minutes ago, GerryOlds2TheReturnofGerry said:

 

Why do we think Tammie jumped the shark?

Who is Tammie? 

I gave up and food writers so this is all a mystery to me. 

[Orik]

Well when Zucco died it definitely closed and changed the name accordingly but yeah, we were there many times in the late 00s

[backyardchef]

You have to pay for grub street. 

No wonder I couldn't be bothered. 

[Wilfrid]

I remember Zucco. It was fun in those days.

[MitchW]

12 minutes ago, Orik said:

Well when Zucco died it definitely closed and changed the name accordingly but yeah, we were there many times in the late 00s

Apparently, it stayed open for 3 years after Zucco died in 2010. Then closed and reopened a few months later, no?

The name changed with the removal of his name, but I think was always called Le French Diner.

[MitchW]

41 minutes ago, GerryOlds2TheReturnofGerry said:

Why do we think Tammie jumped the shark?

Now I forget...and then I stopped reading.

18 minutes ago, backyardchef said:

You have to pay for grub street. 

No wonder I couldn't be bothered. 

I think I got it for $1 for a year. Which might be up soon.

[Orik]

6 minutes ago, MitchW said:

Apparently, it stayed open for 3 years after Zucco died in 2010. Then closed and reopened a few months later, no?

The name changed with the removal of his name, but I think was always called Le French Diner.

You're probably right about the timeline. Also I'm not clear on whether Pierre was an owner during the first round or not, but anyway reporters should do a better job with the facts. It is something of an Industry hangout for sure. 

[MitchW]

7 minutes ago, Orik said:

It is something of an Industry hangout for sure. 

This is really interesting to me. Is the wine list great or anything? Or just cause it's such a tiny, "exclusive" place?

51 minutes ago, GerryOlds2TheReturnofGerry said:

Why do we think Tammie jumped the shark?

I'll pull back on the jumped the shark comment. Until I can remember what the hell I'm talking about.

[Orik]

Open Sun, Mon, Tue, until fairly late, no nonsense, wine list is nice.

Super Bueno also notable in a very very different manner. 

[mongo]

i'm a big fan of tammie t.

[Sneakeater]

Me too.

She said one titanically stupid thing a few weeks ago -- that Italian restaurants in America are better than Italian restaurants in Italy -- but even Homer nods.

Edited December 2, 2023 by Sneakeater

[StephanieL]

N and I loved going to Zucco.  So many good food memories there.

[MitchW]

3 hours ago, Sneakeater said:

Me too.

She said one titanically stupid thing a few weeks ago -- that Italian restaurants in America are better than Italian restaurants in Italy -- but even Homer nods.

that was it!!

[mongo]

14 hours ago, Sneakeater said:

Me too.

She said one titanically stupid thing a few weeks ago -- that Italian restaurants in America are better than Italian restaurants in Italy -- but even Homer nods.

 

italian restaurants in new york, but, yes, that is an incredibly wrong-headed take, or a very misguided attempt at stoking controversy-views.

[Anthony Bonner]

19 hours ago, MitchW said:

Now I forget...and then I stopped reading.

I think I got it for $1 for a year. Which might be up soon.

you guys know the NYMag paywall is super porous - just use incognito mode.

[backyardchef]

On 12/1/2023 at 7:49 PM, Sneakeater said:

Me too.

She said one titanically stupid thing a few weeks ago -- that Italian restaurants in America are better than Italian restaurants in Italy -- but even Homer nods.

Sounds like a Sietsema Award candidate. 

[MitchW]

2 hours ago, backyardchef said:

Sounds like a Sietsema Award candidate. 

No - TT is way more astute than RS.

[Orik]

On 12/1/2023 at 5:07 PM, Orik said:

You're probably right about the timeline. Also I'm not clear on whether Pierre was an owner during the first round or not, but anyway reporters should do a better job with the facts. It is something of an Industry hangout for sure. 

I checked and Pierre was indeed not an owner at Zucco.

 

eta: also they called to check facts even before including a short text in the latest "best of" list, so I don't think we're looking at the same standard. Why Vox keeps Eater around is anyone's guess (maybe they're cash positive by now given their reduced costs)

[GerryOlds2TheReturnofGerry]

I know food journalism (along with the rest of the industry) is dying, and I definitely took some liberties when I was getting reimbursed for meals, but the guy who took over from TT as diner-at-large went on a wild corporate card spending spree during his final week of the gig that included dinner at The Grill and taking 21 people to Wu's. I'm honestly impressed. (I can't find a link. It's his latest newsletter.)

Edited January 2, 2024 by GerryOlds2TheReturnofGerry

[MitchW]

21 people at Wu's = dinner at the Grill? (unless, of course, you're ordering that crazy Norwegian crab!)