more food-writer bashing

[MC Slim JB]

No reason to do this two days running, except that I'm irritated at another jaw-dropper. This time it's the ever-Chowhound-popular Alison Arnett in today's Globe, writing about the renovated Bristol (no longer Lounge) at the Four Seasons.

Reviewing breakfast, she says, "Baked beans seem quirky for breakfast, even in Boston." What?! There seems like no better way to show your ignorance of local food history, and I don't just mean Colonial food history, or of British culinary traditions that survive here.

You'd think a professional food writer would have checked out Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe in the South End by now: it's only one of the older and more storied places for breakfast in the city. Maybe stop off at Persy's on the way to the Cape some time? I'm sure Hounds can come up with dozens more examples.

Just flabbergasting.

[AlanH™]

I think you're being a little nitpicky. I also agree with her, beans for breakfast is a little quirky.

[galleygirl]

Hmm, tell that to the British.....

[ghc]

Pretty sure we are in the US and she is writing about a US's city food scene. While many native New Englanders may not find beans for breakfast "different" or "exotic" others from different parts of the US who are living in NE or just reading the globe may not have been exposed to this. For these people, this type of breakfast could be a totaly new concept.

It is like saying an American rest. serving congee for breakfast is not thinking outside the box because congee is a typical breakfast onthe other side of the globe.

[galleygirl]

Except they were an American colonial tradition, and we got them from England, which we were part of before we became America...
OTOH, if I could find congee in an American restaurant, I'd be happy indeed ;)

Alison Arnett is just a little too gee-whizzy for me to handle..."Imagine, eating fish raw!" Maybe she's auditioning for the Herald...

[ghc]

So if a state instituted a King/Queen instead of a governor it would not be viewed as "different" because a monarchy is a tradition from England?

To keep on topic, where is the best place for breakfast beans?

[galleygirl]

Ask Alison Arnett! Good to know she's so beloved! ;)

[ghc]

Oh believe me, i think she is a schmuck, but i think Alan made a good point/people are sometime too quick to jump down her throat.

[galleygirl]

Or maybe people read the OP so quickly they didn't notice that he cited two examples off the top of his head that have been serving baked beans for breakfast for quite awhile.

[ghc]

Actaully, i did read the OP with care. OP cites her "Baked beans seem quirky for breakfast, even in Boston."

Given other arugments, location, origins of the food, etc, beans for breakfast can be viewed as quirky.

"Even in Boston" -- naming two places does not make it a wide spread offering in town, does it? I can cite four off the top of my head that don't, so is it now "quirky" again?

[teepee]

frustrated food writers one and all. agreed, there are many things about alison's writing that i find fault with but i find many of the same things with much of the writing on this site. as you have all discussed ad nauseum, food is personal and objective and her opinions are simply that. the unfortunate thing is that she has a forum for her opinions and you do not, other than here. write the GLOBE, the HERALD, apply for her job but quit the @#$##$. this site is at its best when we focus on food, not on individuals or little glimpses of things we think we understand but do not fully comprehend.

[AlanH™]

Hey--she didn't say Bristol was the first place to ever serve beans for breakfast. The fact that a couple of other places do makes it no less quirky. Some might find it quirky that you don't eat meat, but that doesn't make you unique.

[galleygirl]

Oh, but *so* many other things make me unique ;)

I, actually, find the Bristol's beans and brown bread and bacon breakfast a bottom-line-conscious request to the many tourists they must serve looking for "real Boston" food...

[greengage]

I have to say that this does make me want to skip over to the Bristol tomorrow morning to have the "Boston breakfast." Whatever their motive in putting it together, I like the intention of creating a "native" breakfast out of local, traditional elements and it sounds delicious. Though maybe a little finnan haddie on the side instead of bacon might be more distinctive...

[AlanH™]

Lots of foods and customs were common in Colonial times, which are rarely seen now. Lack of commonality is the very definition of quirky. I stand by my defense of Ms. Arnett.

[MB]

As far as I can tell, the beans were introduced by the Native Americans.

I wonder if beans with my huevos rancheros are equally "quirky?"

Link: http://www.rootsweb.com/~mosmd/foods.htm

[galleygirl]

Those quirky Native Americans! ;)

And where can one get the best huevos rancheros around, anyway? I used to love the veggie version(inauthentic, I know) at Pentimento...

[Karl S.]

Except that it is not exactly strange in New England, where the custom has not exactly died out. The OP's point is well taken in this regard. I am not the only person I know who enjoys baked beans for breakfast (especially on winter mornings after I have baked them all night while sleeping, and the aroma has filled the house....yum...and I have had to shovel snow). Or apple pie with cheddar cheese. Among other signature, if fading, New England breakfast items.

[MB]

That's just dumb. Mmmm, Persey's.

Link: http://www.potshopofboston.com/hist.html

[The Chowhound Team]

Folks, we have a narrowly focused mission here: to discuss great chow in Boston - not to discuss how chow is discussed in Boston. Rants about local critics and media are off topic here, as such discussions don't lead anyone to delicious food. The Not About Food Board is the place to discuss such topics (if you continue there, please post a "heads up" here so participants know to make the jump.) We're not going to delete this entire thread because there are some good chow tips, but further rants about critics and media will be deleted.

We don't want to turn into a chatty forum where people "sound off" by cataloging stuff that pisses them off. Use Chowhound to swap chow tips rather than to channel your inner Andy Rooney! : )

Link: http://www.chowhound.com/boards/notfo...