Message: | I confess I haven't read her reviews lately; they don't hold a candle to when Ruth Reichl wrote the reviews at the LA Times.
But, I don't think it is so wrong to write about places outside the L.A. area, especially if she is writing about places that Angelenos go to often, such as Vegas, San Fran, San Diego, Santa Barbara - all popular weekend destinations. She can give her readers the scoop on what's new in these places, which can be as useful as reviewing the latest over-priced fusion restaurant.
As long as most articles are on the L.A. scene, I see no problem with venturing afield, as long as she writes about places that L.A. folks might reasonably get to. (i.e. St. Louis or Hartford restaurants are not relevant to most readers) After all, most Angelenos are no more likely to eat in Patina, Chinois or Chadwick than they are to try the hot restaurants in other cities.
I don't think the restaurant reviewers job description limits them to just reviewing local establishments. This is the core of their job, but need not be all that they write about. Whether the reviews she does write are interesting or well written is another debate. |