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July 30, 2007
Michael Bauer Responds: And So Do We
Michael Bauer, he of the infamous review of Los Angeles restaurants, just posted this response on his blog:
I figured I was treading into a tsunami when I wrote about the Los Angeles restaurant scene in Food last Wednesday. I knew some would disagree, but I had no idea what I wrote would be construed as dissing our sister city to the south. Several people sent me the links to comments on LAist and Eater LA that stopped just short of sending out skewer-and-roast posse....Alright, alright, ALRIGHT: we're waving the white flag. We're not out to get you, San Francisco - and Michael Bauer, we're not out to get you either. We didn't mean to fan the flames of the SF-LA rivalry; we like San Francisco, and we know you've got great restaurants. And you know that we do too. And hey, if we've got better pizza, you definitely have better Chinese food.I'm not sure most of the posters actually read the article that described my meals and put my comments in context. Obviously the "rivalry" some mentioned -- maybe there's even a mutual inferiority complex -- is still raging.
I had a great time in Los Angeles and loved much of the food. I'm already anticipating a return visit this fall. There's no denying the fact that I like it -- right now, I really like it.
Our real issue with the article wasn't that it dismissed LA restaurants as unworthy - it didn't - but that it used the tired old cliche of "L.A. is full of industry types who don't care about food." We all know that's not true - the industry types care about food just as much as the other 98% of us, which is to say: a lot.
So Michael, if you're ever down here again, we'll be more than happy to give you some recommendations; we'd be even happier to help you sample the veritable cornucopia of fantastic L.A. eats (and no, of course we don't mind if the Chronicle picks up the bill!).
We still can't get over the Jason Biggs comment, though. Jason Biggs??? A star? Seriously???
Photo of San Francisco's Chinatown by pbo31 via flickr
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Nice recovery ;) - C. Harmon
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Heh heh...thanks, yo. ;)
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You are hilarious. Jason Biggs is a "star" to us in SF. We don't see too many of them around, so anyone remotely recognizable on TV or the big screen is a somebody.
I just posted a defense for the article in your original post. As an LA lover living in the Bay Area, there are lots of haters in SF (did you see the comments on his blog?). It's ok though, when I first moved up to the SF from LA I wasn't even aware there was some sort of rivalry until people up here said, "LA sucks. We're so cultured." Uh...ok, sure. So why is the OK and US Weekly the most tattered magazines in the gym?
But I have gotten spoiled and think everything is far away when I go down to LA though.
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SF has better Chinese food? I sure hope that was sarcastic response to the pizza comment. Otherwise, I'm going to restart this flame war.
Full disclosure: I'm a SFist reader and a "City person." I'm only here because Michael Bauer did what a reviewer does best (stir up a fuss). But... I grew up in LA.
So when you say SF has better Chinese food are you doing a Chinatown to Chinatown comparison or what? (I might concede that one, but both Chinatowns have been in decline for over a decade.)
But if we include greater LA metro, then SGV (east-side, baby) is home of the real Chinese food action. Not only are the prices cheaper than the Bay area, but the taste and selection is much better. Only damage occurs when the LACo DoH gets too uppity... Like demanding metal steamers instead of bamboo ones. (Real Chinese food rarely has a letter "A" hanging in the door.)
But hey, I understand there's different strokes for different folks. When it comes to "American" cuisine, I'll take SF any day of the week over LA.
I'm sure we won't be seeing any industry types in SGV anyway. But which industry are we talkin' 'bout here? Entertainment? Or perhaps just media (old and new)?
Just kidding. I appreciate that "Chinese Beverly Hills" comment from July 11th. But perhaps that's better aimed at Hacienda Heights or Diamond Bar than MPK.
Oh wait my LA hat is showing...
(This post is for entertainment purposes only.)
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New York and Boston have better pizza than LA.
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San Francisco has better Chinese food than Los Angeles? Maybe ten years ago. Now this may be still true if your idea of good Chinese food is PF Chang's or you've never ventured east past the 5 freeway.
SF is one of the greatest dining towns, no doubt, but it fares poorly when compared to LA when we're talking about genuine ethnic eats not defined by an Anglo palate (*cough*Mission burritos*cough*). But I'll definitely tip my hat off to San Francisco when it comes to finer dining, California cuisine, vegan/vegetarian spots and Italian (LA's one noticeable Achille's heel).
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Too bad in LA you have to drive 50 miles to even reach a restaurant. I love walking.