I dont consider my blogs as restaurant reviews. Instead, I describe my experiences based on how I approach them. (Restaurant reviews are a topic for another column.) If I dont enjoy my experience, I dont even consider it as a negative post, but simply honest feedback with constructive criticism. Lets face it. Not everything is tasty and delicious, not everyone is a great chef or cook, and not every food tastes good. So why write only about positive restaurant experiences and say only good things?
People say if you have nothing nice to say dont say anything at all, but I also understand the value of a dollar and quality time. Dining out is a luxury and leisurely activity. It is not a necessity and not everyone can afford it or have the time to do it. Hard-earned dollars should be spent at good restaurants and if I can recommend how dollars could be better spent, or give readers an experience worth remembering, I will.
As much as company and ambiance makes for a dining experience, so does the food. Nobody wants to leave disappointed and everyone has an opinion and preferences on what they like. More often than not, a restaurant does not have a flawless menu anyway. Showing a discerning palate is more helpful and beneficial than saying everything is good. If everything is good, fair enough, but if that was always the answer then why look for a recommendation?
How many times have you asked the server for recommendations and he or she says everything? Does that really help? No. Most likely you are not ordering everything on the menu, and I want to help narrow down the choices if Ive tried it out already. Whether or not you agree is based on personal preference, but at least I can be honest with my opinion. There are often hit-and-miss dishes or dishes that are better than others, and I want to point them out.
I am more or less a guinea pig for foodies, testing the waters before you jump in. Quite often I am also on the other side, too, looking for which restaurants to visit and which to avoid. I havent tried everything and I cant know it all, but knowing pros and cons of a restaurant allows me to see it from all perspectives. It gives me an idea of what to expect, or who the clientele might be and whether its appropriate for me. I cant guarantee a positive restaurant experience based on mine, but I can, I hope, lead you to a good meal with good and bad reports back.
I am not suggesting impossible standards and high expectations, but it is natural to expect a positive experience. Not everything I make is delicious and I have my bad days, but the difference is I am not charging the public. This is the service that the restaurant and hospitality industry provides, so it goes without saying. Unfortunately, the glasses are not always half full or even refilled. It is nothing personal, just a fact.
If I can guide someone to a better restaurant or dish, perhaps I can even up a restaurants game and encourage improvement in the overall dining scene. I want to raise the bar, challenge the industry and palates, share constructive criticism, critically think about the food I am eating and writing about, and bring light to those who deserve it. All are required to build an even stronger food scene in Vancouver.
Proving honest feedback, good or bad, also gives people the opportunity to give their opinion as well. I do not want to dictate my opinion, but open doors for discussion. For all I know I could have ordered the wrong dish or visited on a bad day, and if I did, I would want to know.
Dining out is not just about eating, but about learning, sharing, and having an experience that is good enough to want to recommend to others. As a food writers, if we know something is not good and stay silent, were not doing anything to help the industry grow. Writing a critical report does not necessarily make for a reliable and trustworthy source, but at least it is honest and real, regardless of it being right or wrong.
Find Mijune at the Bulls-Eye Canadian National BBQ Championships in Whistler all weekend, and at the Araxi Long Table Series dinner at Lost Lake in Whistler on August 3. PRIDE festivities are also happening all over Vancouver, and look for the Pride Festival and Market on August 4 at Sunset Beach (Beach and Bute). Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.com or follow her on Twitter @followmefoodie.
