Michael
Bauer Leaving the San Francisco Chronicle
By FBWorld Team
The
recent announcement that Michael Bauer the San Francisco Chronicle's
Restaurant Critic, is retiring sent cheers and head scratching
throughout the Restaurant and Foodie Communities. Those who
mortgaged their homes to go to Culinary School to open a restaurant
preparing their grandmother's recipes, only to be trashed before
they were even able to get in a "groove" cheered!
Those that don't read newspapers anymore scratched their heads
and said "Who?" Michael Bauer was been both feared
and revered during a Golden Age that catapulted the Bay Area
into being one of the true Food Capitals of the world. The weekly
Restaurant Review was important Breaking News for Food Lovers.
Generally, it was the first time anyone had heard of the Restaurant,
so the impact was truly important. In fact, Restaurateurs had
told us that his Review could make or break you!
Then
times changed with websites like Yelp, TripAdvisor and Open
Table reviews mitigating the influence. Those "Angry Yelpers"
made Michael Bauer's criticism appear mild. Then came Bloggers,
followed by Tweeters, Facebookers , Instagramers and more social
media. Everyone with a Smart Phone is now taking pictures of
food and posting which is really fantastic but sadly it feels
like we have lost our true food icons aka villains like Michael
Bauer and others throughout the Country.
Where
do we go from here? The Chron is searching for the next Michel
Bauer. Good luck as they never found the new Herb Caen (Who?).
Surely there will be more great writers who will replace the
old guard with their precise criticism of cuisine but the days
of the Food Critic having too much power is over. Retire in
peace Michael Bauer and rest easier Restaurateurs as the "Big
Bad Wolf" in the Bay Area is leaving the Building.
By Carol & Joe Davis
Dining Detectives