Washington Post Food Section

[Poivrot Farci]

This article tickles the "so stupid it hurts" threshold. Reading the Post's silly "food" section rivals the shame of watching Sunset Tan and pleasuring myself at work. Why refer to teenagers by their surnames? Sunset Tan scribes have accepted their non Op-Ed writer's destiny and are happy to have the Olly Girls rather than Huddleston & Shea.
"Raspberries, ganache and shortbread in phyllo purses; and grilled fontina and prosciutto sandwiches" is more GW budget than UW.

[Banco]

Reading the Post's silly "food" section rivals the shame of watching Sunset Tan and pleasuring myself at work.

I had to Google "Sunset Tan" to find out what it was. Now I feel old and dirty.

[DonRocks]

This article tickles the "so stupid it hurts" threshold.

I just read this, and while I don't think it's intended as a profound piece, or even a "food" piece, I like it as a breezy vignette and slice of life. What's wrong with it?

[Woodleygrrl]

This article tickles the "so stupid it hurts" threshold. Reading the Post's silly "food" section rivals the shame of watching Sunset Tan and pleasuring myself at work. Why refer to teenagers by their surnames? Sunset Tan scribes have accepted their non Op-Ed writer's destiny and are happy to have the Olly Girls rather than Huddleston & Shea.
"Raspberries, ganache and shortbread in phyllo purses; and grilled fontina and prosciutto sandwiches" is more GW budget than UW.

I don't get it. What is so terrible about this article? I rather enjoyed it!

[mame11]

This article tickles the "so stupid it hurts" threshold. Reading the Post's silly "food" section rivals the shame of watching Sunset Tan and pleasuring myself at work. Why refer to teenagers by their surnames? Sunset Tan scribes have accepted their non Op-Ed writer's destiny and are happy to have the Olly Girls rather than Huddleston & Shea.
"Raspberries, ganache and shortbread in phyllo purses; and grilled fontina and prosciutto sandwiches" is more GW budget than UW.

So, what is so stupid about the article? Are you implying that people who go to Madison are too poor to eat raspberries, ganache shortbread in phyllo? The implication that those who go to state schools are in a lower economic class than those who go to private schools like GWU is offensive and incorrect. Plenty of people choose to go to the University of Wisconsin over private schools, and even Ivy League schools, because the school is amazing.

Wow.

[DanCole42]

I don't get it. What is so terrible about this article? I rather enjoyed it!

It is fashionable for any elitist niche hobbyist group (in this case, foodies) to dis what the plebs read. No offense to the OP, it's just the way things are.

Imagine what the Maryland Kite Society has to say when the post runs an article about summer fun on the Mall and mentions inferior kite brands.

[Pat]

I didn't find the article stupid or bad, but (at the risk of being reamed on this subject again) I was wondering how wealthy the college students were who were the targets. This does not mean that I think that all college students should eat ramen noodles 3 times a day. Some of the ingredients seemed expensive and possibly requiring trips beyond neighborhood supermarkets. The brief descriptions of the meals given at the end of the article were more in line with what I would expect for this kind of article than were the ones dealt with in more detail.

[Jacques Gastreaux]

No f....ing way.

[Al Dente]

Whoa. Long time no see JG!

[Poivrot Farci]

I just read this, and while I don't think it's intended as a profound piece, or even a "food" piece, I like it as a breezy vignette and slice of life. What's wrong with it?

The breezy vignette is the 1100 words long minutes from a cooking class and offers hardly a solution to parent's concerns and plausable teenagers' comestible independance. A greater service for the kids and readers would have been to recommend an approachable cookbook and variations of rudimentary, more easily acquired staples that can be purchased in bulk and with long shelf-life (ie. pastas and grains). Throwing away phyllo scraps is not resourceful tutelage for college students who for the most part have limited disposable income. The title suggests simplicity and basics but is well beyond the grasp and dedication of the average teenager. Recipes that call for fresh rotisserie chickens, fig jam, bulghur wheat and arugula for a grilled cheese sandwich are appropriate for courting a classmate and plugging a culinary school, not reasonable day to day plebeian sustenance and budgets.

[Sthitch]

The implication that those who go to state schools are in a lower economic class than those who go to private schools like GWU is offensive and incorrect. Plenty of people choose to go to the University of Wisconsin over private schools, and even Ivy League schools, because the school is amazing.

Based on some data that I have at my disposal (information that Cjsadler also has access to), the average family income for both schools is about the same. My calculations show that the average family income for UW Madison were actually slightly higher than that for GWU. By the way, the rough numbers (in thousands) are UW $49.8, and GWU $49.14.

[Michael Landrum]

It seems obvious to me that this article is laying the foundation for the Post to use its tremendous clout to have "gourmet cookery" included in the No Child Left Behind Mandates, and then have its money-making arm, Kaplan, reap additional hundreds of millions by teaching government-forced Test Prep classes in mis-en-place.

[synaesthesia]

So, what is so stupid about the article? Are you implying that people who go to Madison are too poor to eat raspberries, ganache shortbread in phyllo? The implication that those who go to state schools are in a lower economic class than those who go to private schools like GWU is offensive and incorrect. Plenty of people choose to go to the University of Wisconsin over private schools, and even Ivy League schools, because the school is amazing.

Wow.

I think he's referring to the fact that GW has the highest tuition of any university in the US with the obvious implication of that. Doesn't mean there aren't poorer students that go there either.

[DonRocks]

Melissa McCart on Heather Shorter

Nice piece, Melissa, and now I'm craving one of Heather's pickles!

[Heather]

Thanks Don, and I just wanted to say thanks again to Melissa, Joe, and all of the testers. This was a lot of fun.

[Hannah]

Is "piccadilly" an American/Midwestern spelling variation on piccalilli, or was the article a victim of spell check? I've never seen or heard that usage - across the pond it's piccalilli (and oh, boy, will there be some spousal ranting if it's spelled that way on the menu at Commonwealth) and in the Southeast it's always either piccalilli or chow chow.

[Heather]

I'm guessing spell check.

As near as I can tell, picallili and chow chow differ only slightly. Chow chow typically has more kinds of vegetables in it, including cucumber, while picallili is more cabbage-based.

[mfein]

Hey Heather, neat article. I noticed that today's 'Brevity' comic strip was relish-themed-- how did you manage that?

Matt

[xcanuck]

Congrats on the article, Heather and Melissa!! Well done!

I've really been enjoying making refrigerator pickles for the last couple of years. The results have been kind of hit and miss, but it's a great way to preserve the bounty of summer.

[Banco]

Melissa McCart on Heather Shorter

Nice piece, Melissa, and now I'm craving one of Heather's pickles!

Congrats, Heather anbd Melissa. I assume pickles will feature prominently at the fall Picnic?

[Heather]

Congrats, Heather anbd Melissa. I assume pickles will feature prominently at the fall Picnic?

They will be there. Maybe I'll work on a pumpkin pickle.

[Monica Bhide]

Congrats! What a fun piece.

[ol_ironstomach]

Congrats, Heather anbd Melissa. I assume pickles will feature prominently at the fall Picnic?

I can see the descriptions already:

"...and then almost in unison, while little kids were running around, they whipped out their pickles and started shamelessly comparing them. Crazy foodies."

[MeMc]

Melissa McCart on Heather Shorter

Nice piece, Melissa, and now I'm craving one of Heather's pickles!

Thanks, Don. Heather was so generous to invite me over. Her bourbon vidalia onion relish in particular is terrific! (And, Yes. It's piccalilli, I believe. . . )

[Michael Landrum]

Man, if I could just look that good in a picture, I would be all like, "Hey, baby, come over here."

And everybody would be all like, "Oooooo."

[Stretch]

Congrats Heather!

[porcupine]

About this morning's "Spirits" column: I have absolutely no respect for this- " 'Cellphone use shall not be permitted...' Naturally, the first thing I did was send a text message to a friend... Oops!" etc.

A reporter's job is to discover and enlighten. But this column crossed a line by flagrantly disregarding H2M's request. And what's with the "na-nanny boo-boo" style of writing? At least my sense of irony enjoys the juxtaposition of this piece with Dave McIntyre's debut.

BTW, in the interest of full disclosure: I was asked me to post about H2M before the press got to it. I delayed while trying to think of a subtle but not arrogant "I have a secret" way of writing it. Sorry I let you guys down.

[this post has been edited a gazillion times]

[DonRocks]

I have absolutely no respect for this: " 'Cellphone use shall not be permitted...' Naturally, the first thing I did was send a text message to a friend... Oops!" etc.

A reporter's job is to discover and enlighten. But this column crossed a line by flagrantly disregarding H2M's request. And what's with the "na-nanny boo-boo" style of writing? At least my sense of irony enjoys the juxtaposition of this piece with Dave McIntyre's debut.

BTW, in the interest of full disclosure: I was asked me to post about H2M before the press got to it. I delayed while trying to think of a subtle but not arrogant "I have a secret" way of writing it. Sorry I let you guys down.

H2M's big mistake here was not making Mr. Wilson (and everyone else) agree to the terms in advance. If Mr. Wilson had done so, he would have clearly violated his source's request for anonymity and privacy. As it stands, an argument could be made that after he read the rules, and stayed for drinks, he had implicitly accepted an oral contract.

Regardless, I would never let him interview me for anything.

Cheers,

Rocks.

[ulysses]

It sucks when you get up and read the paper in the morning to find out you lost your job. (via DB)

[Waitman]

About this morning's "Spirits" column: I have absolutely no respect for this- " 'Cellphone use shall not be permitted...' Naturally, the first thing I did was send a text message to a friend... Oops!" etc.

A reporter's job is to discover and enlighten. But this column crossed a line by flagrantly disregarding H2M's request. And what's with the "na-nanny boo-boo" style of writing? At least my sense of irony enjoys the juxtaposition of this piece with Dave McIntyre's debut.

BTW, in the interest of full disclosure: I was asked me to post about H2M before the press got to it. I delayed while trying to think of a subtle but not arrogant "I have a secret" way of writing it. Sorry I let you guys down.

[this post has been edited a gazillion times]

Reporter's aren't in charge of honoring sources' requests, they're in charge of reporting. A fine column.

[synaesthesia]

Reporter's aren't in charge of honoring sources' requests, they're in charge of reporting. A fine column.

Granted he only writes about spirits in general, but a legacy of less than honorable behavior will hurt him in the tight-knit boozing community in DC. You don't bite the hand that feeds you or in this case makes your drink.

[Waitman]

Granted he only writes about spirits in general, but a legacy of less than honorable behavior will hurt him in the tight-knit boozing community in DC. You don't bite the hand that feeds you or in this case makes your drink.

It will only hurt him until the next boozerie needs a little print.

Besides, Hummingbird to Mars was an open secret anyway. Even I knew about it.

I'm not sure why anybody is upset that a journalist acted like a journalist.

[Spiral Stairs]

H2M's big mistake here was not making Mr. Wilson (and everyone else) agree to the terms in advance. If Mr. Wilson had done so, he would have clearly violated his source's request for anonymity and privacy. As it stands, an argument could be made that after he read the rules, and stayed for drinks, he had implicitly accepted an oral contract.

Regardless, I would never let him interview me for anything.

Cheers,

Rocks.

Fascinating subject. I'll preface my thoughts by noting that I am not a journalist and know nothing beyond what common sense tells me about journalistic ethics.

Even assuming a contract was formed after he received the slip of paper and decided to stay (which is pretty questionable), is it a canon of jurisdictional ethics that a journalist should not breach a contract? I would think not, and that instead the question is whether he breached any journalistic canon by disclosing facts that he learned while in the establishment. That seems unlikely to me. Further, so far as the column reveals, he didn't interview anyone. To the extent he received any request for confidentiality at all, it was from the establishment itself. As a matter of journalistic ethics, can an institution (rather than a person) be a "source" whose confidentiality can be protected?

Change the circumstances a little: Imagine that Jason Wilson is a political affairs reporter, and that he is invited to a private political event. Once inside the door, someone hands him a slip of a paper that says "Thou shall not write about this." Yet he stays and hears a politician openly propose to invade Iran. Surely the reporter would not be prohibited from reporting this news because someone handed him a piece of paper. Indeed, some people might be seriously offended if he did NOT report it because he thought he was bound by that piece of paper.

The fact that the stakes are lower in a column on alcohol doesn't change the fundamental circumstances.

(It's a totally separate and unrelated question whether he acted imprudently in publishing this information, because he might jeopardize future access to sources. Beat reporters have to make judgments like that all the time, but they are exactly that: judgments, not ethical rules.)

[synaesthesia]

I know I'd personally consider the possibility of a loogie cocktail in my future. Looks just like foam! [This is not to say that I think any of those mentioned would ever do something like that.]

[porcupine]

I'm not sure why anybody is upset that a journalist acted like a journalist.

In my case, mildly irritated.

As for the open secret: something about the operation struck me as personal enough to rise above plain old business; therefore when asked to abide by certain terms, I felt that I should do so.

It comes down to this: outing the operation is legitimate journalism. Doing so by reprinting the terms and then flaunting how you disregarded them is skanky. The rest of the column was interesting and informative. I've enjoyed Wilson's columns in the past, but now I have very little respect for his person. <shrug>.

[sandynva]

It sucks when you get up and read the paper in the morning to find out you lost your job. (via DB)

oh no! will you actually lose your job because of that column? if so that's awful. I adore the bar at Central, especially the lime-pepper rickey, though i do think the drinks at H2M were lovely as well (i went once).

best wishes!!

[jyonan]

In my case, mildly irritated.

As for the open secret: something about the operation struck me as personal enough to rise above plain old business; therefore when asked to abide by certain terms, I felt that I should do so.

It comes down to this: outing the operation is legitimate journalism. Doing so by reprinting the terms and then flaunting how you disregarded them is skanky. The rest of the column was interesting and informative. I've enjoyed Wilson's columns in the past, but now I have very little respect for his person. <shrug>.

If any of you would like to ask him directly about this, he's on our Food section online chat, going now live until 2 p.m. He'd be happy to respond there.

[edenman]

If any of you would like to ask him directly about this, he's on our Food section online chat, going now live until 2 p.m. He'd be happy to respond there.

Link?

[cajcaj]

Started at 1 and going on now:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...pid=discussions

[Hannah]

Clearly there was no problem with his writing about it, or he would a) not have been invited in the first place or b] specifically have been asked to make his visit off the record before he came in. What I do have a problem with is his blatantly ignoring the "no cellphones" rule and then making a point of his having done so - that's just rude.

[Spiral Stairs]

I, for one, would interpret "no cellphone use" to mean "no talking on cellphones." I understand the rationale behind such a rule -- people talking on cellphones tend to speak loudly and it can be distracting to others.

However, I can't see any rationale for prohibiting people from typing on a Blackberry or phone.

I consider myself a pretty courteous person and if I had been given those rules, I would not feel prohibited from typing an e-mail or text message.

[sandynva]

Clearly there was no problem with his writing about it, or he would a) not have been invited in the first place or b] specifically have been asked to make his visit off the record before he came in. What I do have a problem with is his blatantly ignoring the "no cellphones" rule and then making a point of his having done so - that's just rude.

It's possible they didn't know who he was--when i went, i said i was coming with 2 friends and never mentioned my friends' names, and when they arrived (we came separately), they just said they were meeting me, so i don't think their names were ever taken. Also, when I arrived i was specifically told/asked that if i was a blogger or journalist that my visit be off the record.

That being said, the fact that they gave him a recipe and didn't pay attention to the fact that he was (he says) at the bar notebook in hand, does indicate that they weren't too worried about an article.

I just thought the tone of the article--listing the agreement and then telling how he violated it--was just sort of snarky and gratuitous, and for no real purpose. what was the point of sort of saying where the location was, especially if it's not always there?

[Hannah]

However, I can't see any rationale for prohibiting people from typing on a Blackberry or phone.

I consider myself a pretty courteous person and if I had been given those rules, I would not feel prohibited from typing an e-mail or text message.

Having gotten the hairy eyeball for discreetly checking messages on a Blackberry in a couple of places with posted "no cellphones" rules, I tend to err on the side of "no cellphones means no cellphones." I certainly would not be snapping camera phone pictures - that's clearly far outside the spirit of the rule.

[youngfood]

In my case, mildly irritated.

As for the open secret: something about the operation struck me as personal enough to rise above plain old business; therefore when asked to abide by certain terms, I felt that I should do so.

It comes down to this: outing the operation is legitimate journalism. Doing so by reprinting the terms and then flaunting how you disregarded them is skanky. The rest of the column was interesting and informative. I've enjoyed Wilson's columns in the past, but now I have very little respect for his person. <shrug>.

My sentiments exactly. Very disappointing to see someone behave so inappropriately and without regard for others even if in the name of journalism.

[adambernbach]

I note the usage of the word "project" by Mr. Wilson early in the article. I think about the people involved in Hummingbird to Mars. I think about the hours they work at their regular jobs (40+ per week is an understatement). With that in mind, it would certainly require a massive amount of passion in furthering their field to commit to a project that requires two more nights of difficult, detailed work. They set up guidelines to maintain the atmosphere and the ability to produce their cocktails at the high level of quality they require (not to create a nightclub-type exclusivity). So, it disturbs me greatly when I read Mr. Wilson's description of how he reacted to these guidelines. To be specific, it is the seeming mocking glee he embraces to dismiss them. As a member of this community, I'm delighted by the differences in opinion, style, concept, and taste that those interested in spirits and cocktails hold. It enriches our field, both in execution and enjoyment. The tone of the article, however, I find unacceptable. If you enjoy cocktails, if you look forward to a future with a lively cocktail scene in our metropolitan area, if you want DC to be able to attract more talent to such a scene, then you might be concerned about the Washington Post treating some of the area's most talented, passionate mixologists without respect. It shows that paper we circulate the most doesn't care for disagreement in cocktails, only to belittle it.

[Waitman]

I note the usage of the word "project" by Mr. Wilson early in the article. I think about the people involved in Hummingbird to Mars. I think about the hours they work at their regular jobs (40+ per week is an understatement). With that in mind, it would certainly require a massive amount of passion in furthering their field to commit to a project that requires two more nights of difficult, detailed work. They set up guidelines to maintain the atmosphere and the ability to produce their cocktails at the high level of quality they require (not to create a nightclub-type exclusivity). So, it disturbs me greatly when I read Mr. Wilson's description of how he reacted to these guidelines. To be specific, it is the seeming mocking glee he embraces to dismiss them. As a member of this community, I'm delighted by the differences in opinion, style, concept, and taste that those interested in spirits and cocktails hold. It enriches our field, both in execution and enjoyment. The tone of the article, however, I find unacceptable. If you enjoy cocktails, if you look forward to a future with a lively cocktail scene in our metropolitan area, if you want DC to be able to attract more talent to such a scene, then you might be concerned about the Washington Post treating some of the area's most talented, passionate mixologists without respect. It shows that paper we circulate the most doesn't care for disagreement in cocktails, only to belittle it.

Oh c'mon. The whole fucking column was a love letter to bartenders. I hope people who sling gin for a living -- and I say that recognizing the talent and passion a good gin-slinger (like Adam) brings to his game -- have thick enough skins to handle a modest bit of razzing when they do silly (but cool) shit like launching a secret cocktail party.

[Heather]

It will only hurt him until the next boozerie needs a little print.

Besides, Hummingbird to Mars was an open secret anyway. Even I knew about it.

I'm not sure why anybody is upset that a journalist acted like a journalist.

I think I have to agree with Charles here. On all three points.

I thought the article came across as mostly complimentary.

[Hannah]

I think I have to agree with Charles here. On all three points.

I thought the article came across as mostly complimentary.

It would have been really easy to write the article without the "look at how cool I am for breaking the rules" shtick.

[Heather]

It would have been really easy to write the article without the "look at how cool I am for breaking the rules" shtick.

Yes, but it matches, the "look how cool we are/this is" aesthetic of the event in question.

[Waitman]

It would have been really easy to write the article without the "look at how cool I am for breaking the rules" shtick.

And it would have been really easy to sling gin without the "look how cool we are for having a speakeasy" shtick.

All in good fun. Style points all around -- the writer and the bartenders.