Saturday, March 15, 2008
That restaurant review….
That Giles Coren review of Goodfellas is online now (it was the Irish News, not the Irish Times Giles). Paolo Tullio is both a restaurant reviewer and a former restaurateur and has experienced the issue from both sides:
I can’t speak for reviewers of things other than restaurants, but on that subject I do have some opinions. Unusually, I think, for restaurant reviewers, I used to have a restaurant and I know exactly what it’s like to get reviewed. I got reviewed in my restaurant, I’ve been reviewed when acting on stage and my books have been reviewed. I’ve had two excoriating reviews in my life, one for my restaurant and one for my book on Italy.
Let me be clear here: both the book and the restaurant only ever got one bad review each, but curiously they’re the ones I remember best. Helen Lucy Burke gave my restaurant a real going over—naturally I thought unfairly—but here’s the odd thing: my business improved the following week as regular customers came specially to lend their support. And the book? It’s still selling 10 years on.
In which case, it will be interesting to see whether Goodfellas takes the case back to trial…
Mick Fealty @ 03:43 PM
It’s hardly racist - Mr Coren is merely pointing out that we can proudly boast to have the fattest and ugliest section of the British underclass in the UK. There are probably grants available. Rejoice!
Posted by on Mar 16, 2008 @ 11:56 PMBelfast may, as you say, Touché, “proudly boast to have the fattest and ugliest section of the British underclass in the UK” though I feel sure that there are a number of cities that would dispute Belfast’s claim to that title, but it is certainly true that London, in season at least, boasts “the fattest and ugliest section” of the British upper class in the UK.
I think in particular of one Tory grandée, Christopher “Fatty” Soames, of whom one lady of his acquaintance was moved to recall in print that, “Being made love to by him was like being fallen on by a fully-loaded wardrobe. With the key sticking out!”
Posted by on Mar 17, 2008 @ 05:41 AMJust cant wait to go to Goodfellas now.
An feidir ordu i nGaeilge? bhfuil a fhios ag einne?
Can you order in Irish?
Posted by on Mar 17, 2008 @ 12:11 PMCoren’s vile racism is plain to see.
I heard him on the radio this morning talking about enjoying the smell of his own farts. Charming fellow.
Posted by on Mar 17, 2008 @ 01:16 PMWrong Soames, Rory.
Posted by on Mar 17, 2008 @ 01:35 PMCoren is a Jewish name, so any criticism of Mr Cohen is itself racist. Or at least as racist as any criticism by Mr Cohen of other white people.
Posted by on Mar 17, 2008 @ 04:11 PMIf you want a decent sandwich in Belfast you just have to go to Benny’s in Short Street, Sailortown. Good value. Well filled and you can get decent plain bread. Watch the friendly staff make up your sandwich in front of you.
Posted by on Mar 17, 2008 @ 05:23 PMWhy does “Coren” become “Cohen” and why on earth should, indeed how on earth could a criticism of someone’s work possibly be deemed racist?
Are all suits from Burtons to be accepted as flawless whether or not they are? Must we now apologise for ever turning our noses up at a gift of jewellry from Ratners? Are we not to be permitted to find Woody Allen’s last movie abysmal, as I did? Do we really have to listen to Barbara Streisand whether we wish to or not and must we all find Vanessa Feltz absolutely adorably attractive?
Crack open the whiskey bottle, Jeeves, I’m in need of a little restorative.
Posted by on Mar 17, 2008 @ 05:34 PMHaving eaten a Goodfellas on a number of occassions i take exception to Giles’ “strips of mole” comment I think it was more like kangaroo anus. As to the “fat comments” highly accurate in my experience.
Posted by on Mar 17, 2008 @ 08:48 PMYou must be a fond of the occasional kangaroo anus, if you went there more than once, NP.
Posted by on Mar 17, 2008 @ 08:58 PMaustin : my only defence is “much drink taken” & even then...... Certain people kept telling me it “was a great wee place”. All I can confirm, is that at least its consistant.
Posted by on Mar 17, 2008 @ 09:59 PMAn feidir ordu i nGaeilge? bhfuil a fhios ag einne?
Can you order in Irish?
You can order in Hungarian if you want, but you’ll have to repeat every sentence in English.
Posted by on Mar 17, 2008 @ 10:05 PMComrade Stalin,
I think you may be mistaken there Comrade, bit more research needed.
I was making enquiry as to the staff in general but the proprietors are from a well known Irish speaking family.
Posted by on Mar 17, 2008 @ 10:08 PM
