my little ethical dilemma

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ok so as some of you know i am a restaurant critic. i pretty much set the ethical guidelines for myself: i don't accept invitations to restaurants (though if the place looks interesting i might go incognito), i never announce my presence or take notes conspicuously, and i never take free food (i have a budget for that--the paper pays).

so a couple of weeks ago i reviewed this local restaurant i really like, this greek place, and today i find in my mail a $100 gift certificate for the restaurant and a note of thanks. now i am kinda conflicted as to whether i should use the GC or not--is it bad form? will it set a bad example or look bad if accept any gifts after the fact? can i afford NOT to use it considering the state of my bank account? any thoughts would be appreciated--paul eater, if you're still reading ile, i'd like to know what you think.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:24 (twenty-one years ago)

thanks!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I guess it's appearances that count - I'm sure that you using it wouldn't affect your integrity, but it might affect the way people view you, if they ever find out. I guess I wouldn't use it. Send it back with a letter of thanks, but explain your position. Or give it to a charity for a raffle or something. But it's probably not a big deal if you do use it.

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:29 (twenty-one years ago)

you're supposed to tell me it's OK! seriously though that is a good idea (maybe i'll give it to some local charity so orphans can eat souvlaki)

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:31 (twenty-one years ago)

i'd pass it on to a friend. that way you also have proof of not using it, in case that ever came up

― kephm, Friday, 10 September 2004 15:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, give it to a friend on the condition that they have to "buy" you five dinners or whatever.

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Do you ever do reviews of restaurants you've already reviewed before? I mean, are you going to be reviewing this restaurant again in the near future?

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:33 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm not really worried about being "caught" (my editor would probably tell me to use it!)

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:33 (twenty-one years ago)

no, i don't re-review; i might some day if a restaurant i like radically changes its menu or renovates or something though!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:33 (twenty-one years ago)

there are a lot of restaurant owners mad at me in this city though! and i rarely give bad reviews (but occasionally i dis other restos in throwaway lines and people get really angry and pull their ads and the paper loses money)

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:34 (twenty-one years ago)

At the paper I work at, significant graft generally goes to charity.

― Huk-L, Friday, 10 September 2004 15:34 (twenty-one years ago)

If you've already done the review and won't be reviewing it again in the near future and you can prove you got the gift certificate without requesting it after the positive review came out, it seems a little easier to justify using the certificate. Though it's still a little iffy.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:35 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah. i still can't believe it's for $100 though! that's a lot of money!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:36 (twenty-one years ago)

take me with you, I love greek food.

― Huk-L, Friday, 10 September 2004 15:36 (twenty-one years ago)

hmmm. i guess this is quite a pickle. give it to a friend & tell them to take you? ugh. something to mull over for sure. what do your higher ups think?

― kelsey (kelstarry), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Give it away ina competition in the paper?

― Ed (dali), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:37 (twenty-one years ago)

that might look worse ed, as if the restaurant is somehow sponsoring us

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:38 (twenty-one years ago)

is it good at the bar?? i mean you're not a drink critic

― jones (actual), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:38 (twenty-one years ago)

use it. wear a wig when you go.

― kelsey (kelstarry), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:38 (twenty-one years ago)

ding ding ding jones wins

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:38 (twenty-one years ago)

If you know it's a dilemma then you already think you shouldn't take it. I'd return it with a polite note.

is it bad form? will it set a bad example or look bad if accept any gifts after the fact?

yes, yes and yes - it's irregular and probably against your paper's policy too.

can i afford NOT to use it considering the state of my bank account

Well you could justify all sorts of theft like that too.

/sanctimoniousness

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:39 (twenty-one years ago)

the other big thing is that i don't think gift certificates from this place are really common (they look hand-made), so they're bound to know it's me, which might be awkward

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:39 (twenty-one years ago)

it's ok to be sanctimonious beanz, that's what i'm looking for! someone to SET ME STRAIGHT!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:40 (twenty-one years ago)

If you've already written the review and they're not going to get anything more out of you by buttering you up, I think technically you aren't compromised ethically by receiving the gift certificate. But still it's kind of uncomfortable. Personally too I would worry about endangering my anonymity by using it.

Sell it on craigslist if money's so tight! Or barter it for something nice.

I actually have a few of these that I don't want to use but haven't gotten around to doing anything else with. Maybe you'd like to swap yours for $200 at Churrascaria Plataforma in New York?

Ooh, lots of xposts. Everybody OTM.

― Paul Eater (eater), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:40 (twenty-one years ago)

hmm i like this sneaky trading idea (thx for the input paul!)

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Maybe it's a test and a rival paper sent you the certificate to see if you're bribeable. Woooooh.

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:43 (twenty-one years ago)

If it's all handmade and personal though, I might send them a note and tell them they're really sweet. All the gifts I get seem to be from big corporate restaurants and I think they are just sent out by flunkies with orders to comp anyone who mentions the place in print.

― Paul Eater (eater), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:44 (twenty-one years ago)

good idea paul! maybe i'll ask them to give them to a charity themselves, instead of doing it myself (although maybe that's still crossing a line)

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:45 (twenty-one years ago)

this would really set you back should you decide to run for president some day.. Ill keep this thread bookmarked just in case...

― bill stevens (bscrubbins), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:45 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe it IS a set-up

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:46 (twenty-one years ago)

who's conning who?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:46 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.vanmccoymusic.com/Products/aretha.jpg

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:47 (twenty-one years ago)

now I've got Who's Zoomin' Who on my internal jukebox.

xpost!

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:48 (twenty-one years ago)

s1ocki, I recommend sending it back. Otherwise you are on a slippery slope of giving good reviews to places for free meals.

Or maybe not... I mean, you would hardly want a free meal in Marv's House Of Slard, so you wouldn't give them a good review in the first place. Maybe there is no ethical dilemma.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:48 (twenty-one years ago)

the restaurant IS marv's house of slard! how did you know?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:49 (twenty-one years ago)

actually the traditional greek punishment for turning down gift certificates is harsh and grotesque

― jones (actual), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:58 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm sure it involves anal.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Hooray for ethical considerations, by the way! At a lot of publications (including yours, it sounds like) there is pretty much no oversight to ward off unscrupulous reviewing. A number of well-known reviewers completely toss the anonymity thing out the window when it suits them.

I'd love to see more watchdogging of this kind of sleaziness. ("Corrupt Critics Busted In Slard Bribe Ring")

― Paul Eater (eater), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:59 (twenty-one years ago)

i thought that said "salad bribe ring"! (which would actually be accurate)

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 16:01 (twenty-one years ago)

dude use it! it's ok you've reviewed it already and were honest and they're saying "you are a valued customer, we appreciate the fact you gave us a good review without us having to send you this 100 dollar gift voucher first".

use it! USE IT! I would. you really should, I actually am caught up on a wave of thinking getting a voucher like that is ace, but nonetheless, USE IT.

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 10 September 2004 16:03 (twenty-one years ago)

here comes the dilemma again!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 16:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay, sell the certificate for $80, then go and spend the $80 at the restaurant in question, thereby ensuring warm feelings all around.

Do you have a link to your review?

― Paul Eater (eater), Friday, 10 September 2004 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Sell the voucher, then write a morally outraged thinkpiece for your paper on the whole issue, titled "Beware of Greeks bearing gift vouchers".

― Alba (Alba), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Souvlaki sounds a lot like s1ocki, so that must mean it's alright to use.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:17 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.nervenet.info/_bdisc/beepddicog198olkdgtye76543bngdy/HT_FILES/jpg340/SLOWDIVE.JPG

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:21 (twenty-one years ago)

You should return it to them with a note. Just say it's against your paper's policy. Probably next time you go eat there, they'll "forget" to put certain items on your check anyway.

― Maria D. (Maria D.), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:27 (twenty-one years ago)

s1ocki, have you ever been to "la queue du cheval"? i went there on a business dinner a long time ago, it was really amazing.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Hand it over to your editor. If it comes back to you, it's yours to keep. If it doesn't ... kill a hobo over a can of stew.

Maria OTM..

― dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:30 (twenty-one years ago)

ahh, slowdive.

Hey, you're in Vancouver, right? I probably read your stuff. I'm racking my brain to remember a recent review of a greek place.. you've gotta tell me what you write for, however google proofed. w35+3nd3r? c0ur13r? 5un? 5+ra1gh+?

and hey, i like greek!

― derrick (derrick), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:34 (twenty-one years ago)

no, i'm in montreal, sorry!

s1ocki, have you ever been to "la queue du cheval"? i went there on a business dinner a long time ago, it was really amazing.

no, that's out of my budget! always wanted to go though!

also paul i'm a little reluctant to link to the paper from this page, i hope you understand...

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 September 2004 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 75 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

ah but who pays the tip?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Monday, 7 November 2005 23:35 (twenty years ago)

I don't know what you're imagining as the editors' role -- in my experience they certainly don't choose which restaurants to cover, for example.

On a closer look (used my fingers this time) I think you're right about the math but I still don't quite see how the Nabisco System, even at its best, solves the Mariani Problem. The MP is not a symptom of publications' unwillingness to foot large restaurant bills, which is the main issue alleviated by the NS.

― Paul Eater (eater), Monday, 7 November 2005 23:37 (twenty years ago)

Haha nabisco I can't believe you're missing this point -- food cost <<< the price on the menu. If they give you the meal for free, it costs them $3 rather than the $25 if they had to pay your company back.

Not to mention the booze.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 7 November 2005 23:40 (twenty years ago)

Well not that it's a big system or anything -- I was just trying to think of a way restaurants could bring in junket-style publicity without the impropriety of actually knowing who they were treating or getting a chance to bootlick and gladhand about it. But yeah, I was assuming that (a) editors took a big role in sorting out what their sections were going to cover, and (b) that the main "legitimate" reason for comping is to be sure your restaurant wouldn't be overlooked for budget reasons. If neither of those things are true, then yeah, there's be no point to a "blind" system except as a smokescreen.

Hahaha Tracer I can't believe you guys are weirdos: YOU PAID THEM $25! They gave it back to you! Your meal exactly as free as if you hadn't paid them and they hadn't reimbursed you. They can say the food costs $4 million dollars or whatever -- you're just handing them money and they're handing it right back!

― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 7 November 2005 23:44 (twenty years ago)

(I am totally giggling here, but just for clarity):

COMP SYSTEM
Cost of food items: $3
TOTAL EXPENSE: $3

REIMBURSEMENT SYSTEM
Cost of food items: $3
Menu price paid: -$25
Reimbursed amount: $25
TOTAL EXPENSE: $3

(Except for, like I said, taxes. And I don't really know anything about how tips and drinks are handled when you're being comped.)

― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 7 November 2005 23:51 (twenty years ago)

also i really think this would lead to pressure on editorial to cut costs & only review places that pay their own way (xxxp)

― s1ocki (slutsky), Monday, 7 November 2005 23:52 (twenty years ago)

Hahaha

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 00:43 (twenty years ago)

I'm such a dumbass.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 00:45 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, Slocki, that makes total sense. I'm always wondering how much of an effect that sort of thing has on music coverage. I don't think it affects big things, the things you're "obligated" to cover, but yeah, if a writer already gets send more promos than she can possibly listen to, there's less incentive to seek out whatever music isn't in the promo stack (even apart from the issue of paying for it).

― nabiscothingy, Tuesday, 8 November 2005 00:56 (twenty years ago)

five months pass...

people keep emailing me and requesting reservations to restaurants i've reviewed, assuming i AM the restaurant

also, i've received a few "suggestions" from "readers" to review great places they've "discovered" that share their name with the "reader's" last name.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 16:32 (twenty years ago)

slocki you simply MUST check out this cozy lil joint i just wandered into last week - plum drank's old fashioned house of chicken, waffles & all-nude burlesque

― --+-+++-+, Wednesday, 19 April 2006 16:38 (twenty years ago)

if there was a chicken & waffles place here i would be the happiest man alive :(

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 16:39 (twenty years ago)

Live the dream and open your own.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:01 (twenty years ago)

god bless ron & gladys

― -++-+-++-, Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:03 (twenty years ago)

just like mildred pierce! xp

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:04 (twenty years ago)

http://a104.g.akamaitech.net/7/104/33/ae6354bcd22dbf/images.citysearch.com/profile/d7/30/11551008p1.jpg

― -+--+-++, Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:04 (twenty years ago)

imagine me pressed up against my computer screen like a kid outside a toy store window display

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:08 (twenty years ago)

we also have t.i. & youngbloodz instead of buck 65 & swollen members

― -++-+-+++, Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:13 (twenty years ago)

:( x 1000000000

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:20 (twenty years ago)

Slocki you must visit it, surely.

(You know, I'm kinda glad for this thread where it's the three of us talking about chicken and waffles instead of anything to do with the Village Voice, say.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:23 (twenty years ago)

i put syrup on fried chicken & sometimes use a wing to dip in eggs

― -++-+++---, Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:25 (twenty years ago)

visit... it?

yeah, i couldn't wade through more than like... 100 posts on the VV thread.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:29 (twenty years ago)

montreal is so ambivalent towards fried chicken even kfc outlets can't make it here

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:42 (twenty years ago)

There's a great new chicken&waffles joint on my corner.

Is there an upside to running your email address with your articles? I never wanted mine there, but maybe I'm just a misanthrope. Or a mis-- what's Greek for flack?

― Paul Eater (eater), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:46 (twenty years ago)

Is there an upside to running your email address with your articles?

this is a good question. i can't think of any good thing that has come of it, actually!

oh wait, i got solicited for a z*g*t job once but i didn't get it!

so... no.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:49 (twenty years ago)

As lovely as Montreal is, I'm not sure I could live in a city that didn't respect fried chicken.

― The Mercury Krueger (Ex Leon), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:49 (twenty years ago)

i'm all frownied out

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:50 (twenty years ago)

poutine joke goes here

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:50 (twenty years ago)

Montreal puts the pout in poutine.

And too bad about the job. You would build an awesome ziggurat.

― Paul Eater (eater), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:51 (twenty years ago)

how's the food writing game treating you these days paul?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:56 (twenty years ago)

haha i hope this thread turns into some food critic version of the scar comparison in jaws

― -+--++-+++, Wednesday, 19 April 2006 17:59 (twenty years ago)

incidentally i never used that gift certificate

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 18:00 (twenty years ago)

i'm psyched though cuz i get to review this place tomorrow:

http://www.voir.ca/restos/chronique.aspx?iIDArticle=38873

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 18:19 (twenty years ago)

Nice! I can't complain -- just came from Gilt.

― Paul Eater (eater), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 18:22 (twenty years ago)

OMG s1ocki did you see that critic's NAME??

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 18:32 (twenty years ago)

"Jean-Phillipe Tastet"

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 18:34 (twenty years ago)

His colleague in the music section is M. Listenne.

Wow, the seven-course dinner there is the price of a glass of wine here. What are "panais"? Parsnips?

― Paul Eater (eater), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 18:43 (twenty years ago)

what about that film critics last name? man i wonder if hes got a sister!!

― -++-+-++-+, Wednesday, 19 April 2006 18:47 (twenty years ago)

larf

yeah tastet's name is hilariously apt. he's a really good critic too

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 18:49 (twenty years ago)

(and yes panais=parsnip)

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 18:50 (twenty years ago)

my current favourite mtl resto:

http://www.montrealmirror.com/2005/111705/resto.html

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 18:51 (twenty years ago)

omg i am SO eating chicken and waffles in LA - thanks for reminding me!

slocki i didnt know you were a food critic! thats like my dream job. some friends of mine and I have started a thing where we eat somewhere once a week and then write up a little critique. we're calling ourselves "the mile high supper club" - thing is, nobody really had anything noteworthy or great to say about the food: i.e. "this looks weird." - "my wine glass is stained." - "too pedestrian."

so, yeah, forget that idea.

― i've dreamt of rubies! (Mandee), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 19:08 (twenty years ago)

There's a great new chicken&waffles joint on my corner.

do tell.

― lauren (laurenp), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 19:44 (twenty years ago)

oh man... just got back from lunch... oh man.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 20 April 2006 17:52 (twenty years ago)

three courses:

1) green bean salad w/roasted almonds & hazelnuts, goat cheese from lac st-jean, OR insanely amazing gnocchi, parsley, reggiano sauce, bread crumbs

2) wild suckling pig & morel ravioli w/celery-root-flavoured potato puree OR braised beef cheek w/bacon, cheesy potato puree, mushrooms, onion strings OR vacuum-cooked salmon w/breaded scallop, polenta

3) insane cheese plate w/fig compote, almonds

total = ~$17CAD

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 20 April 2006 17:55 (twenty years ago)

do tell

yes, please

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 20 April 2006 17:56 (twenty years ago)

Mmmm. Sous-viding is illegal in NYC now!

do tell.

Aw, a new soul-food opening doesn't really merit that much attention up here in the alleged birthplace of chicken&waffles. Melba's is the newish one, and it's open late, but it's not the best c&w around. If you're coming all the way uptown, I'd recommend Pan Pan, at Lenox and 135th.

― Paul Eater (eater), Thursday, 20 April 2006 18:37 (twenty years ago)

the salmon was delicious.... perfect spring meal.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 20 April 2006 18:40 (twenty years ago)

some store just emailed me and the message contained this sentence:

"The idea behind our shop was to create a voyeuristic experience for our customer, therefore changing their patterns of choice."

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 20 April 2006 18:40 (twenty years ago)

I love that word "restos", my ex said it's mainly used for not-so-posh places to eat yeah?

― Trayce (trayce), Friday, 21 April 2006 02:11 (twenty years ago)

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