Frank's Last Column

My friend Bennett teed up this post perfectly, so I will let the email he sent me speak for itself.

"Hey Laur,

I don’t know if you know, but Frank Bruni, the famous food critic from the NYTimes is stepping down as food critic and wrote his last column yesterday. He answers questions he’s never had a chance to address and gives some final suggestions of his favorite meals and restaurants. Thought you would be interested…"

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/dining/reviews/26rest.html?_r=1&ref=dining

This is my favorite segment of Frank's last column:

IS THERE ANY BEST, SAFEST WAY TO NAVIGATE A MENU?
Scratch off the appetizers and entrees that are most like dishes you’ve seen in many other restaurants, because they represent this one at its most dutiful, conservative and profit-minded. The chef’s heart isn’t in them.

Scratch off the dishes that look the most aggressively fanciful. The chef’s vanity — possibly too much of it — spawned these.

Then scratch off anything that mentions truffle oil.

Choose among the remaining dishes.

Thanks to my wonderful friends who keep me in the loop on the latest foodie news!

Yours foodly,
Toasty Buns