Five Tenets of Reviewing
Fundamental bullet-points to hold true when critiquing dining establishments. It is difficult to bestow a particular review – or reviewer – much worth or integrity, if the majority of these standards are not considered.

1. Rational Objectivity:
Do not fault a dining establishment for what it cannot reasonably control itself. This includes, but is not limited to, such elements as “unfavorable” client demographics, weather and acts of God. Yes, I mentioned God.

2. Know the Food:
Understand how a particular food item or dish is supposed to be prepared first, prior to passing judgement. Just because something may not be prepared in a familiar way, doesn’t mean it is prepared incorrectly.

3. Open the Mind:
Be accepting of what could be considered unique or odd flavor combinations and preparations. Understand that just because something is unfamiliar to one person, doesn’t mean it is to everyone else.

4. Reasonable Empathy and Patience:
If the restaurant is noticeably busy, the staff noticeably over-stretched, and everyone is accomplishing to their best ability, be patient. Unless legitimately warranted and or completely careless, empathy goes a long way.

5. Don’t be a Nancy:
Initial negative mentality, unwarranted bias, or simple bad case of food snobbery, can go a long way in clouding a reviewer’s judgment – it helps to frame a particular dining experience in a bad way. Attitude plays a major role in how a particular dining experience turns out. So relax, and get over it.

Photo/Art Disclaimer
A sensitive, murky issue that needs to be addressed.

I am not much of a photographer – amateur or otherwise. I own a decent point-and-shoot, but it’s hardly the proper equipment to truly expand my skills, much less show any of them off.

Sometimes I will post original photographs or artwork, and sometimes I will post pieces not my own. Sometimes photography, artwork and or related media is also submitted to me directly from sources officially associated with a particular restaurant and or business. Whenever possible, I will always give detailed credit if they are not my own.

In applicable instances, I will also attempt to contact the owners or “creators” whenever reasonably possible. I am not an advocate for intellectual or artistic piracy – I enjoy using photographs and or artwork complimentary to my writing, and believe in doing so as respectfully and responsibly as I can when they are not my own.

There are times when original credits for photographs and artwork cannot be found. In these cases, I will never re-post unless reasonably deemed to be of “fair use” within the context of my particular piece of writing. 

I will always assume an image or piece of artwork is copyrighted, and will never purposefully conceal a piece’s origins for my own benefit or profit. I will never pass a particular piece off as my own. I consider myself to be a creative person as well, and as a result readily understand desires of artistic recognition.

If you are a photographer, artist or organization from which I’ve re-posted one of your original pieces and credit is not given, please e-mail me and I will post the information as soon as possible. Though I hope it doesn’t conclude as such, I will also remove the particular photograph if absolutely desired. Always understand, my intentions are never mal-conceived.

Thanks for listening.