Thursday, March 26, 2009
Bite Your Tongue Nice Work If You Can Get It: Food Critics for the Next Generation
Posted by Carrington Fox on Thu, Mar 26, 2009 at 5:18 AM
I recently had the honor of speaking to a group of fourth-graders at career day, for which I just received a bundle of thank-you letters. Written in pencil on blue-lined paper and adorned with eraser marks and the occasional illustration of pizza, the notes were flavored with such enthusiasm for writing and eating that they reminded me how much I love my job. (One note, signed "The Future Food Critic," even has me watching my back a little.) One particular letter, which was unsigned, reminded me the most of own early career ambitions. I share it (slightly edited) below:
Dear Ms. Fox,I was the person with the details? I wish I'll become a food critic. I think it is a easy job. It was the best section of the day. All you have to do is eat and write about it. Have you ever been to Sonic?
Comments (6)
Showing 1-6 of 6
All you have to do is know more than other people about every kind of food under the sun; never eat exactly what you want; give up cooking at home; give up reading materials that don't concern; write about food every single day in some new and fresh way; invent a whole new vocabulary for expressing food thoughts; get it right every time; have a diplomatic touch; be thick-skinned; and make sure you never fall behind in what's going on in your food community. C, you make it look easy, and that's the hard part.
like
dislike
Have I ever been to Sonic? Have I ever been to Sonic? Clearly, and back me up here Stepford Wife, that fourth-grader has never been pregnant.
Oh indeed. After six kids between us and an office just down the road, I can assure this inquisitive student that Ms. Fox and I HAVE most certainly been to Sonic and could write a thorough critique on almost any liquid libation they offer...even the seasonal special shakes.
