In the Jan. 23 edition, the food critic from The Coronado News reviewed our local restaurant, Rosemary Trattoria. While tasty food is the primary focus for a restaurant review, the critic may have lost sight of the tastefulness of being a guest in an establishment that provides a livelihood for many people.
In her description of the meals served, it was clear she had her own fun with “foodie” jargon. When I would have told a friend, “it was delicious,” this journalist/food critic chose a more poetic approach to her narrative: ”…the tomatoes collided with the cream in a way that beguiled me.”
That’s all well and good; I enjoy a descriptive writing style. But here is the rub – many of her comments seemed like petty attempts to balance the positive with the negative. I sensed an unabashed desire to have it all perfect. I had to ask myself, “Why was that necessary?” Kindness still matters. It just takes more thought. Reading through the review, I couldn’t help but think, this is a classic example of unfiltered dialogue that would be better left unsaid.
If you haven’t already guessed, Rosemary Trattoria has become a friend to me. It is a family-owned business that works hard to provide a reasonably-priced meal in a setting that assists its customers to be comfortable and familiar.
So, yes, I take offense to making comments about “tacky” decor or the bull mural on the wall of an establishment with Italian-themed cuisine. It is the restaurant that Alex Martinez built, the business that supports his family and the coworkers who show up every day to give us a quality experience. He likely broke his eggs to try to please this writer. And that bull mural, “…more reminiscent of Spain,” it is a piece of art with a history, a story that could be as interesting as the taste of the food.
It all boils down to this: We are company in his restaurant and need to behave with decorum and grace. There is a more gentle way to say something that doesn’t please you. When in doubt, think how you would respond to a dinner at a friend’s house, when the meal or furnishings weren’t exactly your cup of tea. Be nice, be grateful, and remember, we are a small community, with mom-and-pop businesses, just trying to stay competitive with the chains. Alex Martinez and his family are doing that. Let us applaud them, without undue tasteless commentary. Buon mangiare…
