Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Programing Note

At the Fourth Annual Blackened Out Media, L.L.C. Retreat and Trust Fall Exercise Summit, Peter and I discussed the future of Ye Ole Blog. In February, this area of the world wide web will turn five, which means we need to figure out soon whether it is going to a public school or private school. Furthermore, the blog just started playing soccer and we finally got the damn thing potty trained.

Quite simply, we needed to figure out how to go forward surrounded by heightened responsibilities. A best practices if you will for a business that has never turned a profit. But one thing we think we have gained is your trust. We don't take ads and we don't have an agenda. We simply enjoy sharing our dining experiences with strangers on the internet. And that trust (if we have it, which is a big if) is perhaps the most important aspect of our interaction.

As you may know, as Hogs for the Cause has grown, my involvement with local chefs and restaurants has increased. Geographically, I live four doors down and around the corner from the chefs of two of my favorite restaurants. Through one event or introduction or another, I have gotten too chummy with the people we critique. While being unbiased and honest has never been a problem here, Peter and I are concerned about how the appearance of impropriety could erode the trust our readers have in our reviews. In light of these issues, we have reached a decision that once I finish out the 2012 Challenge (which will bleed into 2013), I will cease reviewing restaurants for Blackened Out.

Peter will take full over full responsibility for reviewing restaurants which has sort of been the heading regardless. Our goal is to release more "professional" reviews based on a minimum of two visits, rather than reactionary restaurant writing. Reviews will be published once a week on Thursday. Occasionally, one lengthy review may be replaced by a collection of Short Order Reviews. Peter will not take on a challenge in 2013 and instead narrow his energies solely on restaurant reviewing. Finally, we will continue to use our golf style ranking system.

In the past few years, my focus has shifted towards writing about restaurants and chefs, wine and spirits, and home cooking. These types of articles will continue two or three times a week. I have grand plans of reviving the interview series from two summers past, as well as other restaurant focused writing which isn't based around a review. We'll see what happens and we hope you will continue reading.

Thanks,
Management

13 comments:

an expat said...

I'll miss "is it worth it"

Anonymous said...

Agreed. Someone should keep posting the "is it worth it?" posts. Good stuff.

Rene said...

Is It Worth It will continue until the list is exhausted. By my estimates sometime around March. IIWI = 2012 Challenge.

Anonymous said...

Just don't go away!!!! I really enjoy the blog.

Jeff Richardson said...

Evolution is inevitable, but keep up the great work!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic blog, guys! Thanks for all of your efforts. Also, let me echo the others- I look forward to the IIWI posts.

thomas cook said...

This is complete Horse Poo. So steamed right now its not even funny. "Its like Nick Saban f'ed my girlfriend...."

Alexander Hancock said...

Keep up the good work, y'all. Sounds like the changes will make the site even more awesome-r.

Anonymous said...

That's a bummer. Both POVs were fantastic and am sad we'll only have one from this point forward. But both of you are great writers so glad this blog will continue regardless. Really appreciate you guys. Will definitely miss Rene's IIWI. I'm in Houston but love NOLA (and food! and cocktails!) and you guys are my go-to resource for what I need to eat when I visit, which is often. Love the blog so keep up the good fight! Rene, come to Houston every once in a while and eat our food! And write about it! There are some great (and delicious) things happening here.

Rene said...

Just to clarify: I am not going anywhere. I will still write about food and restaurants, I just will not review them.

So let's say I have a three great meals at three new restaurants, I will probably write about them but on a more macro level. Something like "Three new restaurants exploring Med cuisine" instead of assigning pars and birdies.

Unknown said...

maybe you will have more time to work on your golf game

Parisian Princess said...

Umm in lieu of the Parisian Princess return to NOLA. I will volunteer to take over some reviews. You just let me know, boys......

BBQ BINGE said...

Wake up people, a sell out and openly admits it! I'll watch from
time to time to view the future train wreck, or should I say a "macro level" wreck!