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July 14, 2008

As God As My Witness You'll Never Go Hungry Again With Our New Kobe Steaks and Pomme Frites!

sporks.jpg

So, the Old Gray Lady hauled out the printing press to publish a story about how "cool-hunting hipsters" love Valenica Street. Sure, it's a dated piece. Wildly so, it seems. The article goes on and on Valencia Street faves: terrorist hangout Ritual Coffee Roasters, the macabre plant/carcass retailer Paxton Gate, and the God-we-love-this-place-so-much-but-wish-half-of-you-who-go-there-would-head-to-Casanova-instead Amnesia.

But the Times article also mentions new-ish restaurant Spork, sits in the same building as the old KFC. Whimsically, the restaurant nods at the implements used by its former occupant, while only serving food that is financially out of reach for its former customers. Which? Makes us feel squeamish inside. Right or wrong, it just does. ("Spork turns out slow-food favorites like grass-fed beef burger ($14), Kona Kampachi sashimi ($13) and mussels and slow-roasted pork ($18)," NYT breathlessly reports.)

While the adoption of "comfort foods" is a pleasant (albeit increasingly twee) trend, and a nice break from more ambitious dining, when does that line go from nostalgic to camp to mockery of not just the food, but of the class that consumes it?


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Comments (4)

Q: When does that line go from nostalgic to camp to mockery of not just the food, but of the class that consumes it?

A: When SFist writes about it.

 

Well, I'm pretty sure that any of our local deadtrees rags would put out a similarly dated piece on visiting the East Village. This sort of travel articles is supposed to appeal to a wide audience base anyhow, so it's perfectly understandable that they mentioned mostly tried-and-true businesses.

The NY Times's review of Spork is so short, any interpretation on their motives would largely be in the eye of the beholder. Since it follows the capsule review of Dosa, they are probably meant to show a wide range of culinary styles in the area.

 

class mockery is fine in teh SF. butter bar was fun once upon a time.

i used to think bubble lounge was a delicious form of self- mockery, until i realized they were serious.

 

I went to Spork a few months ago, totally prepared to loathe it, to continue my drive-by condescension. However, it was actually good. Drats.

 
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