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After making a TV appearance at some sort of Minnesota State Fair, Eater kicked off a search for famed SF Chronicle food critic Michael Bauer's elusive visage. (Oh God. Speaking of TV, did anybody catch the premier episode of Obsessed last night? Give it time; it has loads of potential. Because: remember the scene where, after arriving at the germophobic gay guy's jarringly immaculate Palm Springs home, the therapist whips out a tampon and says, "As luck would have it, I'm on my period," and then uses his pristine bathroom to insert a fresh Stayfree? Then, in a stroke that was nothing short of genius, she asks said obsessed gay guy to come look at her used tampon floating in his once -sterilized toilet? That's called TV magic, folks.) In record time, they found a photo of him frolicking at the Ferry Building in a mustard yellow top. Hungry for more, the fine people over at Eater are now requesting your help in finding other local food critics' faces. Help them out, won't you? (Update: Since most of you are new to the internet, or so it would seem, we've partially blocked out Bauer's face. In the meantime, here you go.)
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Maybe I'm alone in this, but I enjoy reading Michael Bauer's blog and reviews, and don't understand why Eater is doing this. It just seems pointlessly nasty to me.
Also, Obsessed sounds like must-see TV.
You're not alone. If they don't agree with his reviews then don't read them but to maliciously ruin his career is crazy.
Bauer's talk of anonymity obviously wows the home audience, but it's the worst-kept secret in the Bay Area restaurant community. The man and his partner are notoriously aggressive networkers, his image has never been a secret.
Thanks for clarifying. I always assumed most restaurants didn't know what he looked like.
Sigh. How are the critics supposed to be treated like regular folk at a restaurant if they can be recognized at face value?
Go incognito like Ruth Reichl did. Imagine the fun he could have!!
I'm picturing him in a pucci print caftan and turban...
What a nasty piece of work you are, Keeling. What a gigantic, gratuitous, malicious piece of douchebaggery.
Fuck you.
giggle, giggle
His anonymity is a big part of his job. Outing him like this is just immature and selfish.
people already know what he looks like. Seriously.
it will be okay.
That's what it sounds like from what I am reading. I guess I am feeling similar to how I felt when I found out at age 20 that Santa was really my parents.
Why eater is doing this? For publicity maybe. Bauer set them up so he can retire or change careers maybe. OR maybe Paolo (of eater fame) is a sadist and had a bad three-day weekend. Not everything in life has some profound thinking behind it. That is the spirit of eater.com
Bauer is laughing at them. He will wear a fake nose and glasses when he goes around. HE will take it out on some restaurant. What is Paolo's favorite place to eat?
I've never understood the secrecy thing. Even if all the restaurants know what he looks like, and they all try extra special for him, he's still judging one restaurant against another. It's still a fair way to review.
I don't get that he's judging one restaurant against another. He's supposedly giving an objective review of each restaurant he goes to. If the restaurant recognizes him, he gets special attention, special food, etc., that the regular Joe does not get. Thus, his reviews are less helpful if he is recognized.
(I recommend reading Garlic & Sapphires for more on this topic).
And also, these restaurants should be bringing their A game to every table, not just for a recognized food critic. They should assume EVERY customer is Michael Bauer. Outing him undermines this.
I don't get it. Is Michael Bauer also a model for Tucks pads? And what does any of this have to do with tampons on reality shows or food critique? Was there a bet to see if you could mention all three in one article?