tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post3911446150154581964..comments2024-03-14T13:58:46.869+11:00Comments on I Eat Therefore I Am: Reviewing the Reviewer - Dubecki's Scathing Review of Vapiano thanh7580http://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-88577133067847892862013-10-27T16:46:48.039+11:002013-10-27T16:46:48.039+11:00Hi Andy,
You too are allowed to think she's a...Hi Andy,<br /><br />You too are allowed to think she's a good writer. I'm glad there are some bad reviews, but I don't agree with her language in this post. I agree with some of her points but it isn't that the place is without any redeeming qualities. If it's about eating better at a certain price point, by it's very nature 90% of restaurants would not be worth going to as there will only be a few that are worth eating at for that price point. Places do provide some differences, either in terms of purely location or space or whatever else. I personally think she could have written it differently but I can also understand that others may see it as a refreshing honest review.<br /><br />Thanks for your feedback. Discussions of this type are surely a good thing.<br /><br />Cheers, <br />Thanhthanh7580https://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-23253739266086958042013-10-27T16:35:46.297+11:002013-10-27T16:35:46.297+11:00Hi Anonymous,
I have no issues that she doesn...Hi Anonymous, <br /><br />I have no issues that she doesn't like famils, but to be asked to a famil would happen to her from every restaurant. I know for a fact that a few other restaurants have asked her in but she didn't put that in their review. Well I can definitely say that one of the people you listed has gone to a freebie. I was at the same freebie. I'm sure they didn't ask for it, but they did go.<br /><br />I can understand the freebie aspect and how it can influence opinion. I know of some shady bloggers who also don't disclose them. For me personally, I'll make it known that it's a freebie and let the person reading make up their mind if they trust my opinion or not. I feel I give honest reviews, and I do admit that the cost being free has an effect in terms of the way I judge the food. Hence I now take the stance of finding out the costs and deciding whether I'd pay money for that meal. <br /><br />I don't mind if she dislikes the place and says so. I agreed with many of her thoughts. It was the manner in which she put the boot in that I don't like. Even generic chain restaurants are run by someone who's trying to make a living. A few friends run fast food chain restaurants and they work very hard to make it work to support their families. So I'd put them in the honest hard working category too, even though they serve food that I wouldn't go to eat. And hence I tell them I don't eat such foods but I support them in their ventures and would give feedback on what I don't like in as constructive a way as possible. <br /><br />In a perfect world there wouldn't be such standardised generic food, but it fills a gap and clearly some people like it. I don't think it's up to me to shame the people who like and will buy such food. That's their choice. My choice is to say I don't like it and if others agree with that opinion, that's good too.<br /><br />I'm actually getting into coffee, and I do drink "proper" coffee, whatever that means. I think we should respect other's decisions and maybe try to persuade them to change their views but never shame them.<br /><br />Thank you for your comment, whoever you are. This review definitely brought out discussions, which was my intent.<br /><br />Cheers, <br />Thanhthanh7580https://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-66833883941694890722013-10-21T19:10:00.271+11:002013-10-21T19:10:00.271+11:00I think she's a knowledgeable person and a wit...I think she's a knowledgeable person and a witty professional. Your entitled to your opinion of course, but I for one are sick of wishy washy reviewers that lack the spine to say what they think. I think by giving the restaurant a 10 out of a possible 20, LD made her point without poleaxing the establishment. Bear in mind her central point viz: you can eat better at these prices - ciao Andy. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-54478033264746882302013-10-20T15:52:00.890+11:002013-10-20T15:52:00.890+11:00guys i think you will find the dig at famils is ba...guys i think you will find the dig at famils is based on the fact that as a reviewer she shouldn't be excepting free meals - its called journalistic integrity. I have not had anything to do with her but in all my years dealing with the likes of Stephanie Wood, Stephan Downes, John Lethlean and co. They have all not asked for or as far as I know excepted a freebie. <br /><br />It seems the blogesphere is awash with freebies which is a worry as some of you guys have followings and can make a difference to where people eat. <br /><br />That being said I'm sure (hope) most of you give honest appraisals of what you think of establishments. Just maybe you wouldn't have gone there if you didn't get comped.<br /><br />Reading the review, it is a bitter and I have to agree I'm often not a fan of her musings, especially the obvious affair with celebrity chefs and their very own high end chains. That being said there are many honest, vibrant operators out there that work hard to make some thing special, something with soul and this starbucks, Mc donalds, meat and wine co chain direction of the food industry is an abomination and as "foodies" you should be calling it as such. <br /><br />Melbourne food scene is all about passion and personality and there should be no room for standardised drone offerings. Like super markets soon the chains will be squeezing the little guys out of the market. Interestingly I believe that Melbourne was the first starbucks to close in the world, alas they seemed to have survived in our market. <br /><br />I implore you and your readers to drink real coffee made by business that pay taxes in Australia, eat real food made by chefs in great Australian restaurants and forget these factory feeders and formula restaurants. <br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-59370560362653752692013-08-29T22:09:09.874+10:002013-08-29T22:09:09.874+10:00I felt her review was mean spirited too. Yes, I...I felt her review was mean spirited too. Yes, I'm unsure what he expectations were. She knew what she was getting before she went I'm sure.<br /><br />The condescension was so bad. <br /><br />I'm unsure if she can cook or not.thanh7580https://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-72268543888842165832013-08-29T22:08:02.541+10:002013-08-29T22:08:02.541+10:00Hi Rachel,
The spite part is exactly why I took ...Hi Rachel, <br /><br />The spite part is exactly why I took offense to this review. While some of her points are valid, it was the delivery method that I didn't like at all. It did feel like a massive knife to me and I'm not sure why. <br /><br />I would never ever want to share a meal with Dubecki.thanh7580https://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-51887557921999142272013-08-24T20:23:08.738+10:002013-08-24T20:23:08.738+10:00Hi Thanh,
As a person who writes both for love and...Hi Thanh,<br />As a person who writes both for love and money, I find the engine which drives good writing can never consist wholly of spite just for the sake of spite. <br />A writer can be angry and write in an outraged 'voice' because they seek to inform others in order to save them from a bad experience. <br />A writer can be disappointed, annoyed, skeptical etc. and express a whole gamut of other not-warm-n-fuzzy emotions. But, and this is a BIG but - if the aim of writing about a bad experience is just to stab a knife in, you ain't doing nobody any favours. The best criticism is the constructive kind and sometimes critics forget the 'constructive' part.<br />My criteria for a good critic is "would I want to share a meal with that person?" <br />In Dubecki's case I'd be a bit hesitant.Rachelhttp://anotherbloodyfoodblog.blogspot.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-74308063617099037002013-08-19T20:28:37.851+10:002013-08-19T20:28:37.851+10:00she is just too mean for my liking. And its waay t...she is just too mean for my liking. And its waay too wordy. What does she expect from a chain restaurant? Really good food at fine dining prices?????<br /><br />Look we have our negative views too but they aren't as condescending as she is. <br />Does she even know how to cook?RMIT Newintstudentshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16080502678259979920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-56964952692771547292013-08-19T19:10:29.707+10:002013-08-19T19:10:29.707+10:00Yeah it does feel like she's trolling just for...Yeah it does feel like she's trolling just for publicity. I'm surprised the editor let that review go as is. thanh7580https://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-21362854160940933942013-08-08T22:32:19.188+10:002013-08-08T22:32:19.188+10:00I've heard about the scathing review, but only...I've heard about the scathing review, but only just went to check it out. Wow - it's almost like she's trolling. Either that or someone upset her somehow, and she's doing the "hell hath no fury..." thing. Even the usual disappointing meal shouldn't have incited that kind of wrath!leaf (the indolent cook)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02265240462060082738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-21885378426152978242013-08-07T22:23:33.414+10:002013-08-07T22:23:33.414+10:00Thank you for loving my blog.
What a coincide wi...Thank you for loving my blog. <br /><br />What a coincide with your dining and the review. I too find her far too condescending and it irritates me so much. <br /><br />Yep she made points that I agree with, but the language she used to describe those points was so unnecessarily scathing.<br /><br />Haha glad this post made you smile. I have succeeded in my efforts then even if I managed to make one person laugh.thanh7580https://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-11274104439178745552013-08-07T22:21:25.866+10:002013-08-07T22:21:25.866+10:00I've seen the German style of self service res...I've seen the German style of self service restaurants in Switzerland actually, and it worked so well coz the people there are really good in the way they line up and know what to do. I'd have to say it didn't work as smoothly at Vapiano. <br /><br />I too love processes, hence was watching the Vapiano one with great interest and gave my full feedback to the manager. <br /><br />Her tone is so bad and so "I'm better than you" that I can't stand it. I just don't see the point of their review as they could have reviewed far better places.thanh7580https://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-52606143878787755232013-08-07T22:18:34.663+10:002013-08-07T22:18:34.663+10:00Thanks so much Georgia. Yes the tone I get from he...Thanks so much Georgia. Yes the tone I get from her reviews is smug. If only I knew what desultory means. I still don't know what context to use it in haha. Can you explain it to me?<br /><br />Thanks. I hope to keep writing.thanh7580https://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-62039220668561481782013-08-07T22:17:06.810+10:002013-08-07T22:17:06.810+10:00It was so strange to talk about famils as I didn&#...It was so strange to talk about famils as I didn't understand how that was relevant to just this place. <br /><br />I think the service side is pretty bad and that card system is something I really dislike. <br /><br />I must admit I don't mind cream in my carbonara, although I actually enjoy the creamless version more.thanh7580https://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-9276392190357878512013-08-07T22:15:39.219+10:002013-08-07T22:15:39.219+10:00Thanks Libby.
I have to admit in the early days I...Thanks Libby.<br /><br />I have to admit in the early days I was rather harsh but I don't write in that tone anymore. I think Larissa's tone was very harsh and unnecessary.<br /><br />I think there are good elements at Vapiano and some that are quite bad.<br /><br />You may be right. I don't even know what desultory means haha. She could have just used a simpler word that most people can understand rather than using a really big word to make us all feel inferior.thanh7580https://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-17615429237840745672013-08-07T14:51:03.839+10:002013-08-07T14:51:03.839+10:00I love your blog and this post came at the most am...I love your blog and this post came at the most amazing time. Last night, I went with a group of friends to Vapiano out of curiosity and the fact that we had fond memories of going with another large group in Brisbane last year (probably due more to the company and atmosphere than the food or service).<br /><br />Yesterday morning, another friend had shown me Larissa's review, which I just found pretty amusing, to be honest. I find it so hard to take anyone seriously who can be that unnecessarily condescending, disdainful and rude. Yes, as mentioned, it sounded like "how dare they even try".<br /><br />I enjoyed my pasta last night, however, I found I agreed with a few of her basic points, just as you did.<br /><br />And then, as I was playing with my tablet on the tram ride home, this post popped up in my RSS feed and you had my laughing again.ICnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-54339345421400374362013-08-07T12:02:35.616+10:002013-08-07T12:02:35.616+10:00Great post Thanh! Really entertaining. :)
Like y...Great post Thanh! Really entertaining. :)<br /><br />Like you, I accepted the famil to try out the restaurant, and I happily own that decision. I was genuinely curious to see if they could live up to the promise of fresh simple food delivered efficiently. (Of course I was personally interested to see if a German concept would work here - you know how I feel about Germany!) In my professional life I used to work in banking operations, and seeing the ways different businesses organise their processes is really interesting to me. (Nerd alert).<br /><br />Unfortunately Vapiano isn't the greatest, and indeed, I agree with many the points Larissa has made - e.g. the lack of seasonality and the convoluted ordering system are real pitfalls, and the price comparison between Vapiano and Ladro's pizza was a really good way of illustrating that Vapiano isn't good value for money.<br /><br />However, what irritates me about Larissa's review is the condescension with which she writes. The whole tone of the article is: "I know better, and how laughable that this restaurant even tried - what a joke". I think she seriously sounds like a bitchy schoolgirl who enjoys ripping into someone less privileged/intelligent than her. It's a shame, as the bitchy tone distracts from the good points she does make.<br /><br />Whilst I am all for informed, critical reviews (so full points to her for using her food knowledge to comment honestly on Vapiano's food and service), I think it's important to remember that restaurants, even chain restaurants who dare to serve sundried tomatoes to customers who might actually enjoy them, aren't anonymous corporations - they are people's livelihoods and dreams, and criticism can and should be constructive, not just mean for the sake of it. Those are the types of reviews I like to read, anyway. :)<br /><br />I also think it's weird that Larissa chose to write about Vapiano at all - I highly doubt her review will make or break the restaurant, if for no other reason than that the target market of Vapiano is totally different to that of Epicure. As she normally reviews fine dining places, or casual places with a strong emphasis on ingredient provenance/quality I really think this review was like shooting fish in a barrel - there was no way Vapiano was ever going to live up that standard, so why judge it on that criteria? I mean, if the aim is just to write a mean review, why not just pick somewhere like Groove Train or Cafe Greco or Sofia's and really let it rip?<br /><br />xox SarahSarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00261274546097701065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-34142539491533878812013-08-07T11:35:46.054+10:002013-08-07T11:35:46.054+10:00This is seriously awesome, Thanh! Can't agree ...This is seriously awesome, Thanh! Can't agree more about LD's writing. She comes across as smug and perhaps a wee bit desultory... ;) <br />Your reviews, on the other hand, big thumbs up - I continue to enjoy your writing and beautiful photos. Thanks! Georgiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05625092172290533884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-3644808019120774402013-08-07T11:08:53.803+10:002013-08-07T11:08:53.803+10:00I enjoy Larissa's reviews but agree there were...I enjoy Larissa's reviews but agree there were a few points here like the dig at famils that were strange. Anyway I certainly enjoyed your dissection here! Incidentally I went to Vapiano not on a famil but with a large group and it was a nightmare service wise - the food was also pretty ordinary - they put cream in their carbonara - sacrilege! Cara @ Gourmet Chickhttp://www.gourmet-chick.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-33378336787875978592013-08-07T10:41:50.747+10:002013-08-07T10:41:50.747+10:00Nice work, Thanh!
I sometimes write in a bitchy w...Nice work, Thanh!<br /><br />I sometimes write in a bitchy way (guilty as charged, but I'm trying my best to tone down these days) but I thought Larissa took it a bit too far - and in a printed publication too. I'm not a fan of Larissa but this has got to be one of the most WTF reviews she's ever written.<br /><br />I haven't been to Vapiano's in Melbourne myself but the Gold Coast restaurant gets mixed reviews so it would be interesting to see how I go when I finally do decide to set food in there...<br /><br />Finally, I initially interpreted the use of 'desultory' in this context as the pizza being executed in a half-arsed manner. In other words, the idea sounded good on paper but it didn't taste as good as it sounded. Thing is, she could have used 10 billion other phrases to get her point across - I can't stand writers who use $10 words!Libbyhttp://theveryveryhungrycaterpillar.comnoreply@blogger.com