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Eat, Pay, Love!
A story of how food influencers are committing legal fraud
 • Earnest Graham
The James Beard Awards Are Broken
An extreme close-up of America's so-called "Food Oscars" from a former judge
 • Michael Nagrant
The New York Times' Food Criticism Officially Sucks
Plus a top ten Chicago burger candidate and some other great bites
 • Michael Nagrant
Welcome To The Terror Economy
Last week an influencer went to a restaurant looking to hype the spot in exchange for a free meal. Things did not go well.
 • Michael Nagrant
Why I’m Taking Warlord Off The Essential Chicago Restaurants List
A reflection on how we coddle dangerous cooking genius
 • Michael Nagrant
The Chicago Tribune Restaurant Review System Is Broken
In whispers and direct messages, former Chicago Tribune Dining Critic Phil Vettel was often derisively referred to as “Three Star Phil”, a signifier of…
 • Michael Nagrant
The Unethical Food Critic and His “Secret” Boka Restaurant Group Black Card
There’s a dude (of course it’s a dude) who writes Harry Potter-novel-length restaurant reviews about Chicago’s restaurants.
 • Michael Nagrant
A Chicago Influencer Sets His Client and His Own Business on Fire
The absolute meltdown of Realsergelato, aka Serge Golota, a food content creator
 • Michael Nagrant
R.I.P. Chicago Tribune Food Criticism & the Out-of-Town Celebrity Chef Trend
Born 1980s(-ish)- Died May 20th, 2024
 • Michael Nagrant
The Human Centi-PR*
*this title is based on a movie called the Human Centipede that you should not Google while at work
 • Michael Nagrant
No Such Thing As a Free Meal
If you were a struggling Chicago chef or restaurant owner, my advice to you might be, “Have you considered sleeping with a food journalist or a PR…
 • Michael Nagrant
Pizza City Fest Has No Sauce
Steve Dolinsky, aka the Hungry Hound Food Guy, has always been a fraud.
 • Michael Nagrant
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