Charlottecritic.com has been online for about 3 years
now. Our website is what was essentially a hobby for
people who love food and sports.
We began to write about food that people actually can
eat, afford and make time for everyday. We figured that
90% of all restaurant patrons are of the working or
middle class. In a city where young professionals and
working class folks live work and eat the only references
to great food stops seemed to all involve reservations
and $25 to 45 a plate meals.
If you are looking for the best $40-$80 plate of food,
I am afraid we wont have any food advice to offer you.
We do not write for ourselves, other critics, executive
chefs or owners seeking free advertising. We will not
participate in the act of writing about meals that 95%
of the city would find too expensive for their budget.
We believed that writing like this alienated our audience
and really forgot the concept of enjoying a meal and
sharing that experience with those who may choose to
follow your advice while seeking a great meal.
A great meal means great food, portions, presentation
and value. Using this as a measure of the full spectrum
of quality for a meal we find that a $great $6 lunch
c an be viewed and rated higher than a finely prepared
$60 dinner. If you pay $60 for what is great $40 food,
then the meal does not deserve praise as it fails in
one of the criteria of "greatness".
As chief editor and the main contributor on Charlottecritic.com,
I have lived 26 years in New York, 5 in Florida between
Tampa and Miami, and the last 3 here in the Queen City,
where I now raise my family from this day forward.
I have found generosity of spirit, friendliness and
a sense of hospitality that goes beyond the cliché friendly
neighbors. Never in my life have I had experiences and
candid conversations with strangers like I have here
in Charlotte, NC. For these reason I want my 2 children
to learn from this by growing up in the Queen City.
I
have always loved food and the service and presentation
experience connected with it. I have connected my
love of eating well and in huge tasty portions to
a time period where money was tight for my family
and every meal needed to be enjoyed. As Anthony Bourdain
said, anyone can prepare the best parts of meat or
work with the best ingredients, but a true cook or
chef makes great meals with the rest of the ingredients
in the fridge.
My love aside from food has always been sports. I consider
myself and our writers to be exceptional experts in
American Football (NFL). I have been a Buffalo Bills
Fan for over 20 years and languished in a way that only
true fans of any team can understand. In this same time
period I have religiously watched an enjoyed NBA Basketball,
March Madness, World Cup and America's Cup Soccer, Tennis,
some golf, Volleyball (indoor and beach) and all other
world competitions like the Olympics and Tour De France.
I enjoy writing about sports, and through a lifelong
involvement in competition and coaching have a great
understanding of the elements of winner on the court
or field. Nothing is better entertainment than life
as modern TV has taught us, and sports are the original
show.
We are always interested in advertisement and contribution
inquiries. If you love big sports, big portions, dipping
sauces, highlight films, beer commercials and anything
else that is candy to men contact me with your ideas
at critic(at)charlottecritic.com.
