Etiquette Tuesday: True Colors
©JohnnaKnowsGoodFood
Writing about food can be a gift and a curse. The gift is that you get first dibs on the new restaurants, menus and cocktails. The curse is when you see what the staff really acts like once you revisit without your media pass. This week’s Etiquette Tuesday focuses on the true colors of the restaurant: Who is the true you? I have been to a plethora of media events where I leave feeling like I’ve literally had a five hour massage and one of the Gladiators from Spartacus feeding me grapes at my leisure. The next day I have returned to numerous establishments and I feel like I’m one breath away from the silverware being thrown at me. Le sigh.
I suppose it’s the most embarrassing when I send my readers, friends, family, etc. to these places that I feel like royalty at my media event and they leave the same restaurant ranting about the horrible service and subpar food. I hang my head in shame because it is disheartening how I can have a totally different experience simply because of a Media badge. Why does my hard earned money as a regular patron not play as much of a roll as the Media badge?? I get it, the Media will typically reach a broader audience because they may (*that’s a big Maybe too…) write about the establishment but what about regular ol’ me who has a penchant for putting together group dinners for my friends on a regular occasion?? I think my pull as the regular folk will actually pull some green cents into your restaurant quicker than any article, post or Tweet you could ever read.
Though I am a media junkie, nothing beats a friend telling you about an amazing dining experience they had the night before and they were not holding a media pass.
Category: Etiquette Tuesday
About the Author (Author Profile)
Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.Subscribe
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