Fox Rocks
Just because the lovely and talented Carrington Fox is too modest, I thought I'd pass along the news that the Bitesmistress has been nominated for a 2008 AltWeekly Award from the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies (AAN). It's a big deal—an annual skimming of the cream (including our sister blog, Nashville Cream) of the nation's alternative press. Carrington was nominated in the Food Writing category for papers with circulation under 55,000.
This gem, cited in the nomination, may have sealed the deal: it's gentle, fair and funny, yet as thorough an evisceration as I've ever read. Her writing looks effortless, but it's anything but: try describing chicken for the 150th time, or finding new adjectives for taste without resorting to the dreaded "scrumptious." In short: heckuva job, Fox.
Comments
So many dining reviews I've read leave me with the feeling that I still don't know what's on the menu or what I should wear if I go. Somehow, Carrington always manages to tell me everything I need to know without being even the least bit dry. Concise and informative but entertaining as well.
Posted 05/18/2008 at 11:02:10 AMIn my opinion, the hallmark of a great reviewer is someone who thinks of others when they review and vets the entire experience of dining regardless of their personal palate. Carrington is someone I trust in that way.
Well done and good luck!
Posted 05/18/2008 at 09:05:36 PMwell deserved and then some
carrington is a wonderful writer. both smart and kind and well, it's a tough town to be a food reviewer. searching for the good amidst a sea of not so good...
hey - ways to describe chicken? try: amazingly delicious. that'll seal the award for ya. and hey, too bad chicken doesn't have tossles of tendrils - always a fave...
you're a shining light here in nashville, carrington. best of luck with this. fingers crossed...
Posted 05/19/2008 at 05:01:36 AMNot to be all Special Olympics about it, but if you serve on one of these nominating committees, you learn that just receiving a nomination is a big deal. I've got my fingers crossed just like Claudia, but really, you're already a winner.
Posted 05/19/2008 at 10:16:20 AMthat was a dead-on review of Chappys, high-end Captain D's without the cracklin's...
she is a good writer.
Posted 05/19/2008 at 01:20:49 PMI've done my best to dig through the archives to read the reviews I missed during my 5-ish years away from Nashville...but I had missed this one.
Best of luck! I think the "mealy" anecdote has it sealed up for you!
Posted 05/19/2008 at 02:03:27 PMWow, thanks, y'all. I think I will quit my job right this minute, because it can't get any better than it just was reading Jim's post and all your nice comments. Shucks.
Posted 05/19/2008 at 02:36:16 PMFor that matter, I thought your review of The Standard last week was spot on. My family had a "celebrate Mother's Day early" dinner there the previous Saturday night and found our experience mirrored in your write-up with the exceptions of the kumquat centerpiece (we got a flower instead) and the squash blossom appetizer (which was both available and excellent, as was the grouper).
Posted 05/19/2008 at 04:13:19 PMOops. I ate all the kumquats. Sorry.
Posted 05/19/2008 at 09:13:20 PM