Oh come on John. How can you dis a New England landmark like Red's?

Doesn't the 1 lb. lobster roll do ANYTHING for you? And you take a very pessimistic view of the setting. Another way to say it might have been: "you have a view of the river, the bridge, and all those beautiful out-of-state tourists bringing all of their beautiful out-of-state dollars."

And when you talk of lobsters in terms of freshness, how much more fresh can you get than a live lobster being dropped into a boiling pot of water? Isn't that as fresh as you can ever get?

We can quibble about what "fresh" actually means, but I have to say there is nothing like eating a lobster that literally went right from the trap to your pot to your mouth. Maybe it's psychological, but it's heavenly!

~Jes

that's what I thought too. As for Red's I've had a few bad experiences there with some very surly people behind that window. Though in all fairness I guess after dealing with a deluge of wide eyed tourists all day I'd get a bit testy too.

I agree with your comment regarding "Oolong" in Portland. The food is light, simple and fresh-tasting. The space is airy and service good. A much needed wave of the Pacific on this side of the Atlantic.

Anjanette Carbone

why isnt Maria's considered a Fine Italian Restaurant? That place is one of the truest Italian eateries I know anywhere, from the food to the service to the ambiance.

Oolong is horrendous for more reasons than I care to waste time writing about.
Sad to see so many expensive places on this list. Perhaps it's time to have a more realistic counterpart for this blog. It nearly seems like it's more geared towards the wealthier mainers than the majority who are not.

I'll second the comments about Maria's - it's damn good Italian food. Not quite the same fare as is served at Cinque Terre, at Maria's it's more tradiational Italian dishes. It's good food at reasonable prices. Cinque Terre is great too, but you definitely pay for what you get.

John, Being a native but temperarily living in Texas (since 1970, I ammnot familar with the locations of all the restaurants you sited in your very good article. I, for one, would like an update on the locations.

What about Grissini in Kennebunkport? And, John, do you like sushi? I'd be interested to hear your take on best sushi in Maine. :)

Visited Grissini many times in the past 4 years, and will not go back. Don't really care who owns it, but its not even a good show. food is just OK, service stinks because they are so busy and under-staffed, and to me the food is uninspired and limp.

John, nice to see you include Five Fifty-Five in your best-of list, every time we eat there we are treated so graciously.

In addition to Bibo's Madd Apple Café, are you planning to visit the new steak house at the Regency Hotel called "Twenty Milk Street?" I'd be curious to know what kind of set-up they've got going there. And speaking of hotel dining, I've heard a lot of good things about Eve's at the Portland Harbor Hotel. Have you had the chance to dine there?

You confirmed what I was trying to tell my visiting daughters about the over-ratedness of Red's.
But you copped out on the real issue of just what makes a BEST lobster roll: just meat, or with a tad of mayo or salad dressing and finely diced celery, dash of paprika and on a slightly buttered and grilled hoitdog roll.

After a week of pigging out, the girls gave Water's Edge at Sebasco their highest marks...

I've heard good and bad about the Regency Steak House. And I've heard mostly good things about Eve's. In other cities hotel dining has become de rigeur. I guess that would happen here once we get better hotels! Portland Harbor is one exception, and a travesty that Hilton Garden Inn never really installed a benchmark restaurant. I will try them out.

Celery in a lobster roll is filler.

Funny how so many people can have so many different views of the same place.

http://www.travelandleisure.com/invoke.cfm?ObjectID=491AAA0D-E524-4DB3-8A79512DA5A9AB73

My Friend and I along with my 2 year old son found ourselves at the bar at the Hilton Garden Inn last week. It was my son's birthday and we were waiting for a table at Flatbread. They were so gracious, They had a box full of toys and the bar tender even gave my son a flower ballon! I enjoyed the atmosphere for a cocktail. I will go back.
Oh and of course Faltbread is the best Pizza in Portland. Love that place! I also love that they are very involved with the community.
aim

For an alternative, read Andy King's articles in the Phoenix. He focuses on inexpensive eateries, and I love his commentary and descriptions.

There's something to be said for gathering info from multiple sources and making up your own mind. No one person's opinion is gospel.

Just because John covers a lot of expensive restaurants (though not exclusively) doesn't mean there's something wrong with his blog. That's just his style, which is the point of a blog.

~Jes

I don't necessarily cover expensive restaurants by choice but pick the one's I go to because that's where I want to go. Believe me, I wouldn't mind spending less on a good meal out if there were such deemable choices. A great grill sort of restaurant, kind of a hybrid of Fore Street and Dogfish is sorely needed in this city.

Oh John, let's be honest. Those other places are beneath you (or at least you want people to think they are beneath you).

Why not review some places you go for lunch? Surely not every meal you eat requires white truffles or wild mushroom cream sauce.

What about Black Tie? Or Granny's Burritos? Mr. Bagel?

Come on, fess up. Where do you slum it?

Attacking John for his likes of the finer meals in Portland is certainly anyone's right. However, I would arm myself with information before taking the word of any blogger beyond face value. It has been stated that John only reviews and likes the "more expensive" restaurant that appeal to the "wealthier Mainer". This could not be further from the truth. He has reviewed and/or mentioned Joe's Boathouse, 158, eggspectations, Stone's, Katahdin, Shay's, Chicky's, Local 188, Espo's, Casa Novello, Duckfat, Siam, Thai Taste, Susan's Fish and Chips, Busy Bee, Chute's, Cole's Farm and I am sure I missed some. This far outweighs the "expensive restaurant" that he mentions over and over. It seems to me that most of the people on this blog are restaurant people irate that their favorite's aren't mentioned or that the establishment they work at is not given enough attention. There certainly is no honor amongst thieves and it is apparent when a person on here is obviously shilling for their place of work. Also, it seems that many fly off the handle, ready to attack without even giving consideration to their own past words. The perfect example is S. Iren (Siren in case you didn't pick up on the pseudonym)who incidentally seems to be bucking for her own blog but has zero experience other than as a prep person working at Street and Company (a fact that should be disclosed every time she rants on about how wonderful Dana Street's restaurant are, which they are, by the way). She also contradicts herself in her musings. I point to June 6 where she is quoted saying "I've lived in Portland for about 7 months now and I am still recovering from both the abundance of top shelf food choices and the mind numbing price tag that goes along with them. Of course, I also say this as a cook at one of those sticker shock restaurants". On another website on May 27th she says "I have been living in Portland for the past 7 months and have been wowed more by the abundance of mediocre findings here". ??? Why the discrepency?
It seems to me that John has an affinity for great food, inexpensive and pricey but also has the experience to write about it in an intelligent manner with years of journalistic accomplishments. I don't believe that, simply because you can type and you eat makes you qualified to review restaurants let alone the reviewer himself.

Dude, who are you? John's boyfriend or something? The fact that you know so much about siren is, frankly, quite disturbing.

You are actually saying that we educated Press Herald readers and frequent diners are in no way qualified to review John's blogs? Should we move to a communist country?

John perpetuates the myth that good food has to be expensive, and although he often "mentions" other places, he PRIMARILY only reviews establishments that have creme brulee on the dessert menu.

It would be nice, for ONCE, to actually focus a review on a place that mere mortals can dine. Have a sense of humor. Review Subway or something.

That is completely not true. Go back and do your homework. He has reviewed Siam, Busy Bee, Cole's Farm, Chicky's, Locall 188, Espo's, Susan's, Stone's, 158. I must have missed the creme brulee on these menus. And no, I am not John's anything other than an observant reader. I happen to read this and many other food related sites. Siren's comments are public for all to read. I just don't like hypocrites. It just so happens that no one likes to connect the dots or ignores them all together, yourself obviously included

You are such a stickler for details, you forgot to put a period at the end of your rant.

Actually, no I didn't. I knew you would need something to go on about

Oh I see. You like to set me up. Good job. Mission accomplished.

Well Mr. Factual, Golden only ocassionally reviews the "lesser" establishments because of the limited nature of Maine dining.

And even then, 9 times out of 10, he'll poo poo them (Local 188, etc).

I'll leave it to you and go back and find those.

Hey folks, what's the name of this blog? It's Food for Thought, a dining diary. I am the one who recruited John and gave him the assignment of simply documenting his meals. Not to write reviews or columns. Just write about the interesting lunches and dinners he has on an almost-daily basis. And he has done that with his own unique style. I think he's been pretty fair about his choices -- from Bugaboo Creek and Stones (He liked both of them), to his more-expensive meals at Bandol, Cinque Terre and Fore Sreet. It's not meant to be an objective review, like the Telegram. This is John's world and John's voice. If anyone else is interested in writing about food and drink in Portland and thinks he or she can provide a different or complementary view, please drop me a line. In the meantime, I'll be following John's culinary adventures like everyone else.

No wonder Mr. Golden's write-ups are so open to interpretation--what are we to make of his editor's post? Mr. Hersey, what are you trying to say?

Hi Brett,

What I am trying to say is this: Blogs are not meant to be confused with tradtional, objective newspaper journalism. I do not assign John's restaurants, John does not discuss them with me before he writes. No one from MaineToday.com reads the column before it goes out. This is his opinion and his alone. Of course, I believe that his is a qualified opinion, otherwise we wouldn't have given him the place to blog for us. John and I have talked about fairness and general ground rules. But this is his diary -- and as such he gets to write what he wants, when he wants and how he wants. As far as my offer for more bloggers, we're always looking to provide places for unique community voices on our site. It has no reflection on John, or the work he is doing, or his future with us as a blogger -- which I hope will continue for a long time.

Since when has newspaper journalism been objective? Did something change overnight that I wasn't aware of?

An appropriate question to someone's request for "inexpensive" restaurants to be reviewed may be: Do you really, honestly need a review of a Subway restaurant? Or an Amato's? Or even an Olive Garden for that matter?

We all know what these places serve, we've all been to them a hundred times. The food isn't unique or creative, which doesn't mean you shouldn't eat it, but I don't need John to tell me that Amato's regular Italian has the perfect blend of ham, cheese, pickles, onions, tomatoes, green peppers, olives, salt, pepper, and oil on a fresh italian roll - all for the agreeable price of $3.85. I already know this, I eat two or three a week - and if I had never had an Italian in my life and I took a four dollar chance on a sandwich that didn't float my boat, it wouldn't be a big deal.

The reason I find most of John's reviews valuable is that he's eating at places that I don't get to eat at two or three times a week, places that are more of an investment and therefore I'm much more interested in getting as many opinions about them as possible before I lay down the money for a meal.

Oho. So you are conceding that John primarily reviews the more expensive places. What a departure from your previous comments. We wouldn't want to label you a hypocrite would we?

I think reviewing a place like, for example, Granny's Burritos or even McDonalds, would test his capabilities. I bet it would make for an interesting read (or at least the ingredients are there for an interesting review).

Take a chance. Don't be predictable.

You're obviously confused. The last postw asn't written by me. If you could interpret writing styles you would realize. And no, I still disagree having read every post. He does his fair share of low end to high end establishments. He prefers the higherend, mentions them more frequently simply because they are better establishments. And since you constantly change your name (as opposed to always be the SAME) I will identify myself to keep it simple for you to keep pace.

I would've never known. You could spell earlier.

At a minimum it shows I'm not the only one who thinks that way.

And since when is more expensive better? If thats the case, I'd better be getting 100 mpg with that gas I just put in my tank.

What about The White Barn Inn?

I never wrote more expensive is better. I stated that his preference is for the local, higher end restaurants simply because they are better establishments. Better because they have spent the time and money on menu design, staffing and training, decor and an infrastructure that allows for a total better experience. There is no question that it is still about the food first and foremost but the total experience of service, food and decor seems to be John's preference.

Good point. Restaurants that spend their money on flashy menus, staffing, and and a funky decor definitely have their priorites straight.

Better is certainly a subjective term.

Do you really believe that Arrows, White Barn Inn, Hugo's, Fore Street, etc. would be as successful if they had untrained servers and were in a similar set up as Tu Casa (great El Salvadoran)? Not a chance...

You said they are better establishments. Better than what?

Expensive doesn't make it better.

Review those places too. But throw the little guy a bone once in a while too.

Perhaps it's time for me to tell you all why I chose the restaurants I do. It's not a great mystery or the result of an arcane system of selection.

Here is the answer: I go where I feel like going. The traditional reviewer will have something of an itinerary, or need to cover the bases in all respects. The NY reviewer, for instance, can choose from hundreds of choices. Here it's finite.

So if I go to Cinque Terre it's because I like it and feel like having their food. If I go to Stone's for sausage, gravy and biscuits it's because that's what I'm in the mood for.

What I say about all these places is my opinion. I try to tell it as I see it. Certainly it's subjective, But that's what criticism is all about.

I really like places like Chicky's or Cole's Farm when they're good. I didn't think they were.

I have no axe to grind or any particular guideline. There's a great sense of freedom to put my thoughts down unexpurgated.

If I were doing this for a living, I'd be fat and poor.

These are the restaurants I go to as a matter of taste, preference, etc. Of course I like to experiment, tell you all about a new find, or explode in loud rants when something is really awful.

For the heck of it I may do a series on the chain restaurants. To be honest, I've never been to one, other than MacDonalds, and others like that. Who doesn't like those dreadful hamburgers with all the fixing, slipped into your car through the drive up window.All for a few bucks. Down the hatch and it's easily forgotten.

The other day, at the Mall (which I don't frequent that much either) I stopped into the Mexican restaurant for lunch. What's it called? Over the Border, At the Border? Well you know which one I mean.

Before that, however, I went into Chuck E Cheese. I always thought it was some kind of macaroni and cheese restaurant (Who knew?). Well was I surprised. So I hobbled over to the Mexican place, ordered a chimichanga(sp?). Yuck. I waddled out of there feeling really bad. Though I will say that the chips were pretty OK.

Anyway, if I do this series I think it will be very short.

I hope this answers some of your questions.

keep up the good work John... I happen to like your writeups, and don't take anything personally.
Irwin

The sweet stench of foodie elitism permeates this forum.

Nice touch by "not remembering" the name of the Mexican place (ON the Border), leaving out the "S" on Chuck E. Cheese's, and misspelling an American icon (McDonald's).

So what's next on your agenda? Burger Queen?

I thought that when I moved to Maine I'd be surrounded by decent people.

Haha. Foodie elitism. So what if it is? If you don't like the blog don't read it.

You need a review of McDonald's? OK, here it is:

The food tastes good and it's cheap, but other than that everything about it is bad. It's processed, preserved, shipped a thousand miles, thawed, reheated in a microwave, served to you by an employee who recieves a low wage and no health care. It's injected with flavoring, cooked in trans fats, smothered in salt and served to you in excessive packaging. It's bad for your health, it's bad for the environment, and it's bad for society.

I give it two and a half stars!

John don't let the occasional obnoxious poster get you down. Message Board trouble makers have been around as long as there's been message boards, and it's almost impossible to have an active message board without eventually getting posters who simply want to be objectionable.

For those with such sad existences it actually gives them immense pleasure to know that they are affecting someone else's day...if only for a few brief moments.

The food tastes good? Are you kidding me?

And what's obnoxious about calling the kettle black?

God forbid this becomes a groupie forum, where we praise everything Mr. Golden has to say ad nauseam.

Dissenting opinions and alternative views make for a much more enjoyable read. And I think John would be the first to admit he's a food snob.

We all have an Achilles heel...

Actually: We all have an Achilles TENDON. It's tough and stringy and requires a heap of condiments.
Hmmmm....Maybe that's what Big Macs are made of.

degustibus non est desputandum...

Scott, I think you made a great move when you recruited John. He's a terrific writer and really knows his stuff (even if one doesn't agree with him). Food for Thought has really developed into a great "community" for those of us who are interested in dining, cooking, and good writing with a point of view. I visit MaineToday regularly just to check out John's blog. I like your idea of possibly having additional food bloggers on the site to provide other views. Hopefully they'll be as good as John.

I'd like to suggest that we try to keep the comments focused on the real topic of interest -- food and dining -- rather than just griping endlessly about which restaurants are reviewed, etc. If you don't like the blog, don't read it -- just like I don't bother reading the griping comments.

Then how did you know there were gripes?

We were living in a democracy the last time I checked.

Because I saw your fake names attached to the comments. :-)

Yes, we live in a democracy. Last I checked, that doesn't mean that YOU get to tell people what to do. It does, however, mean that (1) John is free to eat where he pleases, (2) Scott the editor is free to let John blog about it, (3) you get to choose whether or not to read it, and (4) you get to choose whether to spend your time griping or being happy. Your choice is clear. That's it for me on this topic. I'll now only be posting food-related comments, not gripe-about-the-gripes comments. That's my choice in this wonderful democracy of ours. :-) Have a nice day.

You didn't read the griping comments, so you have no clue as to whether or not I've told people what they should do.

I don't know where that is coming from.

Most people who post in here blow everything WAY out of proportion. Somebody has the gall to suggest that Golden review a place like Black Tie or Granny's Burritos and all hell breaks loose.

Like I said before, we recruited John because he eats out most nights in and around Portland. John eats where he eats. But the amount of interest in this blog shows that there's clearly more room for commentary. John's staked out Portland-area restaurants. But I would love to hear from anyone interested in blogging on any of the following:

* Drinking, bars and cocktails
* Wine
* Cheap eats and lunches.
* The restaurant business -- who's working where, who's opening, who's closing.
* Restaurants in other areas of Maine, especially Down East.
* Cooking at home.

We don't pay or cover expenses, but we do expose your writing to a giant -- and still growing audience. We don't care whether you're a writing pro, but an engaging style and some aptitude for technology helps. And maybe a thick skin...

Please ignore the trolls. You can detect them by their ad hominem arguments, the way they pretend others don't defeat their ridiculous claims with reason and sanity, and how their arguments keep shifting, so they can keep themselves from feeling as pathetic and useless as they really are.

John does "throw the little guy a bone once in a while," as has been stated and restated here and on many other entries in this blog.

It does not qualify as "calling the kettle black" (which is a wretchedly misused metaphor here, BTW) if what you say simply isn't true.

Complaining about spelling and punctuation is quite pathetic on a blog. As an editor and copy editor, I think I'm well qualified to make those comments, but I don't because there's no point in it. Is it to make someone feel bad? Are we on the playground here, or can we behave like adults?

Obviously, the trolls cannot. But if the rest of us agree to ignore them (like that annoying brat in third grade), we can at least assure them a dull existence here, which is like kryptonite to Superman.

Scott, I appreciate your explanation of what distinguishes blogs from journalism and particularly how this blog is not a restaurant review column.

I've always enjoyed John's postings (even when he disliked my favorite restaurant), and I somehow manage to take them with a grain of salt! Yum!

Cheers to all, and here's to getting back on topic.

~Jes

As far as I can tell, its you "purists" who do all the shameful name calling (hmmm, lets see - "troll", "pathetic", and "useless").

My name calling consists of the tame, and undoubtedly agreeable to John, "food snob". Yikes. Call the police.

The complaining about spelling and punctuation was the childish response to childish criticisms.

Hopefully next time your responses can at least be elevated to childish - your hurtful name calling without adding anything to the conversation - is infantile.

By the way, BTW is a wretchedly overused abbreviation.

John, I would much rather see reviews of the various Thai, sushi or Chinese restaurants around town than reviews of chains.

Keep up the good work!

~Jes

Hi, Jes--glad to know you're a copy editor and editor. I did that many years ago when I first started out. I still have my old Chicago Manual of Style on the bookshelf. Now I just rely on Microsoft spell check...lol

Yes, when Microsoft can compute like the human brain, I'll be out of work. But in the meantime, the laughable suggestions from the spelling and grammar check keep me feeling pretty secure!

Here's one I can't figure out, because I see it both ways in reputable places: Is it hangar steak or hanger steak?

~Jes

I believe that"hanger" is the correct spelling.It's very similar to a skirt steak or a flank steak but comes from a different part of the cow. It "hangs" between the loin and the rib, thus its name. It certainly is a relatively new cut of meat that most people don't know about. For my money, I may return to skirt steak, which is a cheaper version, with a bit more gristle but loaded with flavor. Great for BBQ.

RE Microsoft--sometimes it comes up with some really strange rules of grammar. It is helpful in verb tense situations when the subject of the sentence seems hopelessly lost. If I find myself in such a pickle, it means to me that the sentence needs rewriting.

I hope my efforts at grammar meet your standards. Sometimes, when I'm in a rush, I let things pass unedited.

(Do you think we'll now see a stream of scathing emails concerning the efficacies of our gratuitously grammatical forays?)

Yes. Wrong forum.

Please refer to the "Inane Banter" forum elsewhere on the Press Herald website, to be hosted by Jes.

For Lobster rolls definitely give the Sea Basket in Wiscasset a try. Great gormet rolls and very fresh lobster. The restaurant is always spotless. This is where the locals go-Not Reds

Yes, now that you mention the "hanging" steak, I think I read something like that in Cook's.

We have been enjoying skirt steaks lately (at home). There's an amazing marinade (also from Cook's) that is basically tons of mashed garlic spread on like a paste with a few other ingredients. It makes skirt steak fabulous.

As for grammar, spelling, punctuation and all other things related to my professional life, I do my best not to focus on them when I'm not working (makes reading a novel somewhat difficult).

I actually feel a bit heartened when I see errors in unedited material because it reminds me how important editors are, even if the average person has no idea. I think most folks would be shocked at the kind of material professional writers hand it to their editors. Besides, your blog is much cleaner than the average story that comes across my desk.

The people who complain about the little things are generally just unhappy with themselves. And you can't do anything to change that.

~Jes

It's a blog. Obviously someone has WAY too much time on their hands. Not only picking apart every one of John's blogs, but also tearing apart every one who defends him. And he offers nothing creative, just complaints. Any one can start a blog these days. If you think John is such an elitist and you truly need every single restaurant in Maine reviewed, then start your own blog. The only time I even look up restaurant reviews, is when I plan to spend a decent amount of money. I want to know it will be worth it. As for Becky's, Friendship Cafe, Ruski's, Rosies, etc, they are consistently good and fair priced and their menu's don't change all that often. It's why I frequent them. Expensive restaurants tend to change their menu's with the season, as well as with each new chef, so reviews are important. I don't eat at many expensive restaurants, but find Johns reviews helpful when I do. Keep up the good work.

I must admit that John does focus predominantly (sp Jes?) on the more expensive restaurants, but I think that's most helpful since visits to these types of restaurants are more of an "investment" than a trip to MickeyD's. As someone else more or less stated, if I spend 5 bucks on a sandwich and don't really like it, big whoop. But if I spend $50/person for a nice meal on a special occasion, I want it to be good. If I need an interesting place to take guests for a good meal, maybe I'll take a look at John's blog to get some good ideas. I don't think that's food snobbery at all, and even if it is--who cares? If that's where John eats, that's where he eats.
Keep up the great posts John!

Surely John doesn't always eat at "those" places.

I think blogging about some of the "other" places would be a test of his writing skills.

I mean, isn't that what this is really all about anyway?

I don't think that we need the occasion to judge the writing skills of someone who has written for such esteemed publications as Gourmet, Food and Wine, and the Times. Besides, this is just a BLOG, not a column. But that's just my opinion.

And my opinion is that, while writing for such "prestigious" publications, he never once tested his writing abilities by reviewing/blogging about the "mundane".

Where has all the humour gone?

Again, according to John's editor, Scott Hersey, the point of the blog is not to test journalistic skill, but rather to provide a journal of one person's gastronomic excursions, be they at home, while shopping or while eating out.

Those excursions are just part of John's life (not paid for by PPH), so they are John's choice, hence the focus on his favorite places.

That's generally the point of any blog. They are just about whatever the blogger wants to write about. If you have suggestions of places you would like to see reviewed, why don't you just offer it up and give a few reasons?

~Jes

It always has been, and always will be, A SUGGESTION.

Why is that so hard to comprehend?

And don't tell me that John ALWAYS dines the way he portrays in his blogs.

Dang, maybe I'll start a blog about the meaning of words.

JK, your suggestions have been addressed repeatedly on this blog, and not always in the style of a suggestion. Perhaps you have not read all the comments on this entry. I suggest you go back and do that before insulting others' abilities to comprehend.

John does eat at some of the more mundane eateries, and he does review them.

Some of your comments could be construed as trolling. If you're not trolling, try fleshing out some of your ideas.

My comment was a suggestion that others resist the urge to disdain the style of the blog (if you don't like it, you don't have to read it; it's that simple), and rather give suggestions of restaurants they would like to see written about and why. This is much more effective than, "Jeez this blog is sucky and elitist! Do it my way instead!" (As if that attitude isn't elitist!)

Your suggestion that John write about more mundane things, as I said, has been addressed repeatedly on this page and in other entries. Other readers have requested that he stay away from the mundane in favor of places they are less likely to visit on a regular basis.

~Jes

I seem to recall you being the point person for insults.

I'd like you to point out where I have insulted.

I never said "instead". I only say "in addition". And you say I haven't given any ideas. Well, I think this thread would suggest otherwise. I'm still amazed at how people are so eager to pounce on anybody who dares make a suggestion to John or, God forbid, call into question some of his comments.

One more thing. Please show me where I've said I don't enjoy reading this blog.

Three phrases should be among the most common in our daily usage. They are: Thank you, I am grateful and I appreciate.

Isn't it sad when the owner of a restaurant, who has a bad piece about him written, just flies off the handle with a horrible Napoleon complex? Imagine how the little fish would fare in a bigger pond?