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u/Ctznsvn7 2d ago
The sharp bit is that knowing someone and respecting their opinion are two different things. IMO the name-drop set up the comeback better than any insult could
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u/GuestAdventurous7586 2d ago
Jay Rayner is actually a shit hot food critic. He works for the Financial Times now but his reviews for the Guardian I used to read every weekend and they were brilliant.
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u/magic_alfombra 2d ago
Is he better at reviewing cold food?
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u/kata_north 2d ago
Yup -- no idea who those other people are, but as soon as I saw Jay Rayner there, I though, "Oooh, man, you come at the king, you best not miss."
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u/Objectively_bad_idea 2d ago
Every so often I go find the infamous expensive Paris restaurant review and re-read it for a laugh
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u/theproblem_solver 2d ago
It really is THAT good! Always worth a re-read. Here's a link for those who are interested (are we allowed to post links? Delete if not):
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/apr/09/le-cinq-paris-restaurant-review-jay-rayner
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u/Nothingdoing079 2d ago
I think the statement
"Not that the older gentlemen with their nieces on the few other occupied tables seem to care"
Has got to be one of the best things in a review I've read
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u/EpsteinBaa 2d ago
Incredible stuff
I also love the comparison between the press shots and the actual dishes
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u/Alderdash 2d ago
Ooohhhh, it's THAT guy! I'm pretty sure I have that article bookmarked somewhere :D
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u/TelephoneTable 2d ago
That line - 'It is decorated in various shades of taupe, biscuit and fuck you.'
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u/aliceathome 2d ago
I always liked the 'Not that the older gentlemen with their nieces on the few other occupied tables seem to care.' line.
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u/Judy__McJudgerson 13h ago
I like that he refused to waste time and money on that stupid "salt bae" restaurant and just had a kebab sat outside it.
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u/silverandamericard 2d ago
I'd just like to take this opportunity to share the story of being invited some years ago, along with about 50 other booksellers, to an event at Penguin Books previewing some of their upcoming titles. The writers of each were in attendance and one unfortunate publicist was tasked with trying to introduce us to the author of one of them, Toby Young. Every single one of us refused and we all spent an entertaining evening drinking wine and chatting with authors who weren't complete arseholes.
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u/INeedANappel 2d ago
I utterly adore Jay Rayner. If he bites you, pieces will come off.
His books are excellent, too.
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u/AlmightyCuddleBuns 2d ago
Context for a non-brit. The Mail is the Mail on Sunday? And that's bad because it is a sister paper to the Daily Mail? And its bad because writing for it even briefly in your early career is a black mark?
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u/Mfcx6sp4 2d ago
To an extent - though Jay Rayner is a good critic, not a political commentator, and he spent long enough at The Guardian (considered left wing) and he gives ‘right on’ energy, so nobody would confuse him for sharing the grotesque views that Sarah Vine/Toby Young have.
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u/boostman 2d ago
It means both The Mail on Sunday and the Daily Mail, which are both poorly-regarded newspapers with a vicious rightwing bent.
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u/elalmohada26 2d ago
The Mail is the most read newspaper in the country. Writing for it isn’t some sort of black mark, however much terminally online Reddit types might like you to think it is.
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u/AlmightyCuddleBuns 2d ago
The last from the post would also seem to agree thay it is an indictment
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u/elalmohada26 2d ago
I don’t follow what you mean there sorry?
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u/AlmightyCuddleBuns 2d ago
Its not just reddit folks. Sarah Vine from the post seems to agree that it is an indictment of his character.
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u/TheCrisco 1d ago
It doesn't really matter how well read it is if it's garbage, which it is. Working there may not inherently mean you suck, as evidenced in this post, but it's certainly not a great look. Right here we have 2/3 people in the screenshot as evidence in favor of it being a black mark.
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u/TheG00dF1ght 2d ago
IDK who any of these people are but they act like fucking toddlers
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u/Grand-Depression 2d ago
Since you don't know the context, you don't have enough info to make that claim.
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u/Ancient-Cow-1038 1d ago
“Food Critic” is not, and never has been, a real job. But I have to give grudging admiration to anyone who gets paid to eat out.
But my opinion of Jay Rayner has risen sharply on reading this.
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u/HomicidalTeddybear 3d ago
Where is the murder or the context?
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u/bubbleteabob 2d ago
I think the ‘I will still defend you online!’ Countered with ‘I would rather be left for dead’ is succinctly cutting.
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u/PaulotheLimey 3d ago
Context- Toby Young is an odious little scrote, a “Free Speech for me, not for thee” advocate.
Sarah Vine has made only one good decision in her miserable excuse for a life, divorcing Michael Gove.
They both write for the Daily Heil.