The Daily

A Restaurant Critic (Ours) On the Year That Changed Him Forever

Dec 23, 2022

Pete Wells, the acclaimed restaurant critic for The New York Times, shares his journey through a transformative year in the dining world. He reflects on the pandemic's impact, discussing a shift from traditional star ratings to a more personal critique style. Wells recounts memorable experiences, including a revelatory visit to a Puerto Rican food trailer and dining adventures in unconventional settings. His insights challenge the norms of high-end dining and highlight the importance of empathy in food criticism during these unprecedented times.

42:42

Creator website

Episode guests

Pete Wells

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

The Conversion of a Food Critic

01:16

The Importance of Being a Good Critic

01:21

The Pete Wells Review: A Tale of Two Restaurants

01:28

Intro

2min

A Culinary Critic's Journey

7min

Dining Disappeared: A Culinary Reflection

13min

Evolving Perspectives in Restaurant Critique

2min

Evolving Stars: Rethinking Restaurant Reviews

9min

Dining Al Fresco: An Unforgettable Culinary Adventure

2min

A Culinary Exploration: Intense Flavors and Unique Dishes

2min

Evolving Tastes: A Culinary Journey

9min

During his time as a restaurant critic for The Times, Pete Wells has become both feared and revered in the world of dining — crowning those at the top and dethroning those whose time has passed.

But when the pandemic arrived, handing out stars to fancy restaurants made no sense anymore. A fundamental change was needed.

Guest: Pete Wells, a restaurant critic for The New York Times.

Background reading:

For the return of The Times’s star ratings this year, Pete Wells visited La Piraña Lechonera, a weekend party in a Bronx trailer where one man serves up the rich flavors of Puerto Rico.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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