The Knife in a backstory

A long time ago, I was the sous-chef in a Dallas restaurant that deserves historical footnoting only for employing Owen Wilson as a waiter; he was fired for telling a customer to fuck off. (He also used to annoy the staff by telling us how he was going to be a movie star. Who knew?)

Owen Wilson: Shitty waiter.

Later I became a restaurant critic, then an editor at a food magazine. Then I got bored and made a short film. Before I realized that it was really bad, I decided to learn something about the film business. When I started writing about about the film business, I wasn’t bored anymore.

Ten years later, I’m the film editor for Variety. And I’m writing The Knife, a blog about restaurants favored by the entertainment industry. Monday through Thursday, The Knife is where to eat and drink in the name of work; Friday is reserved for eating that isn't work.

I’ll look at new restaurants angling for your expense accounts and let you know if old standbys still make the cut. I’ll tell you if there’s unpleasant surprises at the valet stand, if the chairs are comfortable, if you can hear yourself speak, if you can’t get out for under $100, how much they're marking up the wine, where you can eat halfway between two studios, where there’s private rooms and where you wouldn’t want to be caught dead.

The Knife is because Hollywood wouldn’t work without back-to-back breakfast meetings, lunches booked weeks in advance and the calculations of whether someone is worth drinks or dinner. And just because our "good" restaurants are often judged by who's next to your table rather than what's on your plate, that’s no reason you shouldn’t eat well.

Or, to put it another way: Someone’s paying a lot for all those meals. You should enjoy a few of them.

Comments

[Big Bang]

Finally, the scoop on the lunchtime poop thats fit to eat.

[Marty Barrett]

Now it all makes sense. Only someone who can pronounce sous-chef should attempt mise en scène.

[Kitty]

Already addicted to this blog!

[Kevin H]

Amen! Let the reindeer games begin.