1. New blog: How Books Got Their Titles; the guy's other blog is even better.
2. Via Chug, bailout art.
3. Interview with Perry Mehrling and Arnold Kling comments.
4. In defense of The Cheesecake Factory (p.s. I don't believe it).
5. The future of cultural signaling.
6. Michael Martin on CYOE and Hayek's Sensory Order.
Tyler,
On the Cheesecake Factory article, you said you “don’t believe it.” There are a number of claims in the article. You don’t believe what? You didn’t say.
David
Probably the first time Ezra Klein has written something sensible, and now you don’t believe him???
When I listen to foodies dissing chain restaurants, I remember Tom Lehrer talking about Rock ‘n’ Roll “and other children’s records.”
The Cheesecake Factory is quite good (particularly their cheesecakes). Other (major) chains that I think are good include Red Robin, IHOP, Denny’s, and TGI Friday’s. Of course in all cases you have to know what to order. Not everything they have is good.
I’m shocked that the man who wrote 150 words explaining that the only reason he would ever go into a Dunkin Donuts is to ask directions [should have been in my last post] doesn’t like the Cheesecake Factory.
The only reason I’d go into a Dunkin Donuts is if there’s no Tim Hortons within ten miles.
I’ve never been in a CF but every time I drive by one the parking lot is packed. They must be doing something right. I think the foodies should lighten up (no pun intended). As Mark Bittman and other food writers mention, eating a well balanced diet does not mean that you have to give up the occasional burger and fries. Eating at CF a few times a year won’t kill you.
add “foodie” to the list of words that make me wince
“Foodies and movie critics are all the same. They think their sophisticated tastes/senses know better than the average person. Fortunately, people vote with their dollars and prove them wrong all the time.”
This is a current discussion between me and my friends. I’m a big Micheal Mann fan and I claim that Public Enemies is an objectively better movie than Transformers II. My friend claims it is all opinion. I cite the RotteTomatoes critics (65 vs 19) and he cites the community (69 vs 68). It’s all opinion, says he. I point out that Micheal Bay spent $300M versus $80M for Micheal Mann to achieve the same approval amongst the non-experts.
I also contend that a measure of quality is that I can predict future MM movie will be better than MB movies on average. Also, 10 years from now, Public Enemies will be reviewed more favorably than Transformers.
When looking at movies, any friend can likely choose between the two, and though muddled by opinion, I predict that my friends appreciate quality and will prefer it on average and I can identify and point them to it. The difference with foodies, in my view, is that they complain about alternatives that don’t exist.
“I have such immense pride in myself for never eating at Cheesecake Factory, PF Chang’s, or any of those other restaurants I would lump in together as “aspirational dining”"
Setting the bar pretty low for yourself there, eh?
Chain restaurants are declasse, so you pretty much have to hate them, pretend to hate them, or pretend to be especially ashamed about liking them if you want to find social acceptance in the upper-middle-class or above. It is socially acceptable to eat food of the lower classes if it is “ethnic food”, because there is no chance of an upper class white person being mistaken for a poor immigrant from Asia or Africa… but the fear of being thought of as “white trash” or a “red state suburbanite” is too strong for any of the upper classes to be caught dead slumming it in a chain restaurant.
The whole manufactured arguments of “evil-corporations” and “its bad for the environment” serve the social function of making our sneering attitude toward the lower classes politically correct. It allows us to hate the plebes, and feel good about it!
Tyler doesn’t believe Ezra Klein.
No, I’m saying that Tyler wouldn’t admit to liking a large chain restaurant. I like plenty of places of all types. But then I’m easy to please.
Cheesecake factory is absolutely delicious, its overpriced though and the wait is too long, so I don’t bother going anymore.
Cheesecake factory is absolutely delicious, its overpriced though
I don’t have a clue how good or bad the food is at CF because the one time we went and looked at a menu, we dcided that for that much money we coud have a real feast at a very good Chinese restaurant (or at a good Thai or Vietnamese or Asian restaurant). So we did.
If Sheldon Cooper likes Cheesecake Factory, it must be good.
“Fortunately, people vote with their dollars and prove them wrong all the time.”
I’m hoping that line is subtle satire.
Search for the Seinfeld reference in “How Books Got Their Titles”
Cheese Cake factory is a ‘best in class’ type deal. I wouldnt say the food is objectively good. However, in the realm of chain restaurants it is far superior to TGI’s, Applebee’s, etc. I would put it behind Houston’s for sure but it is a ‘good enough’ night on the town restaurant for American folks with bland taste.
However, if the restaurant were in New York it would be a ‘MidTown’ only type deal. The food for the most part is not all that tasty. I thought the burgers were boring. The cheese cake tastes like air and whip cream, which is funny because whip cream tastes mostly like air too.
Maybe Ill need to try that Salmon dish the next time Im in. Honestly, I think the place lives off its atmosphere, the idea that it sells a lot of large inspiring dishes, and the ruthless machine gun efficiency of a corporate dining experience in America.
It’s not how I like to do food but Im sure its good enough for some.
Comments on this entry are closed.