aa gill recent review

[DrunkenMonkey]

Referencing his lack of taste was the insult. Calling him a dickhead was a personal observation. I wasn't aiming for wit.

People like Gill are what's really wrong with the UK these days. Style over substance - it's a £40 pub lunch and he thinks that's ok while abusing all food outside of London? Snobbery, tastelessness and verbosity in place of thought and real commetary. It's not of enough importance to engage in an argument about - just didn't want to let it go by without at least pointing it out.

Fair enough, and I don't know anything about food in England, other than that I've never had anything worth eating there except Indian food. But while I don't care a bit about the topic, I find his writing to be extremely entertaining. While you're entitled to your opinion, to complain about his "tastelessness" using words like "dickhead" and "asshat" seems ironic to me. But that's just my opinion.

[El Presidente]

I have to say there was an underlying meanness to this article although I have enjoyed his writing in the past.

[gfoster]

I am in awe of the man's command of the English language. I don't particularly like the way he used it (the underlying meanness Rob mentioned) but I have to say it was artfully crafted.

And I know nothing about the state of British food. The only time I was there I ate mainly curries

-- Gary F.

[thechenman]

A bit backhanded no doubt...it does not sound like he pulls any punches...but hey...they message here is that the food was good, right...? The rest is just filler.

[Van55]

What in the bloody hell was he on about? This is English? And it gets published like that? It's not readable.

[Onsto]

I have to say there was an underlying meanness to this article although I have enjoyed his writing in the past.

Added to which its a massive slight to all of the excellent (non-London) dining options in Oxford (spitting distance from the village / cul-de-sac of the review) - from v. expensive (The Manoir) to cheaper than the quoted pub (Gees, the Elizabeth, many others).

I think you've hit the nail on the head - it's a 'mean' piece all over, and while he might be able to write in a flourishing and excessively verbose manner (which plenty of 'writers' can, ) that doesn't give it merit. Opening up another can of worms, it's akin to all the people who think Joyce's Ulysses is a good book BECAUSE it's hard to read, not because it's a good book.

[Onsto]

What in the bloody hell was he on about? This is English? And it gets published like that? It's not readable.

Post of the day, IMHO.

[Onsto]

Fair enough, and I don't know anything about food in England, other than that I've never had anything worth eating there except Indian food. But while I don't care a bit about the topic, I find his writing to be extremely entertaining. While you're entitled to your opinion, to complain about his "tastelessness" using words like "dickhead" and "asshat" seems ironic to me. But that's just my opinion.

Tastless refers to a 9 quid scotch egg being noteworthy, as well as the attitude and the hopeless snobbery of trying to write in that manner. Not to the choice of language. I'm not saying he has to be the 'everyman', but we're talking food here, not academia.

Sorry for making myself a liar. I didn't think it was important enough to argue about, but apparently I'm subconciously more upset about this than I should be. Maybe I should seek therapy to help me deal with asshats and dickheads better...

[Ryan]

I enjoy AA Gill. He does come across a little "Alan Partridge" with his description of "country folk" in this one though.

[Jimmy2]

Good stuff Ken i think this is for people with a sense of humor....

[android]

I enjoy AA Gill. He does come across a little "Alan Partridge" with his description of "country folk" in this one though.

Very very funny

[DrunkenMonkey]

Tastless refers to a 9 quid scotch egg being noteworthy, as well as the attitude and the hopeless snobbery of trying to write in that manner. Not to the choice of language. I'm not saying he has to be the 'everyman', but we're talking food here, not academia.

Sorry for making myself a liar. I didn't think it was important enough to argue about, but apparently I'm subconciously more upset about this than I should be. Maybe I should seek therapy to help me deal with asshats and dickheads better...

That might be a good idea, or maybe just have a cigar and a chill.

[Ken Gargett]

A.A. Gill is a rampaging, self important dickhead with the palette of a fire eater. He should be chemically castrated before he breeds any further. Anyone who thinks this is harsh should read the above again.

Ken - shame on you for trying to broaden this asshats audience.

i accept that he very much polarises people but i'll confess that i love his stuff, on most occasions, and that i did enjoy this one. he does have a style, where he'll have his rant or rave or whatever and that is usually nothing to do with the restaurant, before getting around to the actual 'review' and he can be quite vicious. that said, if he finds a place he likes then he'll be just as generous with praise - whether it is within london city limits or not. plenty of his harshest stuff has come from there. his review of the connaught a few years back - pre ramsey - was brilliant and i am sure it was part of the reason for the change and subsequent improvements. which is not a bad result for a critic.

i think he can write wonderfully well on occasion. the description of a town as 'kitsch mordor' was fabulous.

and he is not afraid to say what he thinks when things are not up to scratch and that is a very very rare quality in a restaurant reviewer. things get couched in gentle language or left unsaid. good on him for honest reviews, whether one agrees with them or not. (one thing about gill is that i understand he is very badly dyslexic and it is extremely difficult for him to write anything - so to make sound as though it just flows in the manner he does, makes his work even more impressive).

personally, no idea what the bloke is like and not really relevant to his reviews for me.

i've had people tell me that the other reviewer the sunday times has is also terrific - giles coren. yet he leaves me cold and i'd have no problem with your above description being applied to him - or at last his writing. i know others who disagree. i would not know coren if i fell over him and he may be a top bloke but to me, he writes as though he is a small man.

so i guess each to his own but i thoroughly enjoy gill and will continue to read him. coren i won't waste my time with. and i suppose everyone is entitled to their views either way.

and jimmy, as usual, completely agree.

[matthew261]

Love this entire thread!!! Another reason I love it here!

[bunburyist]

bit of social commentary, but of food review - even though he liked it (I think) doesn't particularly make me want to go there....