Guy Fieri Mania

[BmillsSkier]

Ok, so in food-dork world where I am a card carrying member, Guy Fieri (which is pronounced in some incomprehensible manner) and NY Times food critic Pete Wells have dominated the headlines this week regarding the opening of Guy's Times Square 'restaurant'.

Pretty funny stuff if you ask me, but that's only because I can't stand Fieri. Sure, some have called all the commotion mean-spirited, and truthfully a bit contrived, but come on, the Guy is laughing all the way to the bank, I'm sure he can handle a few cracks on his persona-driven restaurant.

And don't get me wrong either, I LOVE dives that serve good food, I just don't want mine served up with frosted tips, backwards sunglasses and shirts emblazoned with flames.

Here's the scathing review.

Here's the same review's worst lines delivered by cats.

Fieri's response here.

Eater's drinks critic's review, with my favorite quip about the bar offerings, "It's not so much a drink, as it is a cup of diabetes".

And just released today an un-aired SNL skit about it all from this last Saturday Night.

Even Letterman, Dr. Phil and others have gotten in on the hype this week.

After all the fallout it appears Guy has dropped the Nuclear waste Watermelon Margarita that "tastes like some combination of radiator fluid and formaldehyde." from the menu, so sucks for you if you didn't get in on that action.

NY Mags, you guys setting up a summit at FLAVOR TOWN anytime soon?

[grskier]

I've been following this loosely.. as Guy is on my least favorite food persona list... this is pure gold!

[Hugh Conway]

He'll always be the douchebag who's lamborghini was stolen by the ace teen criminal mastermind

[Arty50]

Frankly, the horrible reviews don't surprise me. I can't possibly imagine how someone with that taste in hair has good taste otherwise.

[OldLarry]

Love to hate the big tourist trap places in Times Sq. but know people who work right there and thus end up in them all the time because it's convenient and can't be bothered to walk one whole block to a semi-fake Irish pub.

In fact, I just heard a story about 2 of my acquaintances getting into a drunken brawl at the huDge Red Lobster there.

[Sea 2 Ski]

I have to question the sanity of anyone who would think that it is possible start a restaurant with good resonably priced food in the spirit of "Diners, Drive Ins & Dives" in Times Square. The rents are just so high you are going to have to do so much volume that the quality will suffer or the food will be pricey.

[TahoeJ]

The choice of "donkey sauce" was indeed unwise. This whole thing has been pretty hilarious IMO.

[BmillsSkier]

He'll always be the douchebag who's lamborghini was stolen by the ace teen criminal mastermind

I forgot about that. Too funny.

Guy sold his soul to the devil (who knew the devil lived in FLAVOR TOWN?) and in exchange for raking in cash all he has to do is annoy everyone he comes into contact with, wear flame shirts, bleach his tips, and spell things like Kewl and Rawkin' whenever possible.

[snoqpass]

..............

[Tippster]

The SNL skit is right on - they should compare apples to apples. Bet GF's joint is more of a hoot than an Applebees (or like they said - Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.)

[sb]

..............

as much as we like Triple D, I would much rather eat here

[GiBo]

I can see both sides. Guy's just trying to make a buck and get tourists into his joint. Probably hopes he can serve decent food while he's at it.

And it also appears the critic knew he could go off on the non-New Yorker safely with his over-the-top review.

I enjoyed the review, but it sure doesn't help the stereotype of the upity, prude New Yorker.

[systemoverblow'd]

If I could make $8M a year being a douche bag I certainly would jump on the chance. As it stands, I do it for free now.

Haters gonna hate.

[rideit]

Giada has some of the most spectacular real tits on TV.
They are like luscious, perfectly ripe fruits.
I want to lick all manner of melted chocolate off of them.
Or steak sauce.
Whatever.

What was this thread about, again?

[BmillsSkier]

Haters gonna hate.

.......

[iceman]

Does he really pronounce his name "Fietti" like in the SNL skit?

[DeathVan]

He'll always be the douchebag who's lamborghini was stolen by the ace teen criminal mastermind

Truth be told it was a Lambo-FIERO kit, which is not nearly as douchey.

[BmillsSkier]

Does he really pronounce his name "Fietti" like in the SNL skit?

Yes.

.....

[smmokan]

Lots of hating going on in this thread.... personally I don't mind him (I like seeing the places featured on his show), but unless he's pissed in your Cheerios, I'm not sure why everyone feels the need to hate on the guy. I guess that's just the nature of the internet. He's just making a few bucks- like you fuckers wouldn't do the same if you had a chance for that kind of money.

His new restaurant appeals to the NYC tourists that don't know any better. There are way too many people looking to go to TGI Fridays or Applebees, so when they come across his place on the way, they think it's going to be a better "experience". It's similar to the scene in Boulder on the Pearl Street Mall- there are SO many good restaurants within 3 blocks of the Mall, but yet you always see the idiot tourists packed into the Cheesecake Factory. I finally stopped asking why and just accepted that some people just don't know better.

[rideit]

http://www.google.com/search?q=giada...w=1024&bih=644

[Mofro261]

paging zbo and rehabit- I think they got to hang with him a bit when they were filming the tailgate challenge.

[Danno]

http://www.google.com/search?q=giada...w=1024&bih=644

she has a freakishly large bobblehead but I don't care.

[Danno]

I think there are a few problems going on here. One is that Fieri is reportedly a class A douchebag, which while it doesn't matter in the context of his TV shows or whatever, probably results in him not getting cut any slack. Second is that my understanding is he and/or his partners really trumpeted this restaurant and actively sought reviews. Hard to then complain after they got them (and the NYT was hardly the only review; a number of awful reviews on this place have come out recently). Third, I didn't find the review snobby and unfair in the "apples to apples" context like the SNL skit or Tippster. The problem was not that Fieri sought to serve simple comfort food, it's that he did so badly, which is precisely the opposite of what his DDD show champions. If he had served good burgers and fries and wings, not "gourmet" but simply good, cooked correctly, the review would have been far different.

The bottom line is this: I'd like to bury my face in Giada's tits.

[Tippster]

Lots of hating going on in this thread.... personally I don't mind him (I like seeing the places featured on his show), but unless he's pissed in your Cheerios, I'm not sure why everyone feels the need to hate on the guy. I guess that's just the nature of the internet. He's just making a few bucks- like you fuckers wouldn't do the same if you had a chance for that kind of money.

Actually I wouldn't, but that's me. I don't need the money bad enough to try to act like an over-the-top Guido on TV or elsewhere. Guy Fieri is to cooking what Larry the Cable Guy is to Comedy. If you like them good for you, but they are not "good" by any means.

[iceman]

@ Danno's post: A persuasive argument and an indisputable conclusion I must say.