We don’t know what is up with the sudden preponderance of stories about sexism in the food world, but it’s really getting a bit ridiculous. Today’s entry in what is rapidly becoming Sexism Week here at MenuPages Boston comes from yesterday’s New York Times. Keith McNally, the Morandi owner who earlier accused Times critic Frank Bruni of being “unremittingly sexist”, had a letter in yesterday’s paper that was, essentially, a much more toned down version of the screed he had sent to New York food blog Eater. Whereas his earlier missive featured strong language such as “[The New York Times’] message, through Frank Bruni, is loud and clear: If you’re a woman and talented, the one place you’d better get out of - and fast - is the kitchen” and “In Bruni’s powerful and untouchable world these chefs are women first and professional chefs a long, long way second. How else to explain his record?”, the letter published in The Paper of Record simply says “This is not to suggest that Mr. Bruni is biased against giving female chefs a fair shake. Only that statistics do not necessarily suggest otherwise.” Come on, Keith! That’s no fun!
We’re inclined to agree with the camp that suggests that McNally is suffering from a severe overabundance of sour grapes. While his accusations do sound damning (although certainly less so when one considers the actual number of female chefs helming the type of restaurants Bruni is likely to review), they’d be a lot more interesting coming from someone who didn’t have an ax to grind. All the same, we really are taking pleasure in watching this feud unfold. Your move, Mssr. Bruni. Your move.
Letters [New York Times]
Keith McNally: Bruni has “unremittingly sexist” slant [Eater]
Sour Grapes And Convenient Femiladyism: Frank Bruni Hates Ladies, Claims Crazy McNally [Gawker]
McNally on Bruni, II: Keith Offers More Evidence of Sexism, Times Prints Letter [Eater]
Is McNally’s Allegation of Bruni’s Sexism Sexist? [Gawker]
