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Do You Pay Attention To Restaurant Awards?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WHAT DO RESTAURANT AWARDS MEAN TO YOU?
We’ve all seen them at the hostess’ desk or hanging in the bathroom: the various and sundry awards that a restaurant can accrue, from community outreach to James Beard.
But what’s behind winning one of these seemingly coveted commendations?
In my Dishing column today, I take a look at a hoax played on Wine Spectator by author Robin Goldstein, who submitted credentials for a fake restaurant in Italy to the famed wine mag. It promptly won Wine Spectator’s award of excellence (admittedly the lowest on the mag’s tier and pretty easy to get, apparently).
Even the James Beard Award — the highest given to restaurants, chefs and food writers — has had its share of scandal; the Foundation rattled several years back with mismanagement of funds.
So what do you think when you see one of these plaques hanging on the wall? What does it mean for you, the customer? Is it a marketing scheme, or do you think most restaurant awards mean something to the average diner?
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