Diner's Delight

Nearly two years ago a former war correspondent and Pulitzer finalist took an unexpected turn - a gastronomic leap. Frank Bruni, a man who fellow reporters describe as having a “true and longstanding passion” for food, succeeded Bill Grimes as the The New York Times restaurant critic. A self-avowed foodie, Bruni reports on the sacrosanct and fabulous world of chefs and their cuisine.

Bruni’s weekly column, “Diner’s Journal,” synthesizes his reviews and musings on the New York restaurant scene. In mid-February, Bruni launched a Web version based on his popular Friday column. From the paper’s homepage users click on “Dining & Wine” to access Bruni’s blog. It’s not hard to miss as the headline, in red, is accompanied by an illustration of a diner with fork and pencil in hand, as well as a small notebook on a plate. Users might expect to see foie gras or a steaming plate of sumptuous mussels, yet Bruni’s graphic provides a hint of what’s to come.

In his introductory blog post, Bruni writes that the Web version of “Diner’s Journal” is an "attempt to capture and share more of my notes from the field.” Colleagues Barbara Graustark and Sam Sifton, in a press release announcing Bruni’s ascension, wrote, "Frank's writing about restaurants displays not only real and considered knowledge about the food on the plate, but also true empathy for the diner."

Bruni’s blog provides users with wonderful reality bites of the New York restaurant scene. He reports on everything from décor to the new chefs on the block. Bruni also - and quite deliciously - ruminates about the issue of automatic gratuity, his weight and the outfits worn by servers at Hooters. Comments made by users are entertaining and on occasion challenge Bruni to scale new heights in his reportage, including a chef’s dare that Bruni be a waiter for a week.

“Diner’s Journal” is not an especially eye-catching blog; however, photographs do complement the stories and links enable users to access a wide variety of restaurant and related sites. The real joy is in the delectable visualizations that Bruni creates for connoisseurs of New York’s eclectic cuisine offerings. Bon appétit!