Letter From The Editor 3/10

Several have asked if I could post my monthly Letter From The Editor, from the paper, in this format. That request I can oblige.

For those who have never read my Letters From The Editor of the past will notice these aren’t the standard issue “letters from the editor” you’ll find in other publications that highlight the articles you’ll find inside the paper. Rather, these small articles — limited by print real estate — are intended to be quick “food for thought” pieces, and nothing more.

Those of you who frequent the Atlanta Cuisine website know that I’m a poll geek. Truth be told, I’d position polls more prominently on the site if it were up to me.

To Govern, Or Not To Govern
In a recent poll our readers struggled with the touchy subject of whether or not to regulate terms such as “local” and “farm-to-table.” At the end of the day, those in favor of less regulation eeked out a slim margin of victory with 50% of the vote, “yes to regulations” registered 48% while “not sure” took up the remaining 2%.

I’m not surprised that our savvy readers voted “no” to regulations, but I am shocked by how close the results. Perhaps we as a society are too quick to govern.

We the people make a habit of trying to control everything that isn’t perfect. Then it winds up in the hands of a government-like body.

Oh my! Those little imperfections suddenly don’t seem so bad now, do they?

Top Chef Popularity Contest
Last December I ran a poll asking you to vote for your favorite Atlanta Top Chef star. Richard Blais and Hector Santiago were runners up with 18% of votes going to each. Eli Kirshtein finished up the rear with a lowly 4% while Kevin Gillespie — to nobody’s surprise — was the decisive winner ringing up a whopping 60% of the vote.

I wonder if he’d score that high today, after making some unpopular comments about barbecue that didn’t sit well with some locals during a recent interview with the AJC.

What is it about barbecue that makes the gloves come off?

Is Atlanta A Top 5 Food City?
This poll will run until midnight March 10th. It’s been an interesting one to follow thus far with “no” racking up 58% of the vote. It was close till the halfway point, but there’s plenty of time to go in this one.

I’m not sure if we are top 5 material, but we can’t be too far out. Let’s see, there’s the obvious leaders: New York, San Francisco, Chicago and LA. Any clue who falls in behind the Big Four? Don’t you dare say Charleston or New Orleans, Atlanta’s food scene (ethnic et al) is not only better, but superior in comparison. Well, The Big Easy does hold its own, but Charleston, SC? Really?

Click here to see polls.