FYI PREMIERES NEW ORIGINAL SERIES “SAY IT TO MY FACE!”, RECOMMENDED BY WHOM YOU KNOW. RESTAURANTS AND CHEFS GET CHANCE AT REDEMPTION FROM THEIR TOUGHEST ONLINE CRITICS PREMIERES SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2015 AT 10PM ET Our Coverage Sponsored by Fresh Origins
Hosts, Andrew Gruel and Anthony Dispensa of FYI's "Say It To My Face!"
Photo by FYI
Copyright 2015
Fresh Origins is America’s leading producer of Microgreens and Edible Flowers. Combining the benefits of an ideal climate with a deep passion for quality and innovation, Fresh Origins products are sought after by the finest restaurants and top chefs. The farm is located in the picturesque rolling hills of San Diego County, where the near perfect weather allows for production and harvest all year. Fresh Origins produces almost 400 Microgreens, Petitegreens, Edible Flowers, Shoots, Tiny Veggies™ and related items. Many are not available anywhere else, with new introductions nearly every month. Fresh Origins products are on top of the finest cuisine in the world! Fresh Origins supplies distributors of specialty produce who serve fine dining restaurants and resorts nationwide. There are also a few online sources of their products available to private chefs and home cooks. Read our first Culinary Queen interview with Kelly Sasuga:
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FYI has captured a completely interesting topic for America in their new original series: "Say It To My Face", which we found particularly intriguing as they said one bad review can sink a restaurant's business by 20%. In this inaugural episode, we were most impressed with the hosts, above: Andrew Gruel and Anthony Dispenza. They are brutally honest and correct in many of their suggestions when they face off against the restaurant owner Mark Cammarano, the subject of the first episode, and his restaurant Cammarano's located in the the Simi Valley of California.
At Whom You Know, we only go to restaurants announced and only go to places we hope we'll like. We don't publish bad reviews. We encounter a lot that we think we don't like and we don't go to, and if we had either host on the phone based on this episode, we would think we'd consider working with them at their restaurant, however, we are not sure we'd say the same for the subject of the first episode, which is why Mark should be thanking his lucky stars for Andrew and Anthony and their myriad of brilliant tips.
This episode is highly entertaining if you are an eating human being! It is a total must-see if you own a restaurant because maybe you will learn something from someone else's mistakes. A lot of what we saw made us cringe from our personal perspective, but remember we are familiar with Manhattan restaurants for the most part and the business here is vastly different from every other place in America: more cut-throat, more competitive and more detail-oriented. Places that are not up-to-snuff could not survive here.
We love how the hosts attest to the need for amazing online reviews! They possess an acute understanding of the business of a restaurant, and know that going to a restaurant is not just about the food: it's so much more (for more on that read everything under the subheading "Cuisine and Drinks").
There were times when we became frustrated with Mark as at times in the episode he was not listening to the hosts. When he opened his mind to criticism and adjusted his attitude, Mark was doing himself a favor. And oh my goodness - we hope we never see peanut butter, jelly and egg up close in person together ever personally. Of course, having attractive items on a menu is key, as well as having a focus and a clear message. Mark does not know when to stop experimenting. Flavor matching and complementing is absolutely essential. We have not seen a concept of American Fusion before and if we did we would not find it attractive.
Andrew and Anthony suggest three major aspects for overhaul:
1. Refine the menu to 12 items or fewer
2. Refocus ambiance
3. Retrain staff
Specifically on the menu, we like the suggestion of microgreens on a hamburger. We don't recall seeing that here in New York, but we aren't frequenting many hamburger joints either. We also like how the hosts get rid of the earpieces. We have not seen earpieces ever on waitstaff or owners and hope we don't ever see them. Restaurants are not the secret service, silly. Clients go to restaurants where they like the people there, and where they have a relationship and great experiences. Eating out is personal and no one wants to talk to a robot.
Finally, a word about decor. We don't harp on about this in our reviews, but decor matters a lot as well as ambiance. We do not care for the chalkboards and believe it is still too casual, but Andrew and Anthony do make this restaurant look a lot better than it did before they started working on it! We like a clean, elegant look that is organized with flair with individual tables that have individual seats with backs. And if you've got a great story like our friend Billy Martin does, that only adds to culinary achievement. Martin's Tavern is an excellent example of American comfort food done well and just go eat there if you want to know how it should be done.
We look forward to seeing what Andrew and Anthony do next!
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FYI’s new original series, “Say It To My Face!,” gives chefs and restaurant owners a chance to redeem themselves before their toughest online critics. Fifteen hour-long episodes are set to premiere on Saturday, May 9 at 10pm ET.
Never before have faceless online critics had so much power over the success or failure of restaurants. A chef can be on their game 99% of the time, but one mistake with one disgruntled customer, and they're facing an uphill battle to get diners back through the doors. In “Say It To My Face,” restaurants and critics meet face-to-face, for the first time, to air grievances.
With the mentorship of chef co-hosts, Andrew Gruel and Anthony Dispensa, each owner and chef will make-over their restaurant. From the menu, to the décor and staffing – they will look to elevate their business in hopes that their toughest online critics will change their reviews, while helping to encourage new customers to come through the door.
With over 18 years in the culinary business, Andrew is the CEO and Founder of Slapfish Restaurant Group, and Anthony is the West Coast Director of Operations for the restaurant group. A proponent in the power of social media when it comes to food and dining, Andrew personally responds to negative online reviews for his own restaurant business. From first-hand experience, Andrew and Anthony will help owners and chefs learn that listening to customer’s criticism, while having an open mind, will prove to be beneficial in salvaging a restaurant’s reputation before it’s too late.
“Say It To My Face!” is produced for FYI by Pie Town Productions. Tara Sandler and Jennifer Davidson are executive producers for Pie Town. Molly O'Rourke serves as showrunner for Pie Town. Executive producers for FYI are Gena McCarthy, Toby Faulkner and Jordan Harman.
About FYI
For your inspiration, for your imagination or for your innovation, FYI™ embraces an adventurous, personalized and non-prescriptive approach to peoples’ taste, space, look, story and more. FYI covers a range of stories and experiences that reflect how people actually live their lives today, not defined by just one passion or interest. FYI is a division of A+E Networks, a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation. The FYI website is located at fyi.tv. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/fyi and Facebook at facebook.com/fyi.
