Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Everyone's a critic

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  • Russell Brown,

    Russell, you do do some good generous stuff.

    The young journalists were quite impressive -- articulate and not intimidated by the Parliamentary setting. A bit cheeky too, some of them.

    I talked for 15 minutes, with slides, about global press freedom, argued that Wikileaks' darker moments have shown that disclosure for its own sake is not journalism, emphasised the wealth of public information that can be interrogated for stories, cited Keith's demolition of Asian Angst -- and then Keith posted his Association of Community Retailers scoop a few hours later!

    It was actually nice to see Tariana Turia again. We might not see eye to eye on everything, but she has a lovely smile.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    It was actually nice to see Tariana Turia again. We might not see eye to eye on everything, but she has a lovely smile.

    With teeth -- people will insist on (to coin a phrase) misunderestimating her. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen,

    Nice show last night and one comment by Graham struck a chord. He said (paraphrasing) that he'd been told by some folks that anything he liked they hated and anything he hated they liked. Hence he was doing his job since his reviews were still helping them make choices.

    We do a lot of wine tasting and I've read a lot of wine reviews. One thing I learnt early on was to find a wine writer whose palate matched mine. Everyone tastes wine differently and everyone likes different things in wine so it makes sense that not every wine reviewer is going to like the same wines you like. For me it was Michael Cooper who I know that if he likes something I probably will too, for Bob Campbell I know it's pretty random.

    So as long as the reviewer is honest and consistent the reviews are useful. Which I guess has been my problem with restaurant reviews in the major NZ mags - they've never been consistent.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen,

    Ok it's Monday already and still no review of the Brown visit to The Grove - don't make me get on twitter...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • kevin russell,

    I really like the buffalo chips there. really big potion

    hamiltron • Since May 2010 • 37 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    They serve magic drinks? I'm there.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • kevin russell,

    not listening not listening not listening

    hamiltron • Since May 2010 • 37 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Ok it's Monday already and still no review of the Brown visit to The Grove - don't make me get on twitter...

    The Grove was excellent -- except my pheasant entree had clearly been on the plate a little too long by the time it arrived, and was lukewarm.

    Nice place to be though.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • kevin russell,

    2 mins

    hamiltron • Since May 2010 • 37 posts Report

  • recordari,

    Until what?

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    The Grove was excellent -- except my pheasant entree had clearly been on the plate a little too long by the time it arrived, and was lukewarm.

    I wish I had fifty cents for every pheasant entree that I've sent back to a restaurant kitchen.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Islander,

    Heh!
    I've tried pheasant once (at my late & long-lamented friend Robin Morrison's insistence) and it was...OK. Dryish, even with the unbelieveably complex sauce.

    But- I'm used to titi...

    Had quail once also (on a flight back to A-NZ.) If there was such a Personage as Harrying-the-Eaters-of-Lovely-Birds-which-were-wasted,
    I'd support, even worship, it-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I wish I had fifty cents for every pheasant entree that I've sent back to a restaurant kitchen.

    Oh, I didn't send it back.

    I'm a New Zealander. We don't like to make a fuss.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • kevin russell,

    noodles?

    hamiltron • Since May 2010 • 37 posts Report

  • recordari,

    except my pheasant entree had clearly been on the plate a little too long by the time it arrived, and was lukewarm.

    Surely pheasant, like vengeance, is best served cold?

    Mrs Beeton's cookbook has a recipe for pigeon pie - recommending that it is best served cold, stuffed with foie gras and truffles and padded out with plovers eggs

    Read more

    Still think the quail was spectacular.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Game-off stigma or gamine enigma....

    Oh, I didn't send it back.
    I'm a New Zealander. We don't like to make a fuss.

    Our nation needs more pleasant
    & plucky, pheasant chuckers!
    Many happy returns...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Oh, I didn't send it back.

    I'm a New Zealander. We don't like to make a fuss.

    Which is ironic, 'cause I'm pretty sure they would rather have made it right for you on the spot than have you write it on a forum for a few thousand people to see. But yeah, I'm like that too. Except for the "running a website read by thousands" bit. I'm practically a restaurateur's dream.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    I'm a New Zealander. We don't like to make a fuss

    In the context of a birthday dinner, that's well understandable. However, as a prevailing practice driven by our national character it's depriving establishments of feedback that can lift their game - which any decent place would welcome. If a dish is edible but not quite right, I'll tell them quietly on the way out, myself (not that I've been anywhere uber-flash for a very long time).

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • recordari,

    feedback that can lift their game

    Best unintended pun of the week?

    I agree with Gio and Sacha though. My tendency is to express, nicely, discontent on the spot and give places a chance to take remedial steps, which I'm sure they would have in this case.

    In some places you wouldn't bother of course. I mean sending back a dish at Valentines would be extremely churlish.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    In some places you wouldn't bother of course. I mean sending back a dish at Valentines would be extremely churlish.

    Besides, taking your dinner back and putting it back in all the buffet trays is going to turn the other diners off seconds.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I'm a New Zealander. We don't like to make a fuss.

    I should point out that this is a reference to a brilliant promo bFM did for Hard News, where a diner finds some dog shit under his lettuce leaf and is outraged, but still can't bring himself to mention it when the waiter comes to ask if they're happy with their meals.

    Cue voiceover: "In New Zealand, we don't like to make a fuss - we leave that to Russell Brown ..."

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    unintended pun

    True, but I did manage to avoid mentioning the promo turd. Such a good ad, that one

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • recordari,

    Cue voiceover: "In New Zealand, we don't like to make a fuss - we leave that to Russell Brown ..."

    A bFM classic. Now you mention it.

    Speaking of bFM, has there been any comment on the changes since they happened? Overall it has gone off pretty smoothly, IMhO. Three hours of Troy on Friday is like an unexpected bonus. Charlotte is just so naturally at home on radio, more of her is not a bad thing either. I'll leave the deconstructing of the Breakfast and Drive turnaround to others, but most of my fears seem to have been allayed.
    I love the self-effacing irony of the new drive promo that says 'like clockwork, always on time!'

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Cue voiceover: "In New Zealand, we don't like to make a fuss - we leave that to Russell Brown ..."

    Ever vigilant, Russell stands tall,
    defending us from "turd world" status...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • kevin russell,

    brilliant promo bFM did for Hard News

    what year was that?

    hamiltron • Since May 2010 • 37 posts Report

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