Thinking about submitting this to our local paper

[cookie_chef]

First, thanks to everybody for their sweet feedback here. Keep in mind, as you read the next piece, I now live in a rinky-dink little country town, currently without a critic. We all know how my last crash and burn went with the Raleigh paper. Of course they have the esteemed Greg Cox (current critic) and Andrea Weigl (contributes regularly to

Comments

[kookamess]

I say you should drop "shmear" entirely. It's one of those things where if you don't know how to spell it you probably shouldn't use it. Just use your own voice and own words to describe the experience. That's my only criticism because it is an excellent review of Brueggers. I really think that more chain places should be reviewed because depending on the management and employees they are all different!

[cookie_chef]

I know there is smear but I was thinking (perhaps wrongly) that shmear or schmear might add a fun Bronx twang to it. (Forgive me NYers). Thanks for your feedback, and yes, there are some that are worthy of some good press. I guess my idea is that I see so many reviewers doing Michelin-starred or outrageously priced restaurants that the Average Joe could never afford. My goal would be to review places that those of us on a more modest income can enjoy.

[kookamess]

I was raised by New Yorkers and my whole extended family is in NY and when people use words like that it rubs them the wrong way.

I don't know if you venture my way at all but Carpe Durham is a fan run Durham food blog that is always looking for submissions. I know they sometimes get asked to write for other venues as well.

[cookie_chef]

Good to know. So maybe I could smear instead or substitute another word. And thanks for giving me a heads up on Carpe Durham.

[misterbeans]

Schmear isn't technically slang... it's yiddish, and I think it's ok to use since bagels are a traditionally jewish food anyway. Some bagel shops even sell their cream cheese as schmear.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schmear

[cookie_chef]

Hmmmm. Thanks for the link. Looks as if I need to do a few overall tweaks before this one is finished.

[njlorelei]

This is basically what I was going to say. Living in NJ (my local grocery store has separate Kosher deli, fish, aisles, etc.) hearing/seeing the term schmear is common and makes sense to use in a bagel shop review.

[webmd]

You mean Brooklyn, not Bronx. I say go with schmear! And yes I am New Yorker of Jewish origin. :)

The only part I'd change is "hand-tossed salads." Ew, I'd much prefer my salads be tossed in a bowl or with tongs.

[webmd]

I also want to make sure you use schmear correctly if you do end up using it. A schmear is a relatively light application of cream cheese, as in, "I'll have a bagel with a schmear." In traditional New York bagelries they will cake that stuff on so that most people have to scrape half off.

[cookie_chef]

Noted on both replies. :)