Is It Wrong to Hate This Kid?
Posted by Kirsten Henri on November 18th, 2008
The New York Times has a profile of a 12-year-old, David Fishman, who goes out to dine alone and fancies himself a food critic. I read this article and found myself wanting to throttle this child, despite feeling that it was nice that he showed an interest in eating good, real food rather than chicken nuggets or some other rank food product. I couldn’t figure out if I was supposed to be charmed by this kid or offended? You tell me:
Normally passionate for seafood, David ordered a specialty of the restaurant, a prosciutto, as well as what the menu called una insalata di rucola e parmigiano. “Good variety,” he wrote in the leather-bound notebook he brought along, restaurant-critic-like. “Softish jazz music. Seem to enjoy kids but not overly.” In other words, no cloying smiles or insulting offer of grilled cheese.
The chef apparently found this all delightful (no doubt because of the presence of a New York Times reporter), but the kitchen staff had an interesting way of showing their delight:
The kitchen workers were so intrigued by the young adventurous eater that they sent out a bowl of complimentary tripe stew, which he enjoyed, although, he allowed, “It wasn’t my favorite.” He was a little surprised to learn, subsequently, that tripe was prepared stomach lining. His eyes went wide. “Intestines of what?” he asked. (Somehow, that seemed to matter.)
Evil genius on the part of the kitchen staff, although you have to give the kid credit for eating the tripe in the first place.
I think I’d like little David Fishman a lot better if instead of eating in a restaurant, scribbling in his critic’s notebook at age 12, he got a job as a busboy or a dishwasher. If he’s old enough to eat alone in a restaurant, he’s old enough to work in one.
So am I a terrible person for not finding this child adorable in his uber-sophistication? For maybe hating his parents a little bit? Read the whole article before you start calling me - or him - names.
12-Year-Old’s a Critic and the Chef Loves It [NYT]
- None Found
November 18th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I want to throw tripe at David Fishman.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I hate that kid.
Also hate the tone of the article, and that there is an article written about a 12 year old who aspires to be a Zagat reviewer.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
So I read this article and came away not liking this kid also. I am 17 and I am very critical of restaurants, but I don’t go out by myself just to make a point. This article reminds me of one written in the Inquirer about a 14 year old kid named nick who does “molecular gastronomy” and sorts. He commented that he doesn’t eat his mom’s cooking and makes his own dinner. I work in a very highly rated restaurant and i think of myself as a good cook, but never would I not eat what my mom made me or go out to dinner by myself just to make a point. He should, well at least I like to, be considered and treated as an adult. Knowing a lot about food at a young age does not make you special. I don’t think age should be a factor or a reason to discriminate.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
The answer to his tripe question should have been: “The intestines of Wilbur from Charlotte’s Web. Would you care for some foie gras instead?”
I am also not a fan of Little Tripey.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Really? As an adult, you HATE this kid - why?
It sounds like this poor kid is habitually parent-less for dinner. He is not refusing to eat what his parents have made or simply going out to dinner by himself “to make a point.” He was going it alone regardless, he traded in the usual hummus place for somewhere he had previously found interesting, and he had a budget.
Yes, maybe the writer made him seem more sophisticated than he is, but I think a kid who is willing to venture out to a dinner on his on in NYC (plenty of adults are uncomfortable doing that), is willing to try new food, and is interested in writing and food, which I assume we all appreciate being readers of Foobooz, is a somewhat special 12-year-old.
If you’re picking on a 12-year-old, you’re trying too hard to be edgy.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
I have to agree with Kim. I have to commend the kid for trying different foods, and being financially responsible about it. I found it more uncomfortable to read that the adults in the restaurants were pandering to him. Maybe as he grows older, he will learn more about the food industry from the inside, maybe take nutrition and cooking classes in high school and college. Who knows? But as hobbies go, trying food and trying to write about it doesn’t seem like a bad thing.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I hate the writer who wrote the story (really…in nyc there’s no kid working at a restaurant or experimenting with making food? there are two in philly i know of from magicalman28 and that kid profiled in the inquirer) in such a cheesy way. I bet I’d think the kid weird but entertaining in person.
November 18th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Jeebus, he’s just a kid. Lay off. I don’t think it’s terribly fair to go hating on a 12-year-old who is playing restaurant critic, any more than the kid who does oil paintings or backyard science experiments. Yes, mom and dad are well enough financially to support him, but I can think of more expensive hobbies. I actually think he comes off as a little unsophisticated in the article, not “uber-sophisticated,” and that’s quite ok.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Okay, so far half of you agree with me that this kid made you hate him (including a 17-year-old who is actually working in a restaurant - adorable!) and half of you think I am someone who would rather roast and eat small adventurous children than allow them to eat a restaurant meal alone in peace. Fair enough.
You all make good points, but I quibble with this one: if you’re the subject of a profile in the New York Times, you are fair game for discussion - you’re not being ‘picked on.’ If you put yourself out there, people are going to have an opinion about you. Even if you’re 12. And even if your parents are probably the ones who forced you out there in the first place.
Also, I am not, nor have I ever been ‘edgy.’ Ew.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
I have 5 kids. This kid, well, umm, HE ROCKS. At least he’ll eat and eat odd things. this of course is completely from the standpoint of a stressed out mom who can’t get her kids to eat anything other than hot dogs and chicken nuggets.
beyond that, love him, hate him, who cares. we’re all entitled to our opinions. if he was 6 we’d all think he was adorable. after age 10 the “cuteness” factor wears off enough. But 12 is still kid enough. He’ll be on Leno and Letterman soon enough. And might get paid serious coin to write a book. Any reasonable adult is allowed to be a little annoyed by that.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
I agree that there is nothing wrong with a kid trying new food. If anything, I encourage it and wish kids, (including my friends that r 17 and say they “dont eat fish”) would try many more foods. The issue i have with him is that such a big deal is being made about this and that it warrants a article in the NYT. Also, to address the kids dont work in restaurant comment, actually many kids do. I have been working in restaurants since I was a freshman in high school and now im a senior. I have worked at 3 different places and at all of them there has always been another kid there for at least some time. So yah, who knows who is making your meal…maybe the chef or maybe a 17 year old.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
I just want to know how much he tipped…
November 19th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
At 12 years old, I doubt he would be able to get a permit to work. I believe you have to be at least 14 to have a legit (not under the table) job.
I think it’s cool that a 12 year old would be willing to eat out alone, can behave himself when he does so, and isn’t a picky eater. The whole thing is cute. And while maybe $25 is a lot to give your 12 year old for dinner, it is one of the lesser offenses I’ve seen when it comes to wealthy parents.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Well doesn’t this just take the cake? I believe the answer is “Yes.” I agree with the disagreers.
Between that host of clumsy errors the other day (You know when, don’t bother me with petty details!) and this, I am finished with this site. Finished I tell you!
Love,
Dr. Heckles
November 24th, 2008 at 2:16 am
A 12-year-old walked into a restaurant by himself and ate a rather sophisticated (by 12-year-old standards) meal. There’s novelty in that. And there’s absolutely no harm in it.
There’s no hint in the article of any attitude or behavior problems, so I don’t get where the hate comes from.
And ‘fair game’ may work as a rationalization (indeed, it acts to short-circuit actually thinking through an issue), but it’s logically flawed in this case. The relevant portions of our social and legal systems relating to minors are based on the notion that children are unsophisticated and therefore unable to determine what is in their own best interest. (That a journalist is unfamiliar with the application of ‘fair game’ to Graeme Frost boggles my mind)
So the potential for evoking publicly voiced hatred from a food writer is clearly not something that a 12-year-old would be expected to consider in weighing an interview request.
Hate on the writer or the parents all you want, though I find no reason for either. Hating on the kid is unseemly and should provoke some serious self-reflection.
November 24th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
What a great kid! He’s awesome and I’m a little sad that neither parent is having dinner with him. (Peppermint patty cupcakes - brilliant!)
December 15th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Its interesting to see him take an interest in food at a young age, but i feel that he needs a few years off and let his taste buds and all to grow a little more. I also agree with the comment that if he’s old enough to dine alone, he’s old enough to work. This would give him more of an insight on how the food business works.