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Friday, January 27, 2012

Food / Mercury Meet Your New Mercury Food Critic!

Posted by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey on Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 9:59 AM

As you may have heard, our beloved Tony Perez is passing off his crown as the Mercury's Food Critic due to increased responsibilities at his much better paying job at Tin House. But before we place his crown on the noggin of the newest member of the Mercury team, I'd like to give a big HUZZAH! and a "tip o' the hat" to Tony who has been a simply fantastic food critic and a pure joy to work with. (Something tells me, however, this isn't the last you'll hear from Tony!)

Okay, now on to our announcement! Well over 100 people applied this time around for the Mercury food critic position, and we received a buttload of amazing resumes. That being said, we've settled on who we think is a great pick for us...

Say hello to your new Mercury Food Critic… Chris Onstad!

As many of you already know, Chris is the highly acclaimed author of the webcomic Achewood (which also ran in the Mercury for awhile), and is a consummate lover and preparer of all things delicious. He was also the topic of a feature written by former food editor Patrick Coleman (about the proper preparation of yak and buffalo testicles), and his writing has been published in such lofty journals as Saveur, The New Yorker, GQ, Vice and more. Happily he also happens to have an encyclopedic, obsessive knowledge and regard for the local food scene. But don't fret, Achewood fans! After a short hiatus, Chris is back to writing Achewood, so we're especially pleased he's taking time to join us as our newest food critic!

Though he won't actually get started writing Merc reviews for another couple-or-three weeks, I was too excited not to share. So stay tuned! Welcome Chris Onstad, and bon apetit!

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Comments (17) RSS

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1
This is excellent news. Good luck Tony and welcome Chris.
Posted by Commenty Colin on January 27, 2012 at 10:02 AM · Report
2
Congrats, Chris!
Posted by Tony Perez on January 27, 2012 at 10:09 AM · Report
3
This is the best possible outcome of this situation.

Onstad's love for food and drink was always evident in his comics. I look forward to many articles about fried testicles and Blue Nun.
Posted by cat & beard on January 27, 2012 at 10:16 AM · Report
4
Achewood and yak testicles. Two great tastes that taste great together!
Posted by mars on January 27, 2012 at 10:20 AM · Report
5
I am way too excited about this. I am physically restraining myself from typing in all caps.
Posted by s.mirk on January 27, 2012 at 10:26 AM · Report
6
WHY DIDN'T THE MERCURY HIRE ME TO WRITE 5,000 WORD ALL CAPS SCREED ABOUT THE SHITTINESS OF VOODOO DONUTS? THEY DIDN'T EVEN RESPOND TO MY SEVEN DIFFERENT ARTICLES ON THAT TOPIC ALL WRITTEN ON SPEC.

BUT I GUESS THIS IS AN ACCPETABLE SECOND CHOICE AFTER ME.
Posted by Graham on January 27, 2012 at 10:27 AM · Report
7
Too awesome!
Posted by TSW on January 27, 2012 at 10:33 AM · Report
8
I am extremely happy about this.
Posted by Number Six on January 27, 2012 at 10:50 AM · Report
9
Wowsers. I love his writing. This is great news!
Posted by ROM on January 27, 2012 at 11:20 AM · Report
10
This...this is a thing!
Posted by AMA on January 27, 2012 at 11:22 AM · Report
11
Well, as a vegan...

This is great news! Love to have people passionate (keep in mind this is said in a Gordon Ramsey impression. So you know, it's a quite good impression too, but you can obviously tell that I'm not Gordon Ramsey) about food in the position. I'm with Mirk, kind of restraining the urge to write in all caps.
Posted by Fruit Cup on January 27, 2012 at 11:35 AM · Report
12
This is totally a thing! Onstad on food is Onstad at his best.
Posted by Evan R on January 27, 2012 at 12:21 PM · Report
13
This is going to be AWESOME!! IN CAPS! ALL CAPS AWESOME!
Posted by Joneser on January 27, 2012 at 1:02 PM · Report
14
@FC: YOU SOLD ME A BILL OF GOODS, I THOUGHT YOU *WERE* GORDON RAMSEY.
Posted by Graham on January 27, 2012 at 1:37 PM · Report
15
It can only be good, that every Portland chef will sense Ray looking over their shoulder from here on out. Chocachos better not fuck up the cassoulet.
Posted by Spoolo on January 27, 2012 at 2:19 PM · Report
16
Onstad and his fake sandwich shop:

"What’s on the menu at my sandwich restaurant this week? Smoked ramp “mousse” and gravlax on brioche, cooked sous-vide, and served with a thick jus made from yogurt, minced cucumber, garlic, mint, and dill."

And my favorite lines from the the Sandwich Duel:

"A gentle torsion seemed to flicker within his transom. I wasn’t sure I’d seen it. I waited."

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/cart…
Posted by ROM on January 27, 2012 at 4:21 PM · Report
17
Woo! As webcomics fan I say "huzzah!"
Posted by The Right Reverend Rocktimus Prime on January 27, 2012 at 5:03 PM · Report

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