What the hell, Rachael Ray?
By Owen Morris in Leftovers
Wednesday, Mar. 11 2009 @ 11:30AM
Just last week, I was semi-defending Rachael Ray against the charges of being Rachael Ray. This week, a press release inadvertently caused me to check out her magazine-cum-Web site Every Day With Rachael Ray.
It has an extensive section called "Mapped Out," which features the "tastiest spots" in 40 states and 100-plus cities -- including such thriving metropolises as Bisbee, Oskaloosa and Berea (populations approximately 6,000, 10,000 and 9,500, respectively). Just try naming the states they're in.*
I bring all this up because there's one part of the country Ray has completely glossed over, and I don't mean Alaska. Just look at this map. Right in the middle, it's as bare as a baby's bottom.
It has an extensive section called "Mapped Out," which features the "tastiest spots" in 40 states and 100-plus cities -- including such thriving metropolises as Bisbee, Oskaloosa and Berea (populations approximately 6,000, 10,000 and 9,500, respectively). Just try naming the states they're in.*
I bring all this up because there's one part of the country Ray has completely glossed over, and I don't mean Alaska. Just look at this map. Right in the middle, it's as bare as a baby's bottom.
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Ray has
hit up Missouri but decided to focus on Springfield and a half-dozen
places in St. Louis. The closest restaurant to this metro is Chocolate Cafe in St. Joseph.
Perhaps Ray is just waiting to make Kansas City a featured destination. And when she does come to town, she should focus on more than just barbecue, because Kansas City is starting to get respect for all sorts of food. Justus Drugstore was in The New York Times, and two weeks ago the Pittsburgh Post Gazette featured an editorial "Why are we off the culinary map," lamenting Pittsburgh's sad food reputation but pumping up Kansas City's:
*Bisbee, Arizona; Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Berea, Kentucky
Perhaps Ray is just waiting to make Kansas City a featured destination. And when she does come to town, she should focus on more than just barbecue, because Kansas City is starting to get respect for all sorts of food. Justus Drugstore was in The New York Times, and two weeks ago the Pittsburgh Post Gazette featured an editorial "Why are we off the culinary map," lamenting Pittsburgh's sad food reputation but pumping up Kansas City's:
"Surveying other small cities that have gained major reputations in the past few years, such as Durham, N.C., and Kansas City, Mo., it's easy to imagine that all Pittsburgh needs is a little more external validation -- a James Beard award or two, a Zagat guide to call our own."If Ray never comes to Kansas City, it's her loss, not ours or our several James Beard nominated chefs.
*Bisbee, Arizona; Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Berea, Kentucky
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