Comments on: Bon Appétit Fish Feud

By: The kid

The kid — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:47:51 +0000

Dag. You are so bad ass. Can I say that on here? Either way, I feel so educated now–thanks for explaining everything to me, your readers, and that magazine.

By: Empanada Boy

Empanada Boy — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:09:50 +0000

Steelhead for Prez ’08!

By: Mango Lassie

Mango Lassie — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:42:47 +0000

Thanks to everyone for your supportive responses. I still haven't heard anything in response to my second letter. As Charlie Tuna suggests in his comment, it's rare that some of these publications will admit they're wrong. Unlike a daily newspaper, some food magazines don't seem to think they have the same responsibility to provide accurate information to readers. Interestingly, Gourmet, Bon Appétit's sister publication has done a notably superior job of tackling the tricky issues of sustainable eating. It also prints reader letters, and you can be sure it would have printed a correction by now. I will look closely at the next issue of Bon Appétit to see if a correction has been printed, but I am not crossing my fingers. After that, I am considering canceling my subscription. The only thing that prevents me from doing so now is my fear that no one will be the watchdog for this magazine in the future.

By: Daddy Salmon

Daddy Salmon — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 03:15:04 +0000

Way to go Mango Lassie! I’m so proud of you! Steelhead are incredible fish that are extremely challenging to catch. I am offended that Bon Appetit would include them in the category of “ingredients.” Aside from their beauty and strength, steelhead are important strands in the ecological fabric of the Pacific Northwest along with salmon. Their endangered status negatively impacts tens of other species of animals that depend upon them.

Thank you for speaking up when ignorant or sloppy journalists print untruths in their magazine. It also makes me feel good that you actually must have been listening to at least some of my environmental rants at the dinner table and learned the differences between fish species and their ecological significance.

Love,
Daddy Salmon

By: Charlie Tuna

Charlie Tuna — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 08:26:38 +0000

It seems that the pseudofactual information would be enough for the offending parties here. Ms. Odell must be compelled to stick to her guns because she knows that Salmon, Steelhead, Trout, and Char all come from the Salmonidae family, all derived from the same line of fish. Must be good enough for their thousands of readers, but one of the problems with food journalism in particular is the snobbishness with which many magazines, especially Bon Appetit and Cooks Illustrated, thumb their nose when challenged. I cannot think of a single instance where they have actually second guessed their own brand of journalism and printed a retraction or correction, stating “We misspoke. We apologize for the egregious error and terrible lapse in judgment. We did not feel that our demographic was so heavily based in the Pacific Northwest.”

As long as you don’t say, “Well I’m from Seattle*, so I know my fish,” you’ll keep your standing in terms of being a concerned reader and harbinger of truth rather than a whistleblower, but so far, that’s a very level-headed approach.

*and yes, I do realize it’s Puddox.

By: Brownie Benefactress

Brownie Benefactress — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:55:45 +0000

Popover is right!
Please let us know how this proceeds. Should we start a write-in campaign?

By: Popover

Popover — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:55:27 +0000

Nice work, Lassie. I think Ms.Uppity Odell is in need of a demotion. And I can think of someone who might take her place…

By: Flava Flav

Flava Flav — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:59:37 +0000

Way to make Daddy Salmon proud.

Now you proved that you were listening– at least some of the time!

By: Auntie Pasti

Auntie Pasti — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:15:58 +0000

I’m proud of you. Stick to your guns, lassie.

By: Bugle Eater

Bugle Eater — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:50:39 +0000

Go, Mango, Go. Not exactly Cintas – but the stew certainly stinks on this one !