BizJournals Portfolio
Home >   Business Views, Opinions and Blogs >   Business Blogs >   Business Spin >  

Enjoying It Im Still Working On It

Business Spin

by Jack Flack
Main
Surowiecki: The Wisdom of Dumbed-Down   David Leonhardt: Whacking Flacks with Their Own Words

Recent Blog Posts

Links

Nov 08 2007 12:00am EDT

Enjoying It? I'm Still Working on It.

NYT food critic Frank Bruni pans the oppressive semantics served in many of the restaurants he reviews, shining a sharp light on how the word "enjoy" has become an abusive tool for passive-aggressive waiters.

"I pause halfway through an entree, and a server with an itch to clear plates asks if I'm 'done enjoying that,' a question that's more a presumption. Maybe I was done enjoying it after the first bite. Maybe the unconsumed half is a testament to my limited enjoyment."

Jack Flack has been "enjoyed" to similar annoyance himself. But he also spends a lot of time in more down-market joints in the South, where "enjoy" is often replaced by the even more irritating, "work." As in, "Are you still working on that, hon?"

While trying to conquer the massive portions that dominate American plates can often indeed feel like work, it seldom encouraging to be reminded of it.

Comments

If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.


Connect With Portfolio.com
Like Portfolio on Facebook

Come on, like us—you know you want to.

Follow Portfolio on Twitter

Follow us and if you're an innovative entrepreneur, we'll return the favor.

The Mix

Today's top stories, conversation starters, and the back nine business bites.

spotlight on

People & Ideas

Whisky To-Go-Go

Now there's a company that let's you taste your knowledge of fine blended Scotches by mixing a whisky of your own. Read More