NYT Announces New Food Critic

Restaurateurs meet your new nemesis: Sam Sifton, who will be the new food critic for the New York Times, filling the shoes of Frank Bruni. In a memo to the staff, executive editor Bill Keller said Sifton is a "writer of discernment and wit and erudition" and that the "prospect of reading Sam on a regular basis brings big smiles to our faces." The Observer points out that the influence of the food critic has dwindled a good deal in recent years with the proliferation of food blogs. Nevertheless, the Times food critic—who traditionally strives to remain anonymous—remains one of the sweetest jobs in the biz.