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Topic: Letters Sent to Romenesko
Date/Time: 10/21/2005 7:02:32 AM
Title: Mariani explains Houston freebies
Posted By: Jim Romenesko
 
From JOHN MARIANI: With regard to "Houston Taxpayers Pay for Esquire Critics Airfare" with reference to a column [second item] written by a reporter in the Houston Press, you referenced an earlier article from the Chicago Sun-Times in which a Chicago chef tried to libel me as making demands to visit his restaurant. The chef's assertions were shown to be false in a NY Post Page 6 article in which the chef''s own publicist said he "made it all up." Here is what that chef, Homaru Cantu, sent to me and the Sun-Times:

"I wanted to respond directly to the recent reports that have come out
regarding respected journalist, John Mariani, and his visit to Moto in
Chicago. Mr. Mariani dined at Moto on March 2nd 2004 and as a young chef I was excited to have such a prominent journalist take interest in my food. As with any guest, we take into account special requests and Mr. Mariani's were communicated to me via fax by our former public relations firm. I never received any direct requests from Mr. Mariani himself. Having said that I regret any of my earlier statements that may have brought Mr. Mariani's character or journalistic integrity into question."

Yet at the end of your note on the Houston Press column, you write, "Maybe
a Chicago chef's story about Mariani isn't so "preposterous" after all." The fact is, I had been invited by the Houston CVB on a typical "fam trip," never made a single demand, did not write a word about either the hotel they put me in or two restaurants I visited. The two I did write about, glowingly, I consider excellent representatives of Houston's fine dining scene. Nothing in the Press article indicates in any way that what Mr. Cantu said in the Sun-Times article has any validity whatsoever. [Permalink]

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