Guy Fieri, the Food Network star and the 10th highest paid chef in the country, is defending the scathing New York Times review he received for his new restaurant based near Times Square.
New York Times critic Pete Wells butchered Fieri's new restaurant "Guy's American Kitchen & Bar", by asking a series of biting questions as a gimmick to express his disappointment with the restaurant.
The questions included, "And when we hear the words Donkey Sauce, which part of the donkey are we supposed to think about?"
Fieri, who is based in California, came to New York to appear on NBC's "Today" show to respond to the review. "He came in with a different agenda," Fieri told interviewer Savannah Guthrie. "It's a great way to make a name for yourself, go after a celebrity chef who is not a New Yorker."
I mean, I've read reviews. There's good and there's bad in the restaurant business, but that, to me, went so overboard it really seemed like there was another agenda."
the celebrity chef and host of Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" has also released a lengthy statement to the media, which reads in part: "I normally do not respond to reviews or critics, however, given the tone of Pete's piece, it's clear to me that he went into my restaurant with his mind already made up. That's unfortunate. I take comments from patrons, fans and visitors very seriously, and if there is ever a problem with our service, we'll fix it."
