Monday, February 05, 2007

While We're At It, Someone May Want To Look Into Mario Batali's Infamous "Hairy Kumquat" Initiation Ritual.

We hadn't yet heard about this story on sexual harassment against a gay employee at Jean-Georges. But we have to say, we're not surprised. We recently read the book "Heat" by Bill Buford, and are therefore experts on all things oven-related. And let us tell you, in New York's hottest kitchens, there are a lot of serious problems with prejudice and machismo.

It just seems like gays should be the heroes of the restaurant world, rather than the victims. We design your interiors. We spend a lot of high incomes on food. We never bring children into nice restaurants. We are too proud to order the cheapest bottle of wine on the menu. We make the best actor-waiters out there. And we really, really like uniforms.

In the story, we learn about server Joseph Bassani, who was actually forced to simulate sex with a female prostitute in front of his co-workers. The woman "pushed him onto the top of one of the dining room tables, straddled him, and began to gyrate ... within inches of his face."

Okay, a little "fag" here and there, with some light AIDS jokes sprinkled in - that we can handle. But exposing one of us to a naked, gaping vagina? That's war.

We will never go to Jean-Georges again. Take that!

1 comment:

FrenchBenj said...

"Gaping vagina"? That is one visual I think none of us needed. [shudder]