Grilled: 2008 Taste of the Nation

Ryan Tate, Back Forty

What do you think of the blogs/Web sites aggressively covering the NYC scene?
I don’t believe in the blogs. I’m anti-blog to be honest with you. I think it leads to the overhyping of restaurants that may not have been established yet, as well as the demise of institutions that are run by good, honest, hardworking people.

What is the most overrated ingredient of the past few seasons?
Fiddlehead ferns. I really don’t think they have tons and tons of flavor. It’s an interesting rite of passage from winter to spring, but for me it doesn’t deliver.

I think people just like to say it…
I think so, it’s catchy and fun to say.