One of the country’s most highly esteemed food critics has been grilled over an extremely crude post about a female worker at a Perth restaurant.
John Lethlean, who made a name for himself writing for The Australian, and for calling out new age social media influencers looking for a ‘free feed’ at restaurants, wrote a review of new Perth restaurant Shui for the popular food magazine Delicious.
The review of the restaurant in Subiaco, in Perth’s affluent western suburbs, has since been taken off the website following swift backlash.
An excerpt from the article, which was then used to promote it on Lethlean’s personal Instagram page read: “And the maitre d’/meet and greeter wears an outfit that threatens to expose more than just her inexperience when she bends over to set a table.”
Well-known Perth chef Colin Wood led the backlash against Lethlean and Delicious with a searing post.
“A plate of food is checked multiple times before it leaves a kitchen, to be scrutinised and critiqued,” Wood began.
“How this gross ‘review’ went to print after multiple eyes seeing it, appearing online at Delicious and on here before being deleted without an acknowledgment, consequence or apology is more overcooked than some of the steaks he’s barbecued. It’s time for a change.”
TV host and writer Melissa Leong replied with: “get in the bin”.
Food author Dani Valent joined the criticism, saying, “This is sexist, disrespectful and pervy.”
Lethlean, who has been a top critic in the Australian food industry for over 20 years, told the Sydney Morning Herald the publisher (Delicious) asked him to delete the Instagram post.
Lethlean had been a restaurant critic and food writer for The Australian until last year.
In 2018 he started the hashtag ‘CouscousForComment’ to call out influencers wanting free meals in return for endorsing restaurants to their followers, which gained traction online.
PerthNow has contacted Lethlean and restaurant Shui for comment.
Read The West Australian’s review of Shui here.