Two Trees review was too personal

I would like to take a moment to thank you for your recent review of the Two Trees Cafe. I appreciate the press (after all there is no such thing as bad press) and I also appreciate the warm Oberlin welcome that I received from your paper. There are however one or two points that I do take exception to and perhaps require a little explaining. When a reviewer has that disappointing of an experience usually they come back and try it again and then compare and contrast (just like in your English papers) their experiences. In addition it is traditional in the food industry not to review a restaurant within weeks of its opening. We are still getting the bugs out, refining our menu and service, and we do appreciate comments and criticism, both good and bad.

I was never present to see what Irene's was like, so I don't have the luxury of the comparison. Things change ... that is the nature of the universe. Is the reviewer so afraid of change that she has to harken back to the "good old days" ... hey we don't do bagels, because as part of our agreement with the Feve we weren't going to compete with them ... good for us and good for them ... the cooperative spirit lives.

Did the reviewer try any of our specialty items, our fresh baked pastry items (made in house)...no...rather she selected from the limited menu...hey what do you want, we are not a pizza parlor. We have taken the student quesadilla off the menu. At least you know we listen. The sweet potato hash we have gotten nothing but positive reviews, with the exception of yours. As for "grilling" you as to why you left your food, I come out to tables to get feedback, as to what worked and what didn't. I'm a professional, and if the reviewer was, it was then and there that her comments should have been made, questions could have been asked and certainly a more professional job of reporting would have been done.

The personal criticism of me is unfounded, since you have no idea as to who I am and what I'm about. Worse you did not even do your own background research, instead relying on the Oberlin News-Tribune. So as your mother used to say, if you don't have anything nice to say about someone, don't say anything at all.

In closing I realize that this is a school paper and that the reviewer is a student. To quote your editor-in-chief "The Review isn't perfect. We've misquoted people in the past. We've missed some stories, and we've sensationalized other ones. Since Oberlin doesn't have a journalism department, students learn reporting by working for the Review. That means we sometimes have to use inexperienced reporters who are bound to make mistakes."

Perhaps we can all learn from this, and become better people for it. I welcome the students of Oberlin to come in, try the food and talk to us, give us your feedback and together we will make the Two Trees Cafe a place that everyone in Oberlin can be proud of. That's the cooperative spirit. Michael Jacobs Chef, Two Trees Cafe

-Michael Jacobs, Chef, Two Trees Cafe