Jonathan Kauffman, the former restaurant critic at Seattle Weekly, was notoriously reclusive. Even at a send-off organized by fellow scribes, he asked to remain anonymous. Cornichon's recap of the event included only a closeup of his hands.
From Seattle, Kauffman returned to California and a stint as restaurant reviewer for San Francisco Weekly. Then he moved to Tasting Table, where he now edits the site's San Francisco edition. He's given up his anonymity, but doesn't regret his undercover days, telling Eater.com he's actually proud of the fact no one ever caught on. "I think that anonymity made me a more fearless, honest critic." More work, obviously: "Making reservations and paying under other names, keeping a low profile, not attending public events, keeping personal relationships with restaurant people to a minimum."
His successor at SF Weekly, by the way, is another Seattle writer (and former CitySearch editor), Anna Roth.
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