Big Earl’s BBQ contributing chef Tony Morales (pictured on left) and New Times critic Martin Cizmar (right) mixed it up on Twitter over the weekend. At issue: Cizmar’s mostly negative Big Earl’s review, which was published last week.
Cizmar, the alt-paper’s music editor and a BBQ aficionado, was temporarily filling in for recently departed dining critic Michele Laudig.
Saturday night, Morales, responding to a Twitter follower’s suggestion he ignore the New Times review, commented: “Thanks, much appreciated…maybe I’ll get into the music review business, I hear the NT is in need of a warm body.”
That led to this hour-long exchange between Cizmar (@PHXmusicdotcom) and Morales (@DesertSmokeBBQ):
Cizmar: You definitely ought to get out of the kitchen and switch to SOME other business
Morales: Actually, sales of my terrible sauces are quite brisk & I encourage u 2 continue displaying an utter lack of professionalism
Cizmar: Oh, who started personally attacking who by Twitter? Guess that’s how @bigearlsbbq and @petitemaisonaz do biz.
Morales: Actually, I don’t speak 4Â @PetiteMaisonAZ ORÂ @BigEarlsBBQ & I attacked no one, I RESPONDED 2Â @ericeatsout IN RE a personal attack by YOU
AND I didn’t NAME you personally in my response as YOU did. but hey, YOU’RE the “Professional” here….
Cizmar: You said the New Times music writer is a warm body. That’s me. Someone sent it to me, you have my response.
You should spend less time shit-talking me & more time making sure this doesn’t leave your kitchen:
Morales: actually, I said “maybe I’ll get in2 the music review business, I hear the NT is n need of a warm body” RNT u a “Food Critic” now? if so, my statement wouldn’t seem 2 apply 2 u.
Cizmar: No I’m not the food critic now. I’m the music critic who will pinch-hit a food review if asked on a type of food I know well
Morales: then my comment STILL wouldn’t apply 2 you LOL
clearly ur ego has been bruised. In the interest of buoying ur delicate sensibilities, I’ll offer my apologies :)
Cizmar: Regardless of the rhetorical devices involved, you know you called me out & I’m responding.
Morales: Sir, if I were calling u out it wouldn’t b in a public medium, I’d b a Man about it & do it directly w/DECORUM.. seems u can criticize behind the guise of anonymity but not TAKE criticism
once AGAIN Sir, I speak 4 myself & am only responding 2 your comments directed @ me PERSONALLY..is this a difficult concept 4 u 2 grasp?
I’ve read some of ur music reviews, it’s sad u feel the need 2 result 2 personal insults 2 get ur opinion across vis-a-vis food
Cizmar: I saw your trophy tweet last weekend… just makes me sad to know you’re capable of good and serve customers what we got
Morales: I have no issue w/ur disappointment. I DO take issue w/ur comments abt me personally as they were unnecessary & unprofessional
Cizmar: Alright, you can drop me an e-mail if you want and we can hash that out and leave these nice people to their Saturday night
Morales: email is so impersonal, I say “let’s have lunch.” we can check ego’s @ the door & speak as Men do :)
Cizmar: Sounds good :-)
