BBQ flame war on Twitter: Big Earl’s Morales vs. New Times’ Cizmar

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 4 @PetiteMaisonAZ OR @BigEarlsBBQ & I attacked no one, I RESPONDED 2 @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 :-)