Sweet and Salty News

Ezra Kaplan

Editorial byline

Ezra Kaplan is an editorial byline for Sweet and Salty News, with a focus on The Critic's Table, Fine Dining, Chef Profiles. Biographical credentials and external profiles are published only after verification.

Learn more about our editorial process and use of automation in our AI & Automation disclosure.

Coverage Areas

The Critic's Table
Fine Dining
Chef Profiles
Restaurant Industry Trends

Latest Articles

A solitary restaurant critic looking disheartened as a smartphone screen floods the table with rapid influencer review videos.
The Critic's Table

Restaurant Critics Face Extinction as Public Reviews Dominate 2026.

On platforms like TikTok, 30-second influencer reviews are rapidly replacing the nuanced critiques of professional restaurant critics and food writers.

Sep 13, 2026 · 2 min read

An AI interface analyzing a gourmet dish in a restaurant, symbolizing the clash between algorithmic data and the subjective experience of dining.
The Critic's Table

The future of restaurant criticism 2026: Algorithmic reviews miss the real flavor.

Liora, an AI-powered review platform, now boasts 100 million active users, dwarfing the readership of even the most popular traditional food blogs, according to Liora Annual Report, 2023.

Sep 11, 2026 · 4 min read

An exquisite slice of cake from Loulouca, Singapore's new luxury dessert atelier, showcasing intricate design and premium ingredients.
The Critic's Table

LouLouca Singapore pastry chef elevates culinary vision

Louisa Lim, crowned Asia's Best Pastry Chef in 2023, has opened Loulouca, her highly anticipated dessert atelier, where a single slice of her namesake cake costs $16.

Sep 5, 2026 · 5 min read

A bartender making a cocktail in a sophisticated bar, with abstract graphics symbolizing rising prices and tax burdens overlaid on the scene.
The Food Trade

Cocktail Prices Rise Amid UK Hospitality's £93 Billion Contribution

In the UK, the restaurant sector pays so much tax that as much as 75% of its pre-tax profit goes directly to the Treasury, making it the most taxed sector in the economy, according to The Drinks Busin

Aug 28, 2026 · 3 min read

Split image: A discreet traditional restaurant critic in a formal setting contrasted with a modern food blogger openly photographing their meal in a lively cafe.
The Critic's Table

How to Navigate Ethical Considerations in Restaurant Criticism

While a traditional restaurant critic might meticulously hide their identity to ensure an authentic dining experience, a prominent food blogger faces potential membership revocation if they fail to di

Aug 22, 2026 · 3 min read

A close-up of an exquisite, artfully arranged dish on a fine dining restaurant table, symbolizing the high stakes of the industry.
The Food Trade

What are economic models in fine dining restaurants?

A Michelin-starred restaurant, celebrated for its $300 tasting menu, might net less than 5% profit—a margin comparable to a fast-food chain, according to Restaurant Business Online .

Aug 14, 2026 · 4 min read

A professional food critic discreetly observing a sophisticated restaurant dining room, embodying the art and science of unbiased culinary review.
The Critic's Table

The Art and Science of Modern Restaurant Criticism

To ensure an unbiased review, a professional food critic visits a restaurant multiple times, ordering and paying for meals incognito, just like any other customer.

Aug 10, 2026 · 3 min read

Bartender performing tableside preparation of an elaborate zero-proof cocktail for intrigued guests at a modern restaurant.
Behind the Bar

The Rise of Zero-Proof Drinks in Hospitality is Changing Bartending

At Amada, a reimagined beverage program now includes interactive tableside cocktails, signaling a dramatic shift in how even non-alcoholic options are presented to guests.

Aug 6, 2026 · 5 min read

An empty, dimly lit restaurant table with a wilting rose, symbolizing the decline of restaurant criticism and the uncertain future of food journalism.
The Critic's Table

Restaurant critics are retiring, and food journalism's future is uncertain.

In the past decade, 70% of major metropolitan newspapers have either eliminated or significantly reduced their full-time restaurant critic positions.

Jul 16, 2026 · 3 min read

A CookUnity meal box with spilled food, symbolizing delivery challenges and customer dissatisfaction with the service.
The Critic's Table

CookUnity meal delivery service review reveals challenges

Nearly 30% of CookUnity deliveries in major cities are late, damaged, or incorrect, according to the Consumer Complaints Database .

Jun 28, 2026 · 4 min read

A modern kitchen counter filled with high-end cooking appliances, showcasing Prime Day 2026 deals for home cooks.
The Test Kitchen

Find the best Prime Day 2026 deals for home cooks

This year, a Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 10-Quart XL 2-Basket Air Fryer is available for $170, a full $80 off its original $250 price, according to The Wall Street Journal .

Jun 25, 2026 · 3 min read

A beautifully styled kitchen counter featuring discounted cookbooks and premium cookware, ready for culinary adventures.
The Test Kitchen

Find the Best Prime Day Kitchen Deals This Year

This Prime Day, home cooks can grab Yotam Ottolenghi's 'Ottolenghi Simple' cookbook for 57% off, according to Bon Appétit .

Jun 24, 2026 · 2 min read

A gourmet sandwich with layers of fresh ingredients, showcasing a perfect balance of textures and colors, ready to be enjoyed.
The Test Kitchen

Elevate your sandwich game for any craving

Forget complex cookbooks: some of the most satisfying sandwich combinations, like cream cheese and olive or even pineapple and mayonnaise, require absolutely no recipe to master, according to Bonappet

Jun 24, 2026 · 2 min read

A lively New Jersey street at dusk filled with diverse restaurant options and patrons enjoying outdoor dining, with a subtle nod to Victor Cruz's new restaurant.
The Critic's Table

New Restaurants in New Jersey to Try in 2026

Former Giants star Victor Cruz is developing up to five "Victor Cruz's Krystal" locations in New Jersey, starting with a Union restaurant that opened June 4, 2026, featuring exclusive local menu items

Jun 24, 2026 · 4 min read

Elegant counter-service restaurant interior with chefs plating food and happy patrons enjoying meals at the counter.
The Critic's Table

Counter service boosts fine dining sustainability and staff welfare

The owners of Tail Up Goat, a Michelin-starred fine-dining establishment, recently transformed their restaurant into Rye Bunny, a counter-service concept.

Jun 23, 2026 · 3 min read

A close-up shot of a colorful pasta salad featuring a unique crunchy element from air-fried pasta pieces.
The Test Kitchen

Easy Air-Fried Pasta Salad Recipe Goes Viral

At the heart of a new viral dinner sensation, cooked pasta is air-fried at 400° F for 10-15 minutes until golden brown, creating an unexpected crunchy element.

Jun 23, 2026 · 2 min read

A sophisticated food critic observing the entrance of a new, stylish dual-concept restaurant, Heyou, on a vibrant Bengaluru street at dusk.
Travel & Taste

Top 3 Bengaluru New Restaurant Openings: A Critic's Guide 2026

Keen Mustard Ventures, a prominent hospitality group, replaced Daysie on MG Road with Heyou, a dual-concept restaurant.

Jun 23, 2026 · 5 min read

A robotic arm preparing food in a restaurant kitchen, with diners in the background looking uncertain about the automated service.
The Food Trade

AI helps restaurants survive, but diners may not like changes.

Despite a 34% average increase in labor costs in 2023 and a 25% drop in consumer restaurant spending since May 2022, nearly 80% of U.

Jun 20, 2026 · 3 min read

A mouth-watering black bean smash burger with fresh toppings, presented on a wooden board, with a smartphone showing a viral TikTok recipe in the background.
The Test Kitchen

New Black Bean Smash Burger Recipe Sparks Culinary Revolution

Just last week, a TikTok video featuring a 'Black Bean Smash Burger' recipe garnered over 5 million views in three days, according to TikTok Analytics.

Jun 19, 2026 · 4 min read

A thoughtful bartender cleans a bar counter in a quiet, dimly lit establishment, symbolizing the changing landscape of the bar and spirits industry.
The Food Trade

Bar and Spirits Industry Sees Localized Turnover Amidst Shifting Habits

After just eight years, KSBar & Grille, a sports bar opened in 2018, will cease full-time operations, shifting to game-day only.

Jun 19, 2026 · 3 min read