Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Read Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl. It is an easy read, humorous, and interesting. To the point of this forum topic, I recall a specific instance in the book in which the author's identity became known during the dessert course. The already delivered selection with scrawny raspberries and less than perfect presentation was wisked away and replaced with a perfect item sprinkled with huge ripe berries. No, the chef can't change his recipe when he knows who is dining, but he can save his best for the elite. (Whether 'elite' means critic, celebrity, powerful business person, or mobster) For the layman to trust a critique, it has to come from one who was served as a layman.