Metro's former editor Bill Ralston and former food writer Geraldine Johns are said to have been blacklisted by seven or more Auckland restaurants in a move apparently rare in New Zealand but not uncommon in cities such as London.
Scott Cordes, editor of the restaurant industry magazine Hospitality, said at least
seven or eight restaurants were involved.
Some were saying the pair would not be allowed back and others were saying they could return, but if they were allowed to judge various food challenges the restaurants would not compete.
"The blacklist includes Finz, Antoine's, the French Cafe, Red, George, O'Connell St Bistro and Provence," said Cordes.
Ralston said write-ups had been honest and he disputed he was not welcome at some of the restaurants named. Others were crap, he said. "There is a lot of vanity. They're an incredibly precious bunch of little cooks.
"Anyone who wants to ban me from their restaurant - I've just looked at my American Express Card bill for the last month - good on them because I tell you what, they're saving me money and they are going to take a big dip in their pockets."
Cordes said there had been a lot of bad feeling for years about reviews in Metro, dating back to founding editor Warwick Roger, now back in the editor's chair.
The October issue of Metro had been the last straw after it did a top-20 restaurant competition and was "just absolutely malicious" towards 11.
He said it was a first for New Zealand food critics to be blacklisted, but in London top chefs Marco Pierre White and Gordon Ramsey personally asked certain food critics to leave their premises.
Ralston said he was puzzled to see Red on the list because he had just eaten there. He was also surprised that the French Cafe was on the list because it had been given a good review.
He claimed the owner of O'Connell St had phoned to tell him he was always welcome. But Finz food was "crap" and he would not go there again.
