One of the more universal pastimes of Southwest Florida is dining out and for years people have been guided by the News Press restaurant critic, Jean Le Boeuf. He’s pointed the way to exquisite meals, fabulous service, and the best our area has to offer the palate. He’s also gently guided us away from places not quite up to snuff in his empathetic reviews for the past four decades. Of course, the food critic behind the nom de plume has not always been the same person.
Recently, the last of the Jean Le Boeufs revealed that she — not he — is actually food writer Annabelle Tometich. We sat down with her to talk about the decision to reveal herself as the local restaurant critic and get the gastronomic low-down on the food scene in Southwest Florida, and the pressures of wielding a mighty pen and fork.