Although we have put them on notice, we at TheLostOgle.com love The Gazette. (Sure, the primary reason is that it is not The Oklahoman, but really what more do you need?) Related to that love, we were all excited to see the results of their “Best of OKC” poll when they were released recently. Let’s just say we were less than impressed.
Upon further review, it is not The Gazette which deserves our scorn. No, it is the people of OKC who voted to bestow awards on Carrie Underwood, Chili’s, and radio personalities at Wild 104.9. Bad OKC!
The editors of this fine website, which was not up for an award, have chosen to vent about the most egregious award winners (which you will find after the jump). Feel free to do your own chastising of the results in the comments section.
Best Cookie
Winner: City Bites
Seriously? What came in second; Pillsbury Cookies from your grocer’s freezer? Apparently the voters thought the award was for biggest cookie, because nothing else about the baked goods served at City Bites screams for recognition of elite status. Take my advice Oklahoma City: Take a look around your neighborhood and there is probably a real bakery nearby. Go inside, buy a cookie and odds are its taste and consistency will be infinitely better than anything you buy at a chain delicatessen. Once you have learned what a real cookie tastes like, go get a good cookie. Best bet: chocolate chewy at Ingrid’s Kitchen on NW 36th & Youngs.
Patrick wanted me to add that while the cookie award was a travesty, he will defend City Bites to the death on behalf of the California Sub on Tomato Basil Bread.
Best Way to Get Cool People to Stay or Move to Oklahoma City
Winner: Higher wages, better jobs, and reduced taxes
I was not aware that The Gazette voters were running for mayor. Could the answer be more vague? Next time, I want the voters on this poll to think outside the box…just off the top of my head, free beer.
Best Cheap Eats
Winner: Sonic
Everyone loves the Sonic ice, but since when has Sonic been cheap? We are talking about a fast food place that makes their money by charging exorbitant prices for soda pop and, unlike most fast food restaurants, offers no free refills. Then, they have the audacity to charge $3 for a, let’s be honest, sub par burger.
Best TV Personality Hairdo
Winner: Amy McRee
Obviously, we have a bit of an obsession with Mrs. McRee, but very little, if any, of that obsession is related to her hair. Unless he has been retired from this category by a lifetime achievement award, this has to go to Dean Blevins…because, really, the man is nothing more than a head of hair. If he cannot win this award, why does he still have a job?
I’m also upset that Juan Lopez from Chelino’s didn’t win “best waiter”.
Also adding to the Sonic price is that you are apparently expected to tip the carhop, which annoys me since they are paid the actual minimum wage (or higher) and not the waiter’s minimum wage.
Picked up the Gazette last week but never opened it. If its as good as last years then I’m in for some good laughs.
I’ll let my friend, who manages a City Bites in Norman, know that his hard work putting the pre-made, pre-portioned cookie dough in the oven paid off big with the Oklahoma public.
And yes, those high school punks that work at Sonic trying to get tips is infuriating. Probably the main reason I never go to Sonic. Well…that and the food.
A “best of” poll with no Jack and Ron, though, is a significant step forward.
Lol
Some Revisions:
Best Cookies
Moe’s- Go there, have some its good stuff.
Best Radio Personalities
Rick and Brad- Whenever I manage to wake up that early I can’t stop laughing.
Best Dance Club
Groovy’s- Come on, everybody’s old and it’s awesome.
Best Dentist
Dr. Safi- Dude has a flatscreen on the ceiling and I watched Sportscenter in HD when he did some work on my stuff.
Best Wine Selection
Your local wine shop-where its actually reasonably priced.
Last time they had a “Best Website” category, we finished fourth behind NewsOK.com(duh), Jackandron.com(ugh) and Philanddrew.com(ughhhh).
But we beat out those losers at KFOR.com, dammit!
Best place to complain about what they missed :
http://tinyurl.com/3as7lh
The second best place to complain about what they missed:
http://www.thelostogle.com/2007/08/13/you-disappoint-me-okc/#comments
Oh man, checking out the full list now. Pretty terrible, especially the food list, it’s like people have failed to try new places for the past 10 years. Deep Fork is good, but it’s not the best. There are definitely better “upscale” restaurants. The fact that there is a best chain restaurant category is depressing enough. What is the obsession with Ted’s? That place is Mexican 101. Johnnies best burgers? Ugh, come on. CD Warehouse, better than Guestroom (well I guess OKC people haven’t had it long enough, us Norman people have been spoiled over the years by it)? Lol. So many more things were wrong, but thats all I got. Man this state is hopeless.
Ah, it’s not hopeless, just in need of some prodding. Part of the problem is, I think, the nomination process. Because OKC is as spread out as it is, it’s probably not a surprise that the most popular nominations tend to be the chains. I’d like to see the Gazette maybe forgo the nominations and come up with maybe 10-12 choices themselves, and then go straight to the voting.
Plus, a lot of the voting is done by employees of the restaurants nominated. That would suggest that businesses with more employees would be able to stuff the box better. One more advantage for chains.
Best hair should have gone to Jennifer Pierce. Her hair is incredible, and she styles it differently each day on the weekend morning show. How many anchors give you that much variety?
Also, it’s Miss McRee, not Mrs. Or have you ever taken the time to look at her left hand? I didn’t think so.
Let me guess, you were so caught up admiring her journalism you forgot to look.
And Earl’s is far from the best BBQ in OKC… Who were they up against? Arby’s and the McRib?
Earl’s is alright but there’s a lot better BBQ out there.
Everyone knows that local businesses stuff the ballot box on the Gazette’s “Best of OK”. That’s why when the “Best of” issue comes out you can’t find an issue anywhere.
Best BBQ? George’s Happy Hog
Best cookie: macadamia nut at any 7-11. Although the soonerdoodle at City Bites is good with it’s cream cheese-based icing.
Best hamburger: Bricktown Burgers.
Best Cheap Eats: for breakfast on Sunday mornings, stack of 3 pancakes at Jimmy’s Egg on north Classen $4.07 with tax. I don’t need to eat lunch or dinner. They are frisbee-sized.
Best Mexican food: Tarahumara’s in Norman west of the Norman Regional Hospital on Porter street.
Jack and Ron would be on or at the top of a “Worst Of” list.
Best TV Personality Hairdo: Lance West of KFOR. It’s a white-guy’s afro.
Best BBQ: Sorry, OKC. Gotta go to Tulsa. try Elmer’s.