WATCH OUT FOR RUTH
The following memos excerpted were distributed to the staff a few years ago by the then-managing director of New York's Tavern on the Green, Thomas W. Monetti. The memos were reprinted in Harper's Magazine/January 1996:March 20, 1995
Attached you will find a photocopy of a picture of Ruth Reichl, the restaurant critic for the New York Times. Please be advised that some of the aliases she makes reservations under are listed on the photo. They are: Hollis, Shore and Johnson. I am sure there are others.
We understand that Ruth has very curly hair, shoulder length, that usually looks rather uncombed, and that she pushes the hair in front of her face so people won't recognize her. Please watch for Ruth or anyone who fits this description, and make sure that everyone is informed if a person who looks like this is dining at Tavern on the Green. She will probably be writing about us.
It should also be noted that she only travels in parties of two or three. She does work weekends, so she can appear on a Saturday or a Sunday, brunch or dinner. Her advance person is a gentleman about thirty-eight years old, who usually comes in and checks the front desk and lobby area first and then waits for Ruth, either in the cocktail lounge or at the table.
Ruth uses a tape recorder to record her thoughts during dinner. If you see a woman in the dining room who fits the description speaking into a small tape recorder, most likely it will be Ruth. Occasionally, she goes into the ladies' room to do her taping, but she also does taping at the table as well.
The photograph has already been circulated to the entire dining staff - captains, waiters, busboys, front desk, etc.
June 17, 1995
The attached picture and memo regarding Ruth Reichl were sent out in March.
To Mike Desiderio, Front desk manager: Every night, every lunch, and every dinner you should check the reservations to see if any one of the names Hollis, Shore or Johnson appear. Please let me know if they do.
To Steve Fine, Manager: Make at least a hundred copies of these two memos and the photograph and keep passing them out to the service staff.
Also, aside from the description of Ruth Reichl in the previous memo, note that I have found from restaurants she has already reviewed that she sometimes wears her hair in a ponytail, but it is still curly. She is short and always dresses in black.
Another thing that may help you recognize her: I have been told that she's always smiling. She smiles a lot.
Please watch for Ruth.