The food wires have been buzzing non-stop since yesterday, when The New York Times’s Executive Editor, Bill Keller officially named Sam Sifton to replace Frank Bruni as the Times’s new restaurant critic. Sifton has been serving the dual role of Culture Editor and Dining Editor at the Times. His previous stints include New York Press Restaurant Critic and New York City Public School Teacher.

Frank Bruni (left) Sam Sifton (right). Image from Eater.com

One detail surrounding Sifton’s appointment marks a new era restaurant criticism in that his countenance has been previously been publicized and is easily recognizable. This signals a decisive shift with his predecessor, who had been remarkably successful up until very recently at keeping a very low visual profile. According to Eater, there are only three Bruni headshots in circulation during his five year tenure as New York Times Restaurant Critic. The last, and allegedly most accurate photo was only released days ago.

Photo from Eater.com

With the mystery surrounding Bruni’s oft- feared countenance gone, and Sifton’s appearance a known quantity at the outset, how will the disappearance of the critic’s anonymity affect reviews?

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