'Times' Names Eric Asimov Interim Restaurant Critic

The New York Times has announced that Eric Asimov, the paper’s wine critic, will serve as interim restaurant critic, replacing—for now—Sam Sifton, who left the post to become national editor. 

Pete Wells, the editor of the Times’ Dining section, told Adweek that the paper is continuing to search for a permanent restaurant critic.

According to sources at the paper, applicants for the position have already submitted “memos,” or formal applications, but have yet to submit test reviews. 

“While we wait for the puffs of white smoke that will issue from the chimney atop 620 Eighth Avenue when The Times names its next restaurant critic,” the paper wrote in a blog post, “the weekly reviews will be written by Eric Asimov.”

Asimov will continue to write his wine column, The Pour.