It's the end of an era for one of Kansas City's favorite publications that is now without one of its most beloved local writers.
Over the course of 16 years Charles Ferruzza earned a stellar reputation as one of the most knowledgeable, respected and objective restaurant critics in Kansas City.
At a time when foodie bloggers are proudly bought and sold by restaurants and brands . . . Charles Ferruzza worked in Kansas City without as much as taking a free refill from the places he reviewed. Better than that . . . In his work at The Pitch, Mr. Ferruzza turned Kansas City food writing into an art form that combined insights into local culture, history and current events with details regarding the latest dish from a chef or a new restaurant opening. Among a generation of writers, Charles Ferruzza is the quintessential local alternative journalist who has earned the support of an entire community through the course of his career. More than any other journalist . . .
Charles Ferruzza is Midtown Kansas City.
Looking at the latest, slim edition of the Pitch with adverts not-so-cleverly spaced apart and a litany of nobodies and syndicated articles strewn together in between e-mail interview pieces . . . Mr. Ferruzza is already missed by this publication that's trying and FAILING to keep up with more obvious sponsored content plays like KC Magazine and Feast.
Still, as far as the future goes . . . There's a bright side here . . .
CHARLES FERRUZZA IS NOW THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER FREELANCER IN KANSAS CITY!!!
He's already got a steady list of clients but were putting this post on blast because he deserves more and anybody who hires him is getting the skill and knowledge of man who has defined a generation of journalists in Kansas City.
One small quip that we want to put out there . . . Mr. Ferruzza has list of friends and contacts as extensive as God . . . So one you d-bags better help him start up a fully functioning website, with an RSS feed and space to update his latest writing. Don't let him haggle, freelancers need a web presence beyond social media . . .
Best of all . . .
We hear that his new stuff will go beyond the scope of foodie news and feature his skill and craft in storytelling and local news . . . As always . . . Just like most readers of his work . . . We're looking forward to the next update from Charles Ferruzza.
well, that's the last excuse I had to pick up that rag.
ReplyDeleteyou're forgetting Dan Savage and Savage Love.
ReplyDeleteNo more local content in Kansas City. Thanks Facebook!
ReplyDeleteHe being replaced by an intern who's idea of fine dining is Quicktrip Gen 3?
ReplyDeleteI have loved his contributions, in print and on KCUR, to the local food scene. I hope he can continue, one way or another. Thank you, Mr. Ferruzza!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry Charles is leaving The Pitch.
ReplyDeleteAgree with all that Tony just said. AND I can attest to what a sensational storyteller and historian Charles Ferruzza is! His talk at the downtown library about sex and steaks and &^%$# in the Stockyards, was HIGHlarious. He made Chris Kemper blush. Charles draws an A-list standing room only crowd. He has this cowtown's history all in his head, and pours it out like a modern day Mark Twain.
So his speaking skills and standup humor are every bit as good as his writing chops. He mixes the sweet with the salty and the crunchy words.
Finally, I'd remind any future clients--Charles is always, always kind. And genteel. When he has reviewed restaurants, he used his words to coach entrepreneurs in how to improve their product. Unlike long-departed Star food critic Shifra Stein, whose snarky food reviews killed 100 restaurants, literally, on the altar of her obsession for French fries!
Charles' skills are that of a great, popular brand ambassador.
He's much more than a "food critic". Any more than Justin Wilson was.
Charles Ferruzza has a certain charm and enrolling ability for getting others to rethink their positions or baked-in opinions. So let's just hope Sly James or the Toy Train doesn't hire him--because Tony might have to pick on something else!!!
The Pitch without Charles = Ink.
ReplyDeleteFerggie nooooooooo!
ReplyDeleteIndeed, no more reason to pick up the Pitch. I love his writing and have enjoyed spending time with him. He always cheers my day up when I see him out and about. Good luck, Charles!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed many a writing by this gentleman.
ReplyDeleteWho is this guy? Never heard of him.
ReplyDeleteCharles has done great work at the Pitch. If they parted ways with him, things must be pretty bleak over there.
ReplyDeleteThe Failing Pitch
ReplyDeleteHe's already coming on board at The Star, proving you know even less than you think you do.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if ferruzza will still be on kcur?. I miss Walt bodine too but I know Walt was on borrowed time. Legendary Charlie wheeler is hanging in there...
ReplyDeleteI figured he would go to the star.
ReplyDeleteI used to pick up the Pitch for its ads: "Men Seeking Men," "Women Seeking Women," and, if those were not alternative enough, "Alternative Lifestyles." I suppose all those ads migrated over to Craig's List.
ReplyDeleteWho the hell cares what these tree huggers do? Newspapers and rags like the Pitch are history in 90 percent of the country. Change or starve. Time to get a real job.
ReplyDeleteHolly Mother of God, Charlie must have snacked on Opie's rug for her to put out like that. To bad she has to use Tony's site to get people to read what she says. Or do they read it?
ReplyDeleteHoping that Charles keeps writing great stuff. He is truly a treasure of Kansas City and a remarkable journalist.
ReplyDeleteNo more leftist newspapers.
ReplyDeleteGood.
Really doubt the rumors here about Charles writing for The Star. At best he'll earn some freelance opportunities from them but that's a far cry from a steady job. The more important point is that Kansas City needs a vibrant journalism scene with top writers working at competing publications. There's very little of that happening right now and a sign of this fact is our pathetic voting culture that ignores most important issues.
ReplyDeleteJoyce Smith at the Star is probably sweating her job right now
ReplyDeleteAlso looking forward to whatever he writes next.
ReplyDeleteNo offense, but who actually reads the Pitch or INK .
ReplyDeleteNeither one is edgy
oh he's definitely going to The Star! Most assuredly. They opened up two desks for him since he's such a fucking porker.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what disgusts me more, negroes or fat people.
I'm kidding of course, groids are horrible.
The Pitch has become the most boring-ass publication in town, next to the Star anyway.
ReplyDeleteEvery week that have a Q&A "profile" of some supposedly up-and-coming local under-40 type that they consider outstanding for some reason or other. Every single one of them sounds like every other single one of them. Same boring pastimes, same boring food preferences, same boring everything. Cookie-cutter hipsters, and they're pretty much all utter nonentities.
Reading those profiles, you realize how relentlessly generic and mediocre Kansas City is. KC is, like, the nation's capital of midwestern ennui.
How about those Royals! Love me some barbecue! Whoa, streetcars!
Sheeyit.
Good riddance to the arrogant, passive-agressive, self important blowhard.
ReplyDeleteThe Pitch - Pitch it in the trash!
ReplyDeleteI only lived in the KC area for a few years in the early aughts, but became a Charles fanboy. For years Pitch has been in my Favorites list for the sole purpose of reading his reviews. A bit late to the party, I see he departed there some months ago.
ReplyDeleteBetween his ladies who lunch and 'friend' companions, his reviews were fair, balanced, honest and gave a sense of what you could expect during a visit to the establishment. And he could be amazingly hilarious. He did a review of a place in Olathe called the Shed in Olathe, circa 2003 that was the funniest bit or writing I have ever read. I mean tear-inducing, nose spewing coffee hilarious.
I hope I can find his online freelance work in the future. And, Pitch, that Bookmark will be deleted as soon as I post this comment.