The name is a joke, mostly. I'm Pete, and I have been told — more than once, by people who meant it affectionately — that I am pretentious about the things I care about. I prefer the word particular, but I understand the distinction is lost on most people.

I've worked in the hospitality industry for years: as a beer buyer, as a general manager, in brewing, in bars. I've spent a lot of time thinking about what makes a place good — not just technically good, but good in the way that makes you want to stay another hour, come back next week, bring someone you like.

I write about bars and restaurants because I care about them deeply and find most coverage of them either too fawning or too clinical. I write about travel because going places and paying attention is one of the better uses of a life. I write about film because I watched too many movies too young and now I can't stop.

Nothing here is sponsored. No one has comped me a meal or a trip in exchange for coverage. The opinions are mine, they are sincerely held, and they are occasionally wrong. I update them when I have reason to.

I'm based in Columbus, Ohio, which I will argue is a better food and bar city than it gets credit for, and I travel when I can manage it.