Talk about kicking a city when it’s down.
This week, the Movoto real estate site posted on its blog “America’s Worst Cities for Food Lovers,” and guess what?
San Bernardino, which filed for bankruptcy over a year ago, landed at the top of the list.
The Movoto blog, billed as “the lighter side of real estate,” also includes such recent posts as “The 50 Most Steampunk Cities in America” and “SpongeBob SquarePants: How Much Does a Pineapple Under the Sea Cost?”
Apparently, they’re used to poking a little fun.
Rounding out the top ten: Half are cities in Texas, plus North Las Vegas, Nev.; St. Petersburg, Fla.; and Chesapeake, Va.
Oh, and another bankrupt city, Detroit.
Singled out as a great place for foodies? Orlando, Fla., home to no less than half a dozen Waffle House restaurants.
Among the criteria used to determine the list: The number of bakeries, ice cream shops and candy shops per capita.
I would think that the lack of dessert shops would mean that the cities on the list would just have healthier residents.
Cities also got dinged on the dearth of gourmet grocery stores.
OK. So, San Bernardino doesn’t have a Whole Foods. Big whoop. I’m quite happy not paying $8 for a 12-ounce bottle of extra virgin olive oil.
What San Bernardino has going for it really can’t be tallied.
San Bernardino will always be the birthplace of McDonald’s and the fast food taco, which was appropriated by Glen Bell (of Taco Bell fame) from the still-in-operation Mitla Cafe.
What San Bernardino lacks in numbers it makes up in variety.
The city is the home to American, Chinese, Italian, Indian, Japanese, French, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Salvadoran, Peruvian, Jamaican, Persian, Indonesian, and of course, Mexican restaurants.
Sure, the city’s not at its best right now, but the lack of decent food options is not its biggest problem.
Not by a long shot.
For more reactions, click here for San Bernardino Sun reporter Michel Nolan’s article on the Movoto post.
Update: I was a guest on KFI AM 640’s Fork Report show this Saturday, talking about the Movoto list. Click here to listen to or download the broadcast.
I was also a guest on the Lou Desmond Show on AM 590 The Answer on September 18, when Allan and Rob from the Let’s Dine Out Show were filling in. Click here to listen or here to download the broadcast.
KTLA’s Morning News on September 19 spotlighted three San Bernardino eateries: Rosa Maria’s, Iron Horse Cafe and Mitla Cafe. You can watch the video here.