For immediate release
August 26, 2010
L.A.'s hottest Yelp.com restaurant critic is a sassy Jewish grandma in Boyle Heights
LOS ANGELES- The online review site Yelp.com is a phenomenon, giving ordinary consumers the power to make or break the places where they spend their money. There are all kinds of Yelpers-- some just sign in to complain about rotten service, while others seem to review their lives away.
And Yelp's most lively section is the restaurant reviews, where constant diners distinguish themselves with original voices, offbeat discoveries and insightful feedback.
Among the most interesting and unique of these Yelp restaurant critics—honored with four citywide "Review of the Day" selections (including today's review of Little Tokyo homestyle favorite Issen Joki) and eagerly followed by dozens of fans—is Barbara "Cutie" Cooper, the 93-year-old Jewish grandma who, with her husband Harry, makes up L.A.'s oldest blogging couple, The OGs (which stands for "original grandparents" and is a play on "original gangsters").
Recently featured on The TODAY Show, NPR's All Things Considered, Column One of the Los Angeles Times, CNN, The Toronto Star, Glamour.com, Diddy's blog and Thai and Australian morning television, the OGs are America's oldest blogging sensations, with 6300 Facebook fans, 750+ Twitter followers and more than 110,000 viewers on their Youtube channel.
Barbara and Harry live at Hollenbeck Palms, the oldest retirement home in California, in historic Boyle Heights, just east of the L.A. River. By the time Barbara and Harry married in 1937, the Jewish community was fleeing the old neighborhood for points west, and they never expected to come back. But when their grandchildren were looking for the best place for them to live, nothing could compare to the not-for-profit Hollenbeck. And so these two 90-something west L.A. Jews came back to the old neighborhood—and grandma Barbara started her career as a food blogger, on Yelp and in occasional video blog entries at The OGs blog.
Barbara's tastes are simple, but she knows what she likes and isn't afraid to dole out criticism when deserved. Of downtown's hip fave BOTTEGA LOUIE, Barbara raves about the soufflé ("it's cheaper than Paris") but dings the slow service. She loves PHILIPPE THE ORIGINAL for the people-watching and juicy French Dip sandwiches, but the long lines inspire the suggestion that you "find a nice seat and make your grandkids wait in line for you." APPLEBEE'S is a guilty pleasure, where she loves the signature Riblets but suspects they might be made of rabbit parts. Of BEARD PAPA'S classic vanilla cream puff, she notes "It was good enough for Catherine de Medici and it should be good enough for you." And she loves ISSEN YOKI, today's Review of the Day, noting that she's never been a big fan of Japanese food, but a good sauce makes her world go 'round.
For a feel-good family story with a an original twist, check out Barbara Cooper, the original grandparent food blogger and online advice columnnist, on Yelp and on the OGs blog. Next month, the OGs celebrate 73 years of marriage, and at 98 and 93 they're still going strong, enjoying Los Angeles, good eats and good adventures with their family and friends.
LINKS
http://barbaracooper.yelp.com/
http://www.the-ogs.com/
The OGs, Barbara and Harry Cooper, are available for interviews, and journalists on assignment can get a tour of their retirement community Hollenbeck Palms or go out restaurant reviewing with Barbara. Contact their granddaughter/publicist Kim at amscrayATgmailDOTcom, 323-223-2767.
