Context is everything, for sure. As far as meeting expectations, he failed. Had I given the assignment, I would likely not be pleased. I did learn about the lobster festival, although perhaps in a disagreeable tone, but little about lobsters what lobsters taste like. I did not get to vicariously attend the festival through his writing. Or perhaps I did, but through his subjective, questioning eyes. Which, I understand, is probably not what his readers were hoping for.

I learned much more about lobsters than I could have predicted, and it was interesting! The history of lobsters as food, different "preparation" methods, their biology, their nervous system. This article was so much more than I could have expected going into it. Then again, I suppose that's the problem. The scope shifted. I enjoyed where it took me, what it taught me, and the thoughts it provoked from me; the readers of Gourmet Magazine, you being one of them, clearly did not.

He essentially wrote an editorial blog post. It may have been appropriate if he was speaking as a member of the community and hoped to encourage self-reflection and discussion on the matter. It may be a topic for humanity-at-large to discuss, but one that chefs and culinary enthusiasts probably have an opinion on and using the pages of their magazine isn't the best place to wax philosophical or try to start such a discussion.

I'm just happy to have read it.