There are many ways that we define American culture, the music, art, and literature we produce,

how our politics plays out, but also the food we eat and where we choose to eat it.

And my next guest has been chronicling that slice of America in New York City in particular for over a decade.

But now, after countless restaurants and hundreds of reviews,

Pete Wells is moving on from his job as the New York Times restaurant critic. In a parting column,

he wrote, quote, a funny thing happened when I got to the end of all that eating. I realized

I wasn't hungry, and I'm still not, at least not the way I used to be.

And Pete Wells joins us now.

Pete Wells is such an honor to have you on the program.

Your reviews and guides to eating have been critical, obviously, for New Yorkers, but for people

who come to the city and want to experience its bounty.

How has it felt for you since you sort of hung up

your pen and pad in the last few months? Well, you know, it's, it's, I have real mixed emotions.

I mean, I'm really glad to be staying home at night almost every night and eating, you know,

maybe a vegetable or something, you know.

When I hear what you say, you know, people are looking for guidance when they come to the city,

I think, oh, I've got something to say about that.

You know, and so it's a little bit hard to, you know, I don't miss the routine, but I do kind of miss having the megaphone.

You know, I'd like to be, I'd like to be broadcasting my thoughts once in a while, maybe not

every week.

I get that.

For those who didn't read your last column, can you explain why you left?

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