A Food Critic Accidentally Exposed a Husband’s Affair

On 27th November this year, Tom Sietsema was calmly answering questionsfrom his readers after reviewing a restaurant. Tom, who is a journalist for The Washington Post, has been their food critic since 2000. He was left rather shocked however when he came across quite the surprising message:

‘Well Tom, your latest review is accompanied by a picture of my husband dining with a woman who isn’t me!’ wrote a woman in her message to Tom.

‘Once confronted with photographic evidence, he confessed to having to an ongoing affair. Just thought you’d be amused to hear of your part in the drama. This Thanksgiving I’m grateful to you for exposing a cheat,’ she continued.

The photo at the bottom of the article seems innocent, but the couple in the back — a man drinking his wine with a woman whose face is obscured by her hair — are the pair the anonymous woman was describing. According to media sources, the critic was very surprised and didn’t know how to respond.

‘Please, please, please tell me this is a crank post. I’d hate to learn otherwise.' He then shared this story on Twitter with a little, yet not unironic, warning: ‘Cheaters, take heed!’

Since then, his Instagram followers have been going through his posts with a fine-toothed comb, hoping (or dreading) to expose another cheater. Tom has also written for Food & Wine, Gourmet, GQ, and Travel & Leisure, among other national publications. He has most recently outlined his 8 favourite places to eat in Washington, DC, a column which he publishes every few months.