It’s long been the tradition among restaurant critics to more or less spend their professional lives in the shadows —  restaurant reservations under false names, coy staff photos on news websites, avoiding public events and so on.

The goal of all the secrecy is to gain an authentic experience at any given restaurant,  just like any other customer would. For the most part, Chicago Tribune restaurant critic Phil Vettel has managed to pull it off since he joined the Tribune in 1989. But for the first time in 30 years, Vettel is stepping out and showing his face.

Phil Vettel joins the Morning Shift to talk about what compelled him to reveal his identity to the public.

GUEST: Phil Vettel, Chicago Tribune restaurant critic

LEARN MORE: Critic, unveiled: Tribune’s Phil Vettel shows his face for the first time in nearly 30 years (Chicago Tribune 7/18/18)