Floyd J. Misek, who died in Manhattan Friday morning after a long illness, led a cultural revolution in the north country. His relentless passion for good food well presented became well known when he began to write restaurant reviews for this newspaper. Using the pseudonym Dr. Lazaro, Mr. Misek wrote weekly reviews of north country, Central New York and Canadian restaurants.

He waxed poetic on some meals and was harshly critical of others. And that honest reporting developed a wide readership. Eventually he wrote under his own byline.

Restaurant operators upon occasion did not take his criticism kindly, but there was never a complaint when he told readers of a special culinary effort.

He continued writing for the Times until he relocated to Rochester, where he was a television chef on Time Warner Cable for a while.

Floyd Misek also developed a thriving catering business which enabled a new generation of people interested in food service to prosper. He relished the chance to perform in the kitchen, and to explain to diners in intricate detail each ingredient in a creation.

A meal with Floyd Misek was always an event. His life enriched the north country.