About Harold
Harold Benchley III is a retired investment banker from Greenwich, Connecticut, who has been summering on Nantucket since 1962. His family's connection to the island stretches back three generations, and he considers this heritage qualification enough to render judgment on all culinary matters.
A proud member of the yacht club, Harold can usually be found in whale-embroidered pants (worn unironically), a navy blazer, and boat shoes that cost more than most people's monthly rent. He believes the best lobster roll is the one his family has been ordering from the same place for 60 years, and he sees absolutely no reason to try anything new.
What He Stands For
Harold is the defender of tradition—the voice that says maybe, just maybe, the old ways were better. In a food world obsessed with innovation, Harold asks: why fix what isn't broken? The lobster roll was perfected decades ago. Mayo, always mayo. Your grandparents knew what they were doing.
His columns are for anyone who's ever felt overwhelmed by "elevated" everything and "reimagined" classics. Harold provides a refuge for those who believe that a restaurant's greatest virtue might be that it hasn't changed in 40 years. He's pompous, certainly, but he genuinely believes he's being helpful—and there's something almost endearing about his absolute certainty.
The Rivalry with Mimi
Harold and Mimi St. Claire have been debating food on Nantucket for years, and their point-counterpoint columns have become legendary. Where Harold sees tradition worth preserving, Mimi sees stagnation. Where Mimi sees evolution, Harold sees chaos. They secretly respect each other but would never admit it.
From His Columns
"The notion that one could improve upon the lobster roll by adding—and I shudder to write this—'Asian fusion elements' is precisely what's wrong with modern dining."
"I have eaten at this establishment every summer since 1978. The lobster roll has not changed. This is not a criticism. This is the highest praise."
