French chef Joël Robuchon wrote in an email to The New York Times on Sunday: “Voters are supposed to have eaten in the restaurants they vote for at least once in the preceding 18 months. But no proof of their visit, no expense bill is required, and I know for a fact that this is a major loophole in the process. It gives free rein to the worst maneuvers — cronyism, ‘flip a coin’ voting, geopolitical influence and lobbying.”