What does it mean to be a foodie?

Epicurean Exploits - Food and Recipes
1

Do you consider yourself a “foodie”, and what does this mean to you? I do, and more than any other single item this means caring deeply about the food you eat. To me it’s not about going to the latest molecular gastronomy joint and having the cucumber-pecan foam, it’s about understand where the food came from and how it was prepared. I think you need to be aware of these elements, and understand what they mean. You don’t need to be a great chef, just like you don’t need to be a winemaker to enjoy wine, but just as with wine, you gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for your food if understand what went into the assembly and preparation of your food. I do think it helps to be proficient in the kitchen though, as unlike with wine, most of us have kitchens in our houses (I don’t have a destemmer, crusher, presser, fermentation tanks and a barrel room at home…yet).

Although I frequent Whole Foods/Co-ops and farmer’s markets, I do the majority of grocery shopping at a mega-chain.
I don’t own an immersion circulator, Vita-mix or any Japanese knives.
I try to get to as many new restaurants as possible, but I’ve never (OK rarely) photographed the food.
I had a meatball sandwich for lunch which as made with homeground beef and pork, homemade bread and served on a homemade roll. I don’t have chickens for the eggs or cows to milk for the cheese…yet.

Thoughts?

2

[rofl.gif]

3

In the circles in which I travel, being “foodie” really does mean really being into chasing the latest trends, getting reservations at the hottest restaurants, etc.

4

maybe it’s just me, but despite loving food, cooking, and great restaurants more than nearly anyone i know, i despise the term foodie and strongly dislike being identified as such. i also hate the term wino. i’m not sure why i feel that way, but i do.

5

You’re a label-hater. An identiphobiac. [tease.gif]

6

I define it as someone who is passionate about food. That may take any number of forms - cooking, baking, seeking out new favorite restaurants, etc. It’s often a combination of several aspects. Of course that does mean that 2 different “foodies” - one who eats out every night at Michelin starred restaurants and one who spends nights dreaming up new dishes to serve to their family might have absolutely nothing in common.

7

+1. Wine-o makes me sound like an alcoholic.

8

Many of the above definitions fit - but I’d personally add for myself a desire to understand the techniques and attempt to learn them and replicate them in my own home, except for cucumber pecan foam.

9

I’m more of a gourmand and home cook enthusiast to be more specific. Foodie has a more pejorative connotation these days. Hearing or reading a typical “foodie” review on chowhound or yelp makes my eyes roll out of my head.

10

yep - agree 100%.

11

Yelp has gotten to the point of near uselessness.

12

I have always preferred the term “wine geek”.

13

Those people I have met who call themselves ‘foodie’s’ more often than not are not really what I think a ‘foodie’ is. I reckon, as Ryan says, those who despise being called ‘foodies’ are indeed more likely to be ‘foodies’.

14

I get the perjorative side. But like anything, people always give labels a bad name.

Otherwise, to me it is simple. Being a foodie just means you really enjoy food, you at least have a little technical proficiency, are very exploratory and open to almost any kind of food, and are genuinely interested in learning. That’s about it.

15

Terrible, BS term. Hate it

[bleh.gif] [bleh.gif] [bleh.gif]

George

16

What do you know? Look at the kind of people you associate with. neener
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17

and he refers to himself as a foodie. I rest my case. [snort.gif]

George

18

The horror. What is he thinking?

19

My hatred for you two grows.

20

Look George! We got his attention!