The F-Word
Well, this is long overdue huh? It’s 2019 and about time I start going into more detail with you guys about my journey through the wonderful world of food and wine. I can’t wait to share all my amazing experiences with you, but I think it’s important that I set the tone for how I view certain things. There are a few terms in the culinary world that I don’t particularly care for, two specifically, REALLY grind my gears. Ironically, they both start with the letter “f” and in my opinion, are two of the most over used and vaguely defined words in the culinary lexicon. If you guessed “foodie” and “fine dining” you are 100% correct and we are gonna be GREAT friends. For the purposes of this post, we’ll focus on “foodie”. I know …I know, if you follow me on IG, you might notice that I do occasionally use the hashtag “foodie” and that might seem a bit hypocritical. Eh, I am trying to grow my following and the way IG algorithms are set up….a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do!
My first issue with the word is that there is no clear, universal definition of “foodie”. EVERYONE IS A FOODIE! According to Wikipedia: “A foodie is a person who has an ardent or refined interest in food and who eats food not out of hunger but due to their interest or hobby.i.e. a person who enjoys food for pleasure. Who the heck doesn’t enjoy food for pleasure? Everyone has an interest in food! Throw the whole definition away! So what is it that makes someone a foodie? Is it someone that eats at different places often and takes lots of pictures? Perhaps. Is it someone that selects a different Uber eats category every time they order delivery? Overwhelmingly, I’ve seen this term used to create faux exclusivity. “What?!? you have never been to (Insert establishment they recently discovered because 50K other people on IG have posted pic from there), you are NOT a “real” foodie.” This, in my humble opinion, is complete nonsense and irritates the hell out of me!
To me, a foodie is someone who first and foremost understands and values food & culture and respects that those two things are inexplicably intertwined. A foodie understands that every dish contains a piece of a civilization’s history and genuinely enjoys learning about people through their food. A foodie respects that even though they may not enjoy or want to try a particular dish, it may have sustained a society for generations. A foodie cares to know where their food comes from and how it is sourced. A foodie has profound respect for how ingredients are treated and has an insatiable desire to continuously taste food prepared using a myriad of different techniques. A foodie is mindful of sustainability and aware of the need to curtail the amount of food wasted globally. Of course we all have things we just don’t eat, but for the most part a foodie has a broad palate and is is pretty much open to trying almost anything. A foodie recognizes that food is meant to be shared with others and has no interest in preventing others from sharing in new culinary experiences. A foodie is constantly learning and their taste buds are constantly evolving. Be it the newest Michelin-star hotspot, or the little known neighborhood gem, a foodie is always on the hunt for the next great meal. Dining is more than a just a meal, it’s an experience. An experience that can evoke a whole host of emotions. A true foodie values each and every culinary experience and is eager to share the places they have been, the dishes they have tasted and the people they have met along the way with everyone!
But what do I know and who am I to say how the word should be defined right? I agree, but for the purpose of connecting with my readers and putting some context to what you will read here, I thought is was worth giving you insight on how I define the word “foodie” and what it means when I use it. I am curious to know what you all think. How do you define the word “ foodie”? Are you a “foodie”? Comment below and let me know.
