I have been asked to speak at a University next week and I need some help. Would love your thoughts

T

traca

Well-known member
on the question, "What is a foodie?"

Basically, I'm wondering, do you identify yourself as a "foodie?" And what is your definition of a "foodie" or rather, what does it mean to you?

I've got some other things I'll be addressing, but for me, the term "foodie" is a bit more ambiguous and I'm stuck. Any thoughts?

 
Someone who appreciates good food, sometimes a purist when preparing recipes?

P.S. I see the trick-or-treaters have quit by this time at your house too?! We had about 60 this year... beautiful weather out.

 
The key word here is "passion." One who is passionate about food - one who takes great pleasure in

eating good food, and doesn't just eat to survive. One who will go to several different stores to get the best quality and exact food items they want/need, rather than just settle for whatever is in one store. One who will spend hours searching for good recipes and/or creating good recipes, and who will spend time cooking great meals, rather than just going to fast food places or eating frozen dinners, etc.

 
I recieved this in an email describing a Foodie ~ I hope you can use it ~ I like it

Anyone can be a foodie.

To be a foodie is not only to like food, but to be interested in it. Just as a good student will have a thirst for knowledge, a foodie wants to learn about food.

A foodie will never answer the question "What are you eating" with "I don't know." There are some basic traits of being a foodie, as there are basic traits that come with all labels.

Generally, you have to know what you like, why you like it, recognize why some foods are better than others and want to have good tasting food all or certainly most of the time.

This doesn't mean that you can't eat flaming hot Cheetos every now and again, but it does mean that you don't fool yourself into thinking that it's a nutritionally balanced meal.

Do you have to know the difference between a beefsteak tomato and an heirloom tomato? No, but you might be interested to find out what it is.

Do you have to only shop at farmer's markets? No, but you still look for good, fresh produce.

Are there some foods you just don't like or weird foods you like? That's okay - it doesn't make you any less of a foodie.

Just like food, learn about food and, most importantly, eat food.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m242/axiemeluv/Smiley/king.jpg

 
Hi Trace. If you google on 'definition foodie' you'll find lots of interesting definitions

Wonderful about your speaking engagement - all the best to you!

 
Thanks Deb. I'm actually curious about what my friends here at FK thingk about "foodies"

Among most of the people I know, they really don't like the term. And for me, the hair raises on the back of my neck when I think about it. There are people with some serious ego associated with food...and build an exclusive sense about them regarding food. I think of "foodie" and I think about something that divides people rather than uniting them.

So, I'm having issues with it, and I'm just wondering what everyone else thinks.

 
reads cookbooks like novels, watches foodtv and PBS---a lot.

plans vacations around eating and shopping at markets. spends way too much time reading food blogs and participating on food forums. collects recipes.

 
Probably raise the same type of negatives as the term "yuppie" BUT...

a person genuinely interested not only in the food itself but the why, where & how... History of foodstuffs,prep techniques, styles, culture(s) trying different things that sound-look-smell -taste-feel interesting.

 
Sandra...as someone passionate about food....how do you describe yourself?

From a short cocktail party description, I call myself a "food geek." Then, depending on who I'm talking to, we can go deeper than that.

But "foodie" reminds me of the term "jock." There's all kinds of connotations associated with the term. Jocks don't call themselves "jocks" but I think that's more of a term from the outside looking in. Perhaps that's the same way with food people? I'm just not sure.

 
I like the term in fact I refer to myself as a foodie ~ why not, I think it s a fun word to use for

"likes to cook and seeks out new recipes and knows a little bit about food"

 
I think it's like many words - there's a positive and negative side, depending on the context and

attitude/intent of who's using it. Personally, I don't find the word "foodie" offensive, and I never use it in an offensive way. I basically see it as a positive. However, someone else might not, and that would be apparent by their attitude, ie, they would use the word/label in a negative way. For me, an example of a negative label would be "food snob." What exactly the critera are would vary according to who's using the term. I know precisely what type of person I would consider a food snob, and why, but others' standards could be very different.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top