Up until recently, I have looked at the word “foodie” with a bit of disdain. Honestly, I didn’t know what to make of it. Perhaps it will reveal too much about how my rudimentary brain works if I tell you that rhyming words popped into my mind… Cutie Patootie, A Load of Hooey, Snooty…
Usually, it seems that most of the people who use the word are talking about people who care about food and where it comes from. Even so, I couldn’t shake the idea that the term had an air of snobbery about it. “Ooooh, I know all about food and I couldn’t possibly eat that.”
I thought I should don my journalism hat and do a little research online to see what other people thought. Wikkipedia defines “foodie” as an informal term for a particular class of aficionado of food and drink. It goes on to say that foodies differ from gourmets in that gourmets are epicures of refined taste who may or may not be professionals in the food industry. Foodies, however are amateurs who simply love good food for consumption, study, preparation and news. Okay, now we are getting somewhere.
There were a few blog posts (here and here) that I won’t quote here (on this family friendly site) that had me rolling with laughter. Instead, I will share what some of my tweeps had to say on the matter…
- I think someone who enjoys good food! @nicoleculver
- I think it means someone who loves food, sometimes it has a negative connotation tho. I used it anyway
@frederickfoodie - There has got to be a better term somehow that doesn’t sound pretentious or phony or goofy. Right? @heatherHAL
- The “gourmand” term can sound a bit pompous, but foodie not as much @savorytv
- I think “enjoys and appreciates quality food and is not afraid to experiment”. @dianefischler
- Re term “foodie,” a year ago I thought food snob but now it’s used a lot so I think it’s folks who just like to eat. @sourwine
- I say “fellow foodies” all the time. In no way am I wanting to call people snobs. I consider myself a foodie who loves to cook. @noelskitchen
- “gourmand” totally snobby sounding. foodie more casual but with a twist. @i8la
- Food savvy folks don’t like the term, regular folks recognize it and might think foodies are snooty. @kathyegawa
- Someone who enjoys enough to care about quality @SingleGourmet
- Eating is more than just filling your tummy @idrinkonthejob
- i think more and more it is meaning “simply someone that enjoys food!” : ) @fun_master
- I think the Foodie question totally depends on who you’re talking to. Could be pretentious to a non-foodie. @ginarau
- A foodie tries everything-which is why they know so much! @Lauran1986
What do YOU think? Is a “foodie” someone who cares about the quality of their food, or is it reserved for other people, who seem snobby about the whole issue?
I’ve always thought foodies referred to someone who enjoyed food but was more an amatuer or home cook rather than a trained professional. I never thought it meant anything negative, but have encountered some snooty foodies. I just tossed that up to the fact that every grouping of people has pleasant and not so pleasant people in it.
Fun post, though…love to think about all sorts of crazy things!
Thanks Annie – love the sound of that “snooty foodies.”
Glad to hear that lots of people think of the term mostly in a positive light
Michelle
I like to say that to me a foodie is a person who eats food and likes what they eat. Of course, that should be qualified to say eats “real” food – not to say that an occasional tango with ruffles and sour cream & onion dip doesn’t hit the spot.
I do think that many have taken the term to a whole new level of snobbery at times though – just my humble observation.
I agree with you, Amy! I think we can have an appreciation for good food and also recognize that sometimes we need to give in to temptation (even if that means eating something not entirely “real.”). Everything in moderation is a good motto, don’t you think?
Saw your post tweeted. Yep. Gotta agree with Wiki on this one. I proudly consider myself a foodie – and I am a NON-professional, amateur and untrained country cook, lover of food, cooking, recipe creation, and all things food. I have never considered the term “foodie” to be at all snobbish – in fact, it is the total opposite side of the spectrum in my opinion.
To be honest, those who choose to be snobs about food, seem to me to be primarily those who have spent time in professional study of the craft. (But, not all of them of course.)
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