I was recently immersed in casual conversation at a social function
and referred to myself as a “foodie”. The person I was speaking to
looked at me quizzically, and asked “what makes someone a foodie…doesn’t
everyone like food? ”
To this, I replied with my own personal
off-the-cuff definition of a foodie relative to why I consider myself
one and what it generally means to me. My answer was this: “For a
foodie, eating is more than an act…it’s an experience. Foodies don’t
just eat a meal, they revel in it and regard all facets of the dish in
the process: the ingredients used as well as how and where they were
sourced, the preparation (and skill related thereto), taste, texture,
smell and presentation.”
I was not at all prepared to answer this
question so specifically, but was relatively satisfied with my
on-the-fly answer that duly conveyed how I personally identify with the
word “foodie.” The question weighed on me however, as I later wondered
if I had defined it correctly in a universal sense. Had I aptly conveyed
the intended sentiments that most associate with the word “foodie”—a
moniker I wear with much pride?
In pondering this, I decided to query
applicable industry purveyors who would have an interesting and
presumably on-point perspective of the word.
Here are some of the easily digestible definitions and perceptions of
the term “foodie” that I received:
"Foodies are people that talk while
they're eating. Maybe not with their mouth full, but they talk about
the experience of what they’re eating, how it's cooked, who cooked it,
the history of the dish, and more. Those things are all to be discussed,
explored, and passed on as part of enjoying any meal. So the greater
the diversity of what you eat, or the more fascinating the history - the
more you have to talk about - and true Foodies seek that out more than
others."
--Andrea Cutright, Foodily
“A foodie is someone who delights in all things food related and
seeks the high quality experience and taste. Today foodies unite for
events, grub crawls, yelp reviews, and even persuade restaurant owners
to change menu items.”
--Brandon Sowers, BAMGAM.ORG
“A foodie is someone who seeks out experiences through flavor.”
--Babette Pepaj, BakeSpace.com
“A foodie is a person who is concerned enough about what they eat to
search out the "best" food, know its source or provenance, and cares
about flavor, taste, texture, aroma more than how much they can eat and
how much it costs. Foodies often also want to eat seasonal. locally and
sustainably produced food, too.”
--Jill Nussinow, The Veggie Queen
“The great differences between a foodie and person that just likes to
eat, comes down to those who make it their mission to try every new
restaurant and cuisine, those who spare no expense when it comes to
eating out, and those who consider their free time to be a search for
gastronomic delight; a foodie will go above and beyond, both budget and
means, in an attempt to try the latest and greatest food around.”
--Simon Joseph, BiteHunter, Inc.
“The defining principles between a foodie and a eater of food is
that a foodie delves into the why's, the flavors and the pairings of
foods, always searching for defining moments, creating, and the
uniqueness of the combinations. Although not an expert in the field as a
Chef, a foodie revels in the newness of it, almost like a child at
Christmas.”
--Chef Mary Beth Lawton Johnson, Executive Pastry Chef, Chef de Cuisine
“A foodie is a person who wants every bite to be an experience.
Whether it’s simple comfort food or a complex dish, foodies want it
fresh, carefully prepared and memorably seasoned. Foodies don’t drive
thru, but they do walk up to trucks, trailers or stands.”
--Chef Chic Henderson, Potato-Potahto
“A foodie is somebody who likes to eat, definitively, however also a
person who knows about food, where it comes from, what is in season,
proper cooking techniques, responsibility how it is caught (fish) or
raised (cattle, chicken, etc.). Who never overeats, who is ready to
accept that cooking sometimes takes longer than 20 minutes, somebody who
can enjoy, a gourmet, somebody who likes a large plate with little food
on it.”
--Ula Robertson, At Your Service NY Catering
“A foodie is someone who is extremely passionate about food; it's a
way of life for them. They are in the know and want to be the first in
their group to find out about the newest trends such as an up and coming
chef, restaurant openings, restaurant pop ups and cannot miss the
weekly local farmers market. Foodies are extremely knowledgeable about
the food they are eating while someone who loves food may not know where
the food came from but enjoys the dining experience. [A Quintessential]
foodie dish: brown butter basted abalone with roasted sweet corn
speatzle and a Bordelaise jus."
--Chris Brugler, Chris Brugler Catering
“As a personal chef, I believe the difference is truly the
appreciation of ingredients, subtle flavors and unique flavors. Someone
who loves to eat will enjoy a good meal. A foodie will know that you
used porcini mushrooms over generic, yuzu over lemon juice and champagne
vinegar in their dressing. The foodie questions the ingredients,
discusses the recipe. The lover just wants seconds. Lovers order what
they know in a restaurant. Foodies order what’s different. Lovers shop
one grocery store. Foodies will spend the day visiting specialty shops
for ingredients. It is truly love vs. passion.”
--Laura MacDougall, Home Plate Advantage
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