Blog Post 3

To be a foodie, or not to be a foodie?

What is a foodie? Most resources I can find declare a foodie is “a person who is interested in food; a gourmet.” I find two faults with that definition. First, isn’t everyone interested in food to some extent? After all, eating is a requirement of life, topped only by hydration and breathing. The other problem is how they declare foodie to by synonymous with gourmet. A gourmet is one who has a refined taste, who prefers elaborate meals and fine wines. A gourmet is typically financially well-off, and is not afraid to spend an exorbitant sum on a good meal. Sometimes the word gourmet even has a negative connotation, linked with snobbery and elitism. This is not the same as a foodie; to a foodie, food is a hobby. Foodies are interested not only in eating, but of actually preparing food, as well as finding new ingredients and recipes to use. It is not necessary to a foodie to flash their money to enjoy food; they can find enjoyable food almost anywhere.

Using this definition, foodie becomes much broader, describing many people. Some say still that a foodie only eats what they consider “good” food, at semi-fancy restaurants at the very least. Again, I disagree; the enjoyment of all food is what makes one a foodie. It doesn’t matter what kind of food it is, it can still be enjoyed by someone. I believe this even to include fast food, frozen dinners, and snacks. Just because it isn’t necessarily fresh doesn’t mean that it isn’t good. I personally enjoy a big greasy burger from a fast food join on occasion, but I don’t think that excludes me from being a foodie.

People in the middle-class are rarely gourmets; it is too financially demanding a lifestyle. Some might say being a foodie is expensive as well; I disagree. I think that almost anyone can be a foodie. Extensive wealth is not a requirement, although I imagine it does facilitate the experience. Some of the more “hardcore” foodies may spend large amounts of money to travel the world to find new culinary creations to sample; a typical middle-class American obviously does not have time or money for this. However, this does not exclude them from foodie culture. Anyone with a few hours and a bit of spare cash can find a new recipe to cook. The internet is an amazing tool that made the world accessible to the middle-class. Through this media, anyone can travel to various countries, discovering different cultures and foods. They have access to recipes that can culminate in tantalizing their taste buds. The internet is full of cookbooks and food blogs to use as guides to make something of your own creation; and one meal doesn’t have to empty your wallet. Yet it can still broaden their horizons.

Time is another concern. Most people would be too tired after a day of work to come home and slave away in the kitchen, not realizing there are many meals that can be made in under an hour. I myself have cooked whole meals for my family that only required 15 minutes in the kitchen, then 60 minutes of waiting, during which I watched television. One of my family’s favorite meals is chicken and rice. I place uncooked yellow rice in a casserole dish. Then I place pieces of seasoned chicken on top of the rice. I add water and a can of cream of mushroom soup. Then I place the dish in the oven at 375 degrees for one hour. It’s moist and flavorful. A foodie can be inventive and economical when necessary.

Foodie culture has become extremely popular in the last decade. With the rise of The Food Network and other cooking shows, food blogs, and recipe websites, the culture is spreading even further. This attention in the media enables everyone to be exposed to the foodie culture. Although some may believe show like 30-minute meals and Semi-Homemade cooking debase the culture, I think they serve as an excellent resource for foodies with little time on their hands. As for people with more spare time, there are other shows with more “professional” chefs like Emeril Lagasse or Bobby Flay.

Some people seem to think that the lower-class doesn’t have the resources to be a foodie. I ask, isn’t one of the key aspects of a foodie the appreciation of food? And who would appreciate food more than someone who might only get one small meal a day? Just because it might not be the most delicious food ever made, doesn’t mean that it’s not meaningful to someone. And even the most financially challenged families have the ability to save up a small bit of money to eat out at a small diner or something, which could be equivalent to a three- or maybe four-star restaurant to someone who has lots of money to spend.

Some people believe that foodie is equivalent to gourmet. Others believe it to be slightly less restrictive. I think that anyone can be a foodie; and in fact everyone IS a foodie to some extent. They just have their own individual ways of expressing it.

Weston, Nicole. “What is a foodie anyway?” Slashfood.com. February 10, 2006. Accessed October 26, 2009. <>