Comments on: Service 101: So You Think You’re a Foodie

By: Joan Lambert Bailey

Joan Lambert Bailey — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:29:41 +0000

These are great tips. I don’t consider myself a foodie, but I don’t think it’s a bad title to hold, either. I like to eat and try new recipes, but I’m no expert. The most important thing an eater can bring to a restaurant or any new eating experience is the openness you recommend again and again. Too often our friends and colleagues here in Japan turn up their noses at the unknown or the odd looking dish. It’s a shame, I think, because one of the easiest cultural in-roads is via a bowl of ramen or just asking what something is and how it was made. I’ve learned so much that way – how to prepare a previously unknown vegetable or how a food is important to a celebration – and made some new friends, too.

By: Brian Child

Brian Child — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 09:39:30 +0000

Loved the article. The name calling has to stop – there is a place for everyone on the web – and if nothing more than it allows people to express themselves – when it crosses into elitism and name calling then – for me its when it crosses the line. Thanks for putting a voice to it. Bravo.

By: katie o.

katie o. — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:07:31 +0000

I joke that in my city, there’s an elitist subculture of “foodies”. Self-proclaimed “foodies” no less. I get it, you know food. You photograph food. You style food. I just don’t care. To me the word “foodie” is synonomous with “douchebag”….at least for the people who so self-assuredly refer to themselves as one.

By: papawow

papawow — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 15:45:59 +0000

Well said. I’m glad I don’t hang with many dictators, my friends and I tend to surrender and allow the Chef to do what they do best. I especially enjoy Rule #4: Be here now. Very Ram Dass.

Rule #5 should work in fancy joints but what drives me nuts is that there are so many servers who don’t know how to sell their food. My biggest peeve is when I ask for a suggestion and I get nothing.

Lie to me then. They should pick one dish and recommend it every time if that’s what they need to do – don’t act like a deer in headlights if I ask you to choose for me.

By: Christie Ison

Christie Ison — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:30:42 +0000

I’m with Sonja….maybe I need to change my blog title! But, no, I won’t. I never used the word “foodie” with any arrogance or airs of knowledge, just that I love to cook and I love to eat. I also love to learn and absorb what all there is to know about food. So, I agree with this entire article. I admit to knowing nothing, even being a culinary student in training under some awesome chefs.

Maybe we are getting too hung up on the word. To me, it means little more than one who studies, likes, and eats food.

By: noëlle {simmer down!}

noëlle {simmer down!} — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:35:55 +0000

I don’t love the word foodie, but I think people get too hung up on labels. I know folks who would describe themselves as “foodies”, who would never indulge in the ignorant behavior you describe above! I have been called a foodie by others (e.g. at a party, someone introducing me and saying, “she’s a real foodie, you two should get along!”) and I don’t ever take offense.

There seems to be a reverse snobbery among the online food community in regards to this word (much more so than in the real world!)- I’ve come across multiple blog posts and comments professing hatred of the term. The suggestions and observations you offer are valid ones, but if I were the first commenter (ActiveFoodie) I would probably feel a bit uncomfortable and unwelcome. Let people call themselves whatever they want, it’s the behavior that’s obnoxious, not the label in and of itself.

By: Jean

Jean — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:44:34 +0000

Great article! I’m a food writer and blogger (brand-new to the blogosphere just last month – delightfulrepast.blogspot.com) and I resist the term “foodie.” I call myself a “cook.” Perhaps too many people are watching too much reality TV and too many celebrity chefs?

By: ladyironchef

ladyironchef — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 07:13:52 +0000

great write-up, i don’t like to be call a foodie as i always believe nobody can know everything, and there’s just so much about food that we possibly know it all. thanks for sharing yr thoughts on this

By: Moe

Moe — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:26:17 +0000

Thank you! Back when I could stomach reading them, I was constantly amazed by the unabashed arrogance of the online reviews that self-proclaimed foodies would post on sites like Yelp and City Search. Anyone who’s spent time in a kitchen (microwaving doesn’t count) will attest that watching someone prepare food, and then attempting to prepare it yourself are entirely different things. Barring the truly extreme culinary experience, I’d say that most douche ba-,er, foodies, could stand a modicum of humility before subjecting humanity to the inner workings of their sensitive taste buds.

By: my spatula

my spatula — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:42:41 +0000

the term “foodie” sends shivers down my spine (in a bad way). cooking at home is best for me!