[pansinghkoder]

That is very encouraging. Given that we Indians are such foodies, it is not surprising that Swiggy and Zomato are doing so well.

I am trying to keep tabs on electric two-wheeler startup industry in India. Ather energy is emerging as a big name. Anyone knows how they are doing?

[spectramax]

I always found the term “Foodies” strange. Given that we are hardwired to enjoy food and literally need it to survive, something is terribly wrong with the person’s health if they’re not a “Foodie”. Have you met someone who says they hate food and they only have it because their bodies need it to survive?

Indians are no more foodies than the Americans or the Italians or the Japanese. Food is a central aspect of basically all cultures.

[lotsofpulp]

Being a foodie isn’t about liking to eat, foodie is about enjoying different cuisines and having a discerning taste. Some people are okay with pizza/fries/burgers of any style, while a foodie would seek out specific characteristics and generally want more than just carbs/salt/sugar.

I’ve met people that go to a big city and stick with eating from the chains they know from home. They like eating, but they wouldn’t fall under foodie, as opposed to someone who is researching different types of food or cooking them and using various spices and ingredients to add flavor.

[bogomipz]

>'Being a foodie isn’t about liking to eat, foodie is about enjoying different cuisines and having a discerning taste."

Discerning taste? In other words conspicuous consumption. Foodies seek out whatever the hype is.

It's always interesting to me how self-described foodies seems to know very little about actual food. Ask a foodie to name their favorite recipes, about braising vs poaching, making a pan sauce, when blueberries are in season and they will likely not have much to say. Being a "foodie" is just a byword for consumerism. It's neither a skill or a hobby. It's just eating out.

[spectramax]

I feel like this is a very narrow, elitist view of the world. Even folks who are not “foodie” in this definition given the opportunity to try new foods, they will.

There is something about the term “Foodie” that bothers me because it’s such a general thing that applies to 7 billion people in the world.

I can understand if a person is a musician or a doctor or something substantial they’d have to do to attain that title. What do you think of the term “Chef” or a “Cook” or a “Restaurant critic”? There is definitely more specificity.

Foodie is a bullshit term for people that like to eat good food - basically all 7 billion people. It bothers me because I am an air-breathing enthusiast or as they say it a “Breathie”. I have a discerning smell for breathing air from various countries.

[zrobotics]

>> Even folks who are not “foodie” in this definition given the opportunity to try new foods, they will.

Not to be argumentative, but I fail to understand how you think this applies to everyone. For example, recently me and some friends were looking for a place to eat. Search turned up an Ethiopian restaurant that sounded interesting (none of us had any familiarity w/ the cuisine). Most of the group wanted to go to try it, but one friend flatly refused- he would rather just go to a chain place. Which is fine, not everyone enjoys trying new things and would prefer comfort foods.

Me and another of the group ended up going to the Ethiopian place later, and while it was excellent if we had drug the reluctant friend along it wouldn't have been fun for him (no silverware, just the flatbread).

I get that you find the term irratating, as I think it is almost as annoying as 'maker', but foodie connotes more than just 'someone who enjoys food'. Foodie describes someone who makes a partial hobby out of the act of consuming food. I hate the term b/c English already has an appropriated term that describes this better- gourmand. There is a difference between enjoying eating and being discerning about what one eats and being able to critique what is wrong/right with a dish.

[spectramax]

“Maker” bugs me as well! You have some good points and I get that “Foodie” is a term for enthusiasts of various foods. The way it’s used is not in a good way - Where I live (Silicon Valley), there are so many kinds of restaurants and cuisines to be had that being a “Foodie” is a dull hobby.

[hn_throwaway_99]

You seem to have an odd preoccupation that a word doesn't have the meaning you want it to mean.

[rolltiide]

you have an interesting observation that has a good point but the premise is just so wrong.

most people in the world have very undiscerning palettes and many of those people absolutely would not be interested in trying new foods.

foodie is not a negative term, so nobody is bothered by it. and colloquially foodies are a distinctive group of people that have gravitated towards a set of foods outside of what's common their original culture/region.

if you live in a world where that's the default, congratulations. since thats not the default, you're the weird one.

[distant_hat]

Given that Indians have a vast range of food restrictions they certainly aren't exploring as much as, say, a typical person could. In fact, you can't even get a beef steak in large parts of India.

[lotsofpulp]

The person I replied to was talking about the term foodie, and I was responding about the term foodie.

Also, I wouldn’t disqualify anyone from being considered a foodie because they restrict their diet.

[tathougies]

As a person whose parents emigrated from India and who used to live in Silicon Valley... yes, lots of people are not foodies and just ingest organic matter to survive... see the 'success' of brands like soylent and huel. It's disgusting, but people like it.

My wife had several colleagues complain to her that they wouldn't eat food if it were not for their girlfriends insistence.

[pansinghkoder]

Well I didn’t mean any disrespect to other nationalities but merely commenting on popularity of those two startups. Is there anything you want to add about my query?

[GordonS]

The philosophy of a foodie is more "live to eat" than "eat to live".

[neoplatonian]

How about all the soylent junkies?

[amd64]

I work at Ather. Currently, the customers are loving the product and we are booked till first quarter of next year in Bangalore & Chennai. We have done 5 software updates to the vehicle since launch in Bangalore. Planning to launch in couple of other cities by second quarter 2020 probably.

[blueblisters]

Ather is not only going to face competition from incumbents in the ICE scooter vertical, it is going to face competition from cheap Chinese scooters that are being tested and assembled all across small workshops in India. I think the cheaper scooters will do really well with price sensitive and slightly less brand conscious customers in tier 3 cities.

[limeman]

Even electric vehicles are launched they're not affordable for normal middleclass peoples. ( assumption )

If they are affordable such smartphones cost, electric vehicles are going to be popular and that will be breakthrough.

The foolish government keeps on increasing petrol price and squeeze blood out of peoples.

[pcnix]

Ather has been doing an amazing job with their first vehicle, I'd definitely purchase one of I were still in Bangalore. I have high hopes for more in the future from them.

[puranjay]

Ather Energy will have stiff competition from Bajaj's new offering. Bajaj already has decades of manufacturing experience, tons of capital, and a trusted brand name.