[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.