On Being a Food Snob

cocodrilo · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 193 Location: Kurashiki, Japan

Regarding my eating/cooking/dining preferences, I have been labeled many things- "gourmet", "gourmand", "foodie", "picky" and just plain "food snob". I think the latter most suits my character as I have spent many years arriving at this point, and to me eating well is not a matter of price, but a matter of how much LOVE goes into the preparation of the food itself and the fresh ingredients that are used. The Japanese have a thing called "shojin-ryori", which is basically the stuff the priests eat; a vegetarian-based diet including various forms of tofu to supplement the protein. When I confronted a Buddhist priest once, inquiring into just what constitutes "shojin-ryori", he simply answered that "Anything you prepare from your heart for people you love is just that, whether it includes meat, fish, or other items". (He also admitted they drink like fish!) I spend quite a lot of time researching cooking, experimenting with new recipes or my creations that I feel will be hits at the parties I often host. Now comes the "snobbery" part. I almost refuse to go into fast-food places, would prefer not to eat at all when instant stuff is served at social gatherings(unless of course I am backpacking) and have declined offers to attend functions where I know the food will be lousy. "Why put cr*p in your body when it's the only one you have?" is my simple theory. I also travel extensively, researching and ferrreting out fine dining and cool hangouts. (More on this later) What is your attitude about food/eating/dining? Do you "Eat to Live, or are you like me and "Live to Eat"?

squirrel · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 96 Location: Bucharest, Romania

I "Eat to Live"... I have favourite foods... but I am definitely not a snob! Why waste my time on food if I can Salsa dance???

cocodrilo · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 193 Location: Kurashiki, Japan

squirrel wrote: I "Eat to Live"... I have favourite foods... but I am definitely not a snob! Why waste my time on food if I can Salsa dance???
Unfortunately, I know a lot of people and not all of them dance, but they all love good food, thus the parties I have. The dancers among us end up dancing in my livingroom(wood floor) and the others don't mind watching! Why not do ALL the things you love?

salsachinita · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:14 am Post subject:

cocodrilo wrote: Why not do ALL the things you love?

.........and to the max, no less :P ........!

Your description/theory is just like mine; which drove a lot of my friends/SOs mad. They simply do not understand the difference between good & poor qualities, let along love/efforts that goes into the preparation :roll: !

I only really eat junk/chain food if I was absolutely craving for it.

Also, having food allegies really makes me focus on the ingredients & how they react with your systems.

I must say I'm a little more relaxed in attitude these days, as I no longer have the disposable income I once had, & when my sugar level drops I simply NEED to be fed.....fast!

So it really is a combination of 'live to eat' as well as 'eat to live' :wink: !

squirrel · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 96 Location: Bucharest, Romania

:) I love food... don't get me wrong... and I am picky... and I hate junk food... but why waste my time feeling miserable about the quality of the food not being what it should be when I can do all other things that interest me... ??? aikido, Salsa... :lol: :lol:

cocodrilo · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 193 Location: Kurashiki, Japan

squirrel wrote: :) I love food... don't get me wrong... and I am picky... and I hate junk food... but why waste my time feeling miserable about the quality of the food not being what it should be when I can do all other things that interest me... ??? aikido, Salsa... :lol: :lol:

Oh, I never feel miserable about it! I always make sure I have only the best around, and plenty of it to go around! :D