Ubiquitous food snobs and general know-it-alls.

I was going to create this blog with the intention of sharing my love for all things food. The interesting discoveries, recipes and tidbits, but ... of course, things got away from me and a few days went by without doing anything, and now a new topic has come up which begs to be related to others, and this topic will be the virgin post for me. I hate that the virgin experience must be a nasty one, but it happens. Not everyone gets a delicate, caring and romantic 'first time'. In fact, for most it is a nervous, awkward fumbly thing, so maybe this is keeping in step. I digress from my topic.

We all know the types mentioned in my headline. They are the people that, as a person, and to be sure, as a foodie, you will invariably encounter. They know more than you, or for that matter, ANYONE about any given topic. They are annoying as well as dangerous. I have been inspired to write by one of them. She is a Tyrant Queen of Food Snobs, and a friend of mine. So I write to make the point that there is a DIFFERENCE between a Foodie, (formerly known as a Gourmand -defined as someone who is "excessively fond of/heartily interested in" good food and drink) and what should be called a Gourmet.

A Gourmet is someone with discerning tastes and a refined palate. A gourmand/foodie is a distinctly different animal. While I grant that the word gourmand has a french sound and roots, let's not confuse it with the word Gourmet, which may be why, in someone's infinite wisdom, the term Foodie was coined ... it is, quite simply, someone who enjoys all things food, and as such foodie a dressed-down version of the word gourmand... so WHY in the world do I have someone sitting here telling me in very elitist terms that a Foodie is exactly what it ISN'T? That to call yourself a Foodie, one must abide the following: "you must not bat an eyelash at spending $400 on a meal, you must refuse to eat anything that does not agree with your palate, and you must have dined on every continent"? Needless to say, this person considers herself (nee, styles herself) the consummate foodie, and holds as evidence of her "Foodie-Hood" that her friend that owns a raw food joint in New York , friendship with Joel Robuchon (sorry - I have not learned how umlauts and accents work on here yet) and the fact that Masahuro Morimoto came out to meet her when she was at one of his restaurants.

So, apparently, being a foodie has little to do with FOOD, but has rather more to do with who you meet or know.

This is not the case... so please let's get things straightened out once and for all... if you are a food snob, call yourself a gourmet (or even foodsnob) and be done with it. Do not try to ride the popularity train that Foodie-ism has come to have. Be the Gourmet that you are and to hell with the rest of us. And as for the rest of us... perhaps then we can enjoy our food adventures in peace. Which, isn't that what we (foodies/ gourmands) are trying to do? Our aim and desire is to experience the pure joy, the fun and adventure of Food. The items, the preparation, the subtle touches, the ambiance, the accoutrements, the presentation... So much to enjoy... So, now that I have purged the evil from me, and reminded myself of what I am writing about, I hope that we all can move forward to the good stuff. Let's Eat.