Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I have two sides. The nice side that thinks: 'ultimately, what matters is showing humanity and decency to people. Live and let live, and hope that if I show a good example in my own behavior, people will respect that. Remember I am not perfect."

Then there is the side that thinks 'oh the horror,' when I hear my father boast about he went out with the family to Pizzeria Uno in Boston, rather than to an independent restaurant, and ate several deep dish pizzas, appetizers, bottles of wine, cleaned out the mini bar at the hotel because they were so thirsty after the restaurant, and then the family can't understand why they can't lose weight, and lectures me 'I don't like good food' because I don't like Pizzeria Uno and am a vegetarian.

And the side that turns up my nose at the fact that they tell me chocolate will make me fat, but the fact they eat Jell-O.

And the side that feels a bit bad that I politely refuse the snacks my friend offered me when I visited--she has three kids and they seem to buy all of their food in bulk at Costco, which means lots of processed foods in bright packages with cartoon characters.

Lots of times when I go out to a restaurant with my family I hear them praise to the skies I find myself critiquing it internally, because I have discovered that good means extra cheese.

But like you, I grew up in a less-than-ideal food environment--Pillsbury biscuits were 'homemade,' pancakes from a box, and cookies from a mix or sliced. And that was a bit deal that my mom was suffering the torturing of cooking--I didn't know what real cooking or baking was, that people made their own spaghetti sauce or desserts from scratch.

I guess that when you're a 'convert' later in life--to me, to healthy eating, vegetarianism, and not eating processed food--you tend to develop the zeal of a fanatic. Like with religion ;) So I try to have a sense of humor about my snobbery and obsessions. Because although I know a lot about some things, when I have to call up my father for advice about an electric or plumbing problem I'm having at my home, or think about what life is like for my friend taking care of three kids and two elderly parents, I remember that there is a lot I don't know!

I'm a bit of a food snob, but work hard to keep that to myself. I prefer independent restaurants when I dine out, but will go to a chain if the majority rules. I buy only fresh produce and meats and cook accordingly. My problem isn't so much with my food choices, but how others interpret them. Certain people in my group apologize for their food, suggesting that I won't like it because of some ingredient or its lack of being made from "scratch." (Who invented that term anyway? It sounds awful.) If someone made me food, despite that fact that I wouldn't prepare it in the same fashion, I am typically grateful. Unless it has copious amounts of mayonnaise. For this, I am not so forgiving.

Also, I am disturbed when others make judgement calls on people's food choices. If you're vegan - great. But please don't offer your disdain and obvious low opinion of my lamb chop. Manners, people! Be a snob, but keep it to yourself. When the mayo-laden slop comes across my table, I simply refuse. No comment, no reason. Snob? Yes. Vocal snob? No.

I can relate. My veggies weren't frozen, they were canned. My Mom hated veggies except for canned peas and shoestring green beans satuatred in vinegar.
I treasure whatever my Mom serves me these days. She's 79. She always whips out something for dinner that she remembers I liked as a kid. You know that all of our Moms had a 'signature' dish that she was proud of. It might have tasted like crap, but we ate it and gave her major kudos. When I give my folks a restaurant gift card, they love it. To my horror, they go to Red Lobster or Olive Garden. Yes, I am a restaurant snob. I don't go to the trendy places...I go to the Mom & Mom places.

Now that I have vented, I eat at places that I have heard have good food. Sometimes they're bars or a cool diner. We also have high end restaurants out the ying yang.

I guess, in the long run, I'm not a snob. If they have good food, I will come

Oh that is another thing, this thing everyone has against places that are chains, I don't give a crap if they are a chain or not if I like their food and their prices, quality, quantity and the service, I could give a rat's ass whether they are a chain or not. It's a hit and miss with both types. Most places that are chains started out as "mom and pop" places at one time but got so popular they expanded, I'm sure the now "mom and pop" places would do that too because of demand.

I think I'm more picky, not because I have such a "refined palate" or exquisite taste in food, but because I generally try to eat healthy. I get annoyed or, perhaps, snobby, when I can't choose a healthful meal, or if someone else prepares a meal for me that I can't quite tell what is in it. I guess that leaves me preparing meals for myself for the rest of my life.

Honestly, that is just fine with me!

I am secretly horrified when I see family members eating Pop Tarts and storebought cookies. Or bottled dressing, which is what my mom uses to prepare chicken at least 3 times a week. But I don't say anything, because it's not like they're forcing me to eat anything. I just wish they took better care of themselves. But my mother routinely thinks my from-scratch curries and stews look disgusting, so to each their own.

I am a strict vegetarian, and I find it really irritating when people sneer at my food, since saying anything back makes me a JUDGEMENTAL VEGETARIAN. I'm routinely surprised by the people who wrinkle their noses when I order at restaurants and think it's okay to make snide comments "tofu, ugh, gross!" or "you're really going to eat chinese broccoli?" But I am starting to realize that many people just don't see anything wrong with commenting on food in general.

So to tie that rant back to food snobbery, I think it's okay to be a food snob so long as you keep your snobbery to yourself. Even if someone feeds me nuked broccoli (as my mother did for many years), I am going to smile and say "thanks" and enjoy their company. Luckily, most of my friends are also food snobs, so dinners usually work out. :-)

I didn't realize I was a food snob until I realized that I turned my husband into one:

His parents offered to take us out to dinner to celebrate an occasion, and they picked the place. It was a chain Chinese restaurant. Halfway through dinner his mom asked how we thought the food was, and I smiled politely and agreed that everything was good. My husband on the other hand says loudly "it's fine, but we don't really do chain restaurants anymore!".

i do my best to avoid overly processed food and factory-farmed meat. so i steer clear of most of the chains and even a steak my dad grills. i give in sometimes but i usually regret it. i think someone who is a snob will only go for fancy stuff. i love simple honest food, i just like to know where it came from.

Please excuse my vent. I'll leave lots out and try to make it brief. I'm staying at someone's house. They have a new kitchen and don't want me to cook in it. I now realize it's because I would waste food and use electricity. Range rarely used - microwave is the appliance of choice. Nearly everything in the refrigerator says no fat, reduced fat or sugar free. Tubs of I can't believe it's not margarine (generic like everything else), yet shelves of jell-o in the pantry. Probably sugar free. I'm allowed to clean up. I got chastized for putting yukky scraps on a scrap of foil. That is used to wrap a nuked potato, which they eat often. I had to wash and dry the foil - seriously! It's probably 10 years old. Not exaggerating. Except for the lettuce and vegs I brought with me and made a couple of salads, there hasn't been a hint of a vegetable or fruit in nearly 2 weeks. Last night I was told that my SIL came home early from work to cut and cook veggies and add tomato sauce and cook for an hour. It was supposed to be a joke - he was mocking me because I make my tomato sauce from scratch and they think that is nuts. If it comes in a jar or a box, then you're stupid to make your own. And I had a grilled velveeta sandwich for the first time in my life. At least, nobody sits down together, so I can try to hide it in scrap paper (wouldn't dare use up a paper towel or foil. Yes, I guess I'm a snob, but beggars can't be choosers. Money isn't an issue, except that they feel living otherwise would waste it. They both seem healthy. I wonder what they eat for lunch - away from home. Visiting friends this weekend - thank God.

I'm a "foodie" but I'm definitely not a food snob. I can't stand snobs of any kind! There are people out there who think a true foodie is someone who only eats/cooks gourmet, expensive foods, but in my opinion a true foodie is someone who loves food in general .... of any kind. I love a big bowl of cheap ramen noodles as much as I do lobster or caviar!

I am a somewhat reformed food snob. In my early twenties, when first exposed to really great ingredients & restaurants, I was pretty vocal about my preferences. I spent more time than I like to admit bitching about things like Cool Whip, margarine and processed cheese while visiting my family instead of being wise enough to realize how lucky I was to have people with whom I could peacefully gather and break bread. In my home, yes, I still control the food supply pretty ruthlessly. But in the company of others, I'm genuinely happy for the experience - even if that means a mushroom soup casserole or the occasional chain/fast food meal out - to spend time with people I like.

Haha, I also had a moment of revelation, PumpkinBear. I never used to think I was a food snob, I just only ate food that tasted good - that's the point, isn't it? Then a few months after we started dating, my boyfriend told me I was a food snob while I was extolling the virtues of freshly grated Parmesan or something. I explained my "i eat whatever tastes good" position, but he stood by his. Now after 3 years together and many more discussions about what we eat, I've accepted that I'm a food snob, but he will no longer eat "parmesan" from green cans or pizza from Domino's. And prosciutto and asparagus are now among his favorite foods. So call it snobbery if you like, but there's no denying good taste.

@chiff ain't you heard peasant food is haute cuisine. Jamie Oliver and Mario the rest of them went over to Italy and discovered common italian food and the next thing you knew was better than sliced bread. Stuff you thought was common everyday italian is hugely expensive in italian restaurants. We ate at a place where 3 smelts in extra virgin olive oil served with some bread was 8.50. I was laughing the whole time.
If my grandmother was alive she would have asked to see the chef and chastized him. I still laugh about it.

@nalega-I'm with you, but now my husband's worse than me. He went from living on rice-a-roni when I moved here 9 years ago to refusing any chain restaurant but Chipotle, and spending his weekends perfecting bolognese or marinara sauces or homemade bread. Our daughter's birthday is 5-5 and she's probably doomed to a life of homemade tres leche cake and whatever from-scratch south of the border treats we whip up for Cinci de Mayo.

@lizsherman - at least we have the Jean Robert de Cavel restaurants (swoon) and Jungle Jim's or the Dorothy Lane Markets if you're willing to drive a little towards Dayton. Worth the drive for their fresh mozzarella, homemade soups and scratch bakery stuff whose ingredients are identifiable. Yum.

Snob? That's me. Gulity as charged.

@Jerz - you should have seen my face the first time I saw Linguini Al Oglio for $11 - in 1982!! Linguini pasta, olive oil, garlic, parsley, S&P for $11! (Yes, I know today that would be considered a bargain.)

I can't help but think how my grandmother would feel to see all the Italian peasant dishes fetch huge prices in restaurants. A little knowledge (and experience) in the kitchen goes a long way.

@Jerz- high five.

About food? Not a snob, not at all. I developed an interest in food early on, learned as much as I could, perfected recipes, went to farmer's markets, traveled and tasted everything I could, from simple peasant food to insanely expensive offerings. And I love it.

But to my mind, who am I to tell someone that xyz "tastes bad," as if I'm the official arbiter of good taste? What gets counted "good" and "bad" food changes depending upon who eats it. When processed foods were rare, they were exalted. Now that they're almost literally cheaper than packaged dirt, we denigrate it. You can say all you want about "real" or "fake" or "chemicals" or whatever, but I simply refuse to agree with the idea that some foods are inherently better tasting than others, regardless of who's eating. I mean, that's why it's called *taste.*

My food snobbery came to a point this Thanksgiving when we had dinner with my aunt's inlaws, and I literally saw them cook everything either from a frozen bag, a box, or a can. I wanted to puke because my dad spent hours and hours slaving over homemade stuffing, meatballs, and desserts. So maybe this is less food snobbery, more realizing that most people simply don't care about where their food comes from, as long as they're gorging themselves.

Snob? Far from it. I just enjoy good food, it doesn't have to be gourmet food. Prime rib has it's time and place, and so does a good burger. I would like to eat only fresh fruits and vegetables, and usually do,but its not a crime to use canned of frozen in a pinch. Some frozen fruits and vegetables are a way more appetizing option than some of the crap I see in some produce departments in the grocery store. Sure I love home made soup, but at times a can of Campbell's sure hits the spot. Good is different things to different people. I eat what I enjoy and I assume that's what other people. Thank God I know how to turn something into an edible meal, because he all know some people who can't.ll

I am not a snob in any way, form or fashion. I do have preferences though, and they are not always one of the highest quality. For example, I bought a pricey blue cheese at Fresh Market, but found a dirt cheap brand at Publix that I like much better. To me, snob sounds ugly. It sounds like everyone here is just choosy about their selection of food, and not at all nasty with it. To me, and this is just my overworked opinion, snob means that we would have a "greater than thou" opinion. That is not at all the impression that I get from any of you. I have learned so much from many of you about good quality items that I had never tried. Once tried, I loved so many of them. Surely that didn't turn me into a snob either? I mean after all, I will still eat *gasp* Kraft mac & cheese mixed in with canned corn, and be in bliss. And, with the economy in such a slump, who knows what we may be forced into eating. I have on occasion made fun of the "cheese food-dip like substance" in a jar, made for dipping tortilla chips in. My dear best friend can, and does eat the crap with a spoon. I tell her it's "trashy people" food. She then reminds me that the first place she ever tasted it was at my house. I digress.

@Perky--you poor thing! That sounds like torture! I am so sorry.

A couple weeks ago when we had New Year's Day dinner at my parents' house, the first thing I did when I walked in the kitchen was put the honing steel to my mom's chef knife (horribly dull) and instruct her that she needed to do the same on a much more frequent basis, and then instruct her to use that knife, not the little steak knife, to chop the vegetables. Does that make me a cooking snob?

I'm definitely a little bit of a food snob, and a big coffee snob. I won't touch the watery crap (Folgers) they make at the office and frequently tell other people, "Don't drink it--it's poison." And I was truly pissed when someone entered our annual Christmas Goodies Contest with a Sandra Lee-style apple pie (Pillsbury crust on the bottom, canned apple pie filling in the middle, Pillsbury crust on top). That does not equal homemade baked goods, people!!!!

By a normal measure, I suppose I'm a food snob, but not because I think I'm better! It's just everyone else, being most of america, doesn't care...

When I moved in with my family after I graduated college last summer, I tried to purge the house of nasty canned goods like heinz "gravy", 100 calorie packs of cheap cookies, Prego, and canned peas... i was going to give them to charity but my family discovered the loot in their car trunk before I could take it. damn! my dad drinks sunny delight and about two gallon of skim milk a week which is embarrassing... he can't tell the difference between organic milk and reg (i don't drink reg milk anymore, i'm soy milk/organic milk now) and every time i go to the store he says "just get me some frickin plain milk and don't you dare buy those expensive eggs! i'm not paying for that crap!" so it's kind of funny because he probably thinks i'm nuts.

but i do have to say: i LOVE LOVE LOVE ranch dressing and, actually, Olive Garden. my boyfriend and i went there as a joke when we were on vacation in florida (it seemed very culture-appropriate to do so, actually, where we were... there weren't any independent places, so what the f?!) and we secretly loved it... at least the breadsticks and salad, which is AMAZING. obviously the pasta is shitty but who cares? sometimes it's not worth fighting it. just submit.

i do have to say, i am totally with most of the people on this, except for a couple of you which i think are freaks. not once you'd have canned spaghetti sauce? "olive oil is the only oil"? you clearly have some things to learn... peanut, grapeseed, walnut, sesame, vegetable, etc etc etc... they all serve their own rightful purpose in the kitchen and you'd be a fool to assert otherwise. unless of course, you're talking out of your ass because you don't know that because you never bake, or make Chinese food, or don't know how to fry. you can't deep fry in olive oil.

ok sorry i just crossed the line... i guess i'm a snob! i'm sorry...
i love this site, i feel so at home. please don't think i'm obnoxious, i was just answering the question...
PS BREAKSTONE SOUR CREAM IS *NOT* the best, try daisy... it must be "all natural"!!!! next time you're at the store, check out the ingredients list! breakstones has a milliion and daisy has like, two.

you could call me a food snob if hating what i like to call 'plastic' food makes me one. i.e. cool whip, bottled dressings, soups made with 16 cans of corn/beans and powdered ranch dressing mix; in other words
Shmandra type stuff. My food doesn't have to be gourmet or expensive, it just has to be real!

My friends call me a snob, because I love good food. E.g. I buy Lurpak butter. But I do so cause I love the taste not the fact that it's imported or because Jamie Oliver uses it!

Perhaps food snobs don't discriminate based on the actual "food" per se, but discriminate based on all the external things - style, image, "prestige", etc.

I'll happily rub shoulders with the snobs if the food itself makes it worthwhile to do so.

I belong to a group of 12 women that has met socially for many, many years. When we were young, working and raising kids, the deal was to supply the supper from fast food joints, everyone brought their own drink, and dug into a store bought cake/pie. We then split the bill. Much of it was dried out or greasy or cold or soggy by the time it arrived. When I retired and had more time, I decided to cook a simple meal:- romaine and mesclun salad with pecans, cranberries and goat cheese, pasta and meatsauce (scratch), with crusty garlic/cheese bread and a homemade dessert. I loved the cooking, the price was no more than usual and I was so pleased. Two women took me aside, individually, and said I was was "spoiling things for everyone else" by cooking - 10 of the 12 are now retired. I explained that it was a pleasure for me to cook and that didn't change the concept of what to serve, people could do as they pleased. One of them called me a "food snob" - uuh, OK - but I have to say I felt it was unfair.

Yes, I guess by most standards, I'm pretty snobbish about food. I've found I've come to overwhelmingly prefer things like boutique chocolate, independent restaurants, farmer's market goodies and the like. I privately have myself a little cringe when my friends propose to go out to have Chinese and we end up eating cornstarchy take-out type glop. When we try something a little more exotic (Korean? If you can call that exotic), I'm usually the one IDing all the little banchan. But its really just because I grew up with all that junk and really love it, not that I strive to know it all.

I can no longer eat at your typical indifferent Japanese joint that has things like the "BMW Roll" and the "Lobster Roll with Extra Tuna and Mayo Squiggles" on the menu. The word "fusion" makes me wince.

I try to keep that side of me on the down low, only to be exposed when the person I'm with shows genuine interest. I'm kinda ashamed of preferences that seem hoity toity, even though I think the root of it all is that I like the zen simplicity of pure, natural flavors and ingredients. I much prefer a single, perfect peach to say...a sushi roll drenched in mayo.

That aside, the eating habits of your typical American really get my goat.
It's getting to be a pet peeve of mine to hear people's incredibly skewed views on food.
People who chaw on McDonalds McCAFOnuggets with great gusto but at the same time make faces and gag at the thought of eating fish with the heads still on.
Or those who think nothing of eating the flesh of dead animals but rapidly turn to kindergartners and use words like "Yucky!" and "Icky!" about offal.

Ultimately I don't really care if people are not all interested in going out of their way to getting the finest, most rarefied delicacies. I don't care if my friends are not learned about Asian cuisine.

The only thing that bothers me at the end of the day as a "foodie", is the profound lack of food culture and thus, lack of interest in what we put into our bodies to sustain ourselves.

yes i am somewhat of a food snob- but i try not to show it all the time bc well not e-one on this planet is a food snob and it can get on other ppl's nerves. but i think as much as i try to hide it, all my friends have come to realize that i'm a food snob.
the truth is that i cant help it. i've loved culinary arts since as long as i can remember. living in Paris for so many years also explains part of the story. and my swiss hotelier education explains another part too.
i cannot help but love everything that involves good high quality food prepared by creative minds. i cannot help but enjoy wine & champagne rather then a redbull-vodka on a night out.

so there are some things i wont keep rubbing in people's face, but there are others i'm very clear about: no canned food, no frozen vegetables (if possible), and no cake mixes out of a box. no waffles or croissants in the "baked goods" aisle in a food shop-there are some things that need to be eaten in the right places.

coming from a mediterranean family, there has always been a habit of cooking enough for a nation resulting in a gigantic amount of leftovers for the following X # of days. today this is probably one of the things that pisses me off the most- when i cook, i'm cooking in the right quantities. anything the next day does not taste as good, and that, i am very very picky about.

and yes, i'm picky at restaurants, but sometimes i'll keep it to myself depending on who i'm with. but i do observe all details from the cutlery to how well polished the wine & water glass are to the quality of the table cloth.

but it's all in good spirit really. it's not because i enjoy being picky, but the culinary arts is such a passion for me. i'm nothing other then a food snob that keeps her eyes, mouth, ears, hands, and nose actively in function. when something affects all your senses the way food does, you can only understand the thoughts that run in a food snob's mind.

i just feel we need to be more sensible to what we eat or cook, the way we prepare it and the way we present it. we're still human beings and stuffing "junk" down one's throat is just not human for me.

i don't think i'm a snob. i cook almost everything we eat and when we go out, we only go to a few places. if someone makes me something, i always eat it with a smile, if it's good i tell them so, if it sucks then i say it was good and try to advoid anymore at all costs. if my food sucks ed will tell me so he doesn't have to eat it again, then i put that in my @#$%^ file and when he irks me i make something from that special file with enough for his lunch. is that mean?

Like so many others, my answer is yes but also no. My mom, grams, and (some) aunts were fantastic cooks. I grew up with both high end and down home cooking. They used the best ingredients and also some pre-packaged type things. I would never use processed cheese or "potatoe flakes" but I would not thumb my nose at a cake mix.

A co-worker of mine uses nothing but "convenience" foods and when we've been over for dinner, I bring THE WHOLE DINNER!!! Her "cooking" is crap and we just can't choke anything down that she offers except for the crackers, but I wouldn't even dare eat the (processed) cheese. The excuse that I use is that she is so busy getting the house ready (NOT!) that the least I can do is provide dinner. I know its mean but after the first dinner, NO WAY! Call me a snob...

I guess I am a snob in that I don't like a lot of chains (espeically of the Olive Garden, TGI Fridays ilk) and while I have a huge sweet spot for junk food I try to avoid eating overly processed foods all the time. But I try not to be rude and judgemental to those who do enjoy that sort of food. If someone goes to the trouble of cooking for me, I'd try to be polite and thank them even if it's not really what I'd chose. Luckily enough my family enjoys cooking so I'm not stuck eating a lot of processed type dinners.

Perky - wow your family is nuts. What's the point of having a kitchen if you don't use it? Reminds me of all those celebrity home tours wherer they brag about their gorgeous kitchen that they never actually use.

@brooke29 ~ their kitchen is new. Who would install a sink that would crack with boiling water? Only someone who NEVER cooks, right? They don't even have a spider to fish out pasta and such. My gourmet cook friends want me to move in with them. I'm hoping and praying to find a room with a kitchen and bath - that's all I require. And soon. Otherwise, I'll be forced to find a sugar daddy. ;-D

Haha Pumpkinbear! Great story! I'm glad you've discovered fresh veggies!

I'm totally guilty, I laughed out loud amongst the office when I read "you call these biscuits?" haha I relate. I refuse ketchup, balogna, american hot dogs, yellow mustard--

The important thing is that you were aware of your snobbiness! So you can draw the line when it becomes extremely rude, right?

:D

@Perky--you're welcome at our house anytime, if you're ever in sunny (or foggy) CA. :) Our sink won't crack if you pour boiling water in it. Yeesh!!!

I prefer to think of myself as discerning . . .

I am a coffee snob. Everytime my brother-in-law came to our house I would offer him coffe and he'd turn it down. I was confused because I knew he was a coffee drinker. Turns out he doesn't like my high brow coffee(usually Lavazza or Illy) he only likes cheap store brand. I don't get it and he knows it. So now I don't drink his and he doesn't drink mine. It's pretty much the same with beer.