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I find it more funny than anything. I know quite a few people that will rant for hours about buying humanely raised, free range whatever and then get a disgusted look on their face when they find out SO and I hunt and some years we live almost completely on that meat. Like anything raised on a farm, however humane, is anywhere near what wild is.

I think a "foodie" is someone who enjoys cooking and eating a wide variety of foods. Just because you eat this or don't eat that or know how to cook this or wouldn't dream of using that ingredient doesn't make you any better than anyone else. It's all relative. Some people love to cook. Some don't. Some people love to try new things. Others do not. So what? I'm happy to enjoy the things that interest me and I don't care what anyone else thinks. I like coming to this site and reading people's comments who have similar interests to my own but this isn't high school. Anyone out there who thinks they're better for whatever reason needs to grow up! This is supposed to be fun. Not some kind of competition.

"I think there's room for all types" - I agree completely.

Honestly, I think that a foodie is just someone that loves food, and that can take shape in any number of limitless ways. Everyone has their own passion and aversions. That's what makes it so interesting, too, though. I may be more of a baker than anything else, but I still enjoy learning about how to butcher meat properly and what the latest technique (sou vide, for instance) does for flavor or texture or whatnot.

And although I love sushi and other "high-end" foods (that, of course, is when you ask my relatives, who think that things like sushi are a little pretentious), I still satisfy my cravings for KFC mashed potatoes and gravy (so addicting) and Kraft Dinner.

So, really, although sometimes it can get a little preachy, or pretenious-sounding, it is still fun to learn about all the different types of foodies out there, and I think that it is nice that a place like SE allows for all types, and I can read blogs about everything from wok-frying chicken (recent string) to whether or not mayo works well on a sandwich (try greek yoghurt spread thinly, it's fantastic - also as a substitute in tuna salad). I just love that!

You know what? I honestly just love to read everyone's thoughtful, interesting, educated, snarky and down right hilarious responses to things! I wish I knew all of you in real life!!!! Awww.......LOL

There are nuts in every camp. I was once given a very stern lecture by a woman when I said that I needed my car for work. (She had given up her car and used her bike exclusively.) Without knowing what I did, she proceeded to tell me how I could work it out, if I really wanted to. Um, no.

I was also given the same sort of lecture when I said that I ate locally as much as possible, but that when things weren't growing, it was sorta hard to eat local. Snow is not very nutritious. And I got a lecture about going to greenmarkets, blah blah blah. Yeah, if there was such a thing. No idea what it really is -- we've got the farmer's markets when the farms are producing, but just the regular grocery stores otherwise. I'm not going to subsist on potatoes and turnips rotting away in my garage all winter, so I buy non-local veggies when there are no local ones.

So yeah, there are people who get up on their soapboxes and preach about their particular passions. But there are a lot more people who are passionate without being judgemental, and that's a lot more fun.

Oh, yes. Food is not the stuff of moral superiority. I understand some people see sustainability or veganism or something as a moral issue and that's fine, but when people see their passion for x type of food as something to make them superior to others, it gets tedious fast.

The arguments are particularly amusing when it centers around the word "authentic." Some people will say they've eaten in restaurants all over x country, and this is what it is, others will cite a grandmother's recipe, and others will chime in about when particular vegetables crossed some body of water in what year.

In the end, unless I'm going for the historical version of a dish, I'm less concerned about authenticity than I am about taste. Yeah, sometimes I like to delve into the history of a dish, and sometimes I want to try to recreate an old recipe, but that's my choice at that particular time. If I want to make an unauthentic current version, that doesn't make it "not good." It just means that someone's pre-columbian grandmother didn't shop at the same supermarket I do.

I have to admit that as a foodie, I'm always talking about all the great food I make. I had no idea that I came off as a snob until a friend of mine came over to my house and saw the pizza box in the trash. She gave a huge sigh in relief. I never realized that in my gusto for telling stories about my cooking, I never talked about the nights I am too tired to cook and just order delivery. After my friend realized that I wasn't perfect and that I didn't always cook from scratch she became more comfortable sharing cooking stories with me.

Interesting question as I thought about the Paula Deen bashing re her deep-fried bacon-wrapped mac & cheese. We are a society that doesn't know what to do with itself unless someone's on the bottom and someone's on the top. I love foie gras, but also enjoy Kraft Mac & Cheese. I love Veuve Clicquot and had a lovely Spanish cava at my wedding. I enjoy reading all the opinions here, elitist and commoner. Food is food, and maybe we need to just lighten up.

I used to be an elitist, until I realized I'm more intelligent than that.

@Luna I love your sense of humor!!!!
Does it make me an elitst if I dont like something everyone else likes? everyone seems to think I'm an elitst because I genuinely dont like fast food or kraft mac and cheese .

I ate quite a bit of fast food as a kid, but have since lost my taste for it. I also don't like mac n' cheese, blue boxed or not. However, I eat many grab and go meals and while nutrition and food quality is important to me, it's not my whole life. I doubt I would qualify as a foodie, since I consider any cooking knowledge I have to be a work in progress. However, just because, as @huneybumper says, someone doesn't like your 'guilty pleasure' doesn't necessarily mean they are a snob.

Big Mac: 0
Butterfinger fun size:1
Is my score card.

What I find incredible is the "elitist" bloggers often make newbie mistakes.
I watch all these hugely followed bloggers do stuff like not add basil to simple pasta sauce, add breakfast sausage to lasagne, makes beautiful muffins that fall apart when unmolded, baking group blog screwed up a cake so simple because they (collectively) misinterpreted a single ingredient.
Now I am not saying that I do not respect these food bloggers, they take LOVELY pictures and they work harder than I ever care to taking the time to try recipes and create buzzworthy trends. These trends often based on books someone sent them for free to "try out". Working to create attention to their blogs which may turn into a cookbook deal. More power to them. But I am a food snob and when I see newb mistakes I just shake my head and think if I were doing this I would ...blah...blah...yadda...yadda...
It takes all kinds of people to make this foodie community. Free cookbooks, bloggers, elitist or otherwise and an audience with a love of good food. There is room for everyone in this thing. If we discuss something you feel is elitist, SAY SO. I often am glad to explain anything to anyone.
Also I give my opinion on food quite readily and call bull shit when I feel the need.

I haven't noticed a notable increase in sarcasm, to be honest, especially in threads that are about 'help' rather than cultural trends.

However, @JerzeeTomato, even if we don't always agree, I like a person with strong opinions! To paraphrase Alice Roosevelt: "If you don't have anything nice to say about Cool Whip, sit next to me."

Sweetie pie - what you're describing is a snob not a foodie. Foodies derive way too much pleasure from sharing even the most plebian meal with another person to be considered "elitist."

Yes, I love my lobster and creme brulee but I also swoon for a perfectly grilled, thick, juicy burger and (God forgive me) the perfect French Fries. These are hardly shee shee foods. The fact that I enjoy them when they are of the highest quality and correctly prepared makes me a person with working tastebuds, not an elitist.

Here is the best example I can give you of the difference between a foodie and a snob. A snob drops the name of a restaurant like Per Se because it's the toughest reservation this side of the Mississippi. A foodie might bring up Per Se because the Suckling Pig Porchetta was a religious experience, danced on the tongue, and gave the throat an orgasm all the way down.

All I know is that I am better than everybody here and just happen to know everything.... Just ask me!

BTW... the doctor says I'm getting much better and will soon be off my meds. Although it may be some time before they let me go "outside".

I'm happy to be a foodie, because to me it's someone who loves to cook and is not afraid to try new, off-the-wall foods, tools, and techniques. That being said, I'm not ashamed to say I eat fast food, or make Hamburger Helper in a pinch like I did 2 nights ago. Being a foodie is having a love of all things food, and the satisfaction you get in making and enjoying it.

Have been thinking about this more. Sometimes people get so excited about the way a certain life change (e.g. dietary) has improved things for them that they become a bit of a proselytizer when discussing it, without actually having the motive of proving superiority. E.g. if giving up dairy cleared up your skin, or giving up refined sugar stopped your migraines (the latter did for my bf), you might be a little overenthusiastic when talking about it, encouraging others to do the same thing. It's natural to want to share what, for you, have been positive developments, with others, and it's possible to go overboard and seem like you have the wrong motives.

If someone says "I can't afford to eat local" or "I don't have time to cook for myself," and I answer with some ways that I've been able to afford local food on my tiny-for-NYC salary and have managed to cook my own meals despite my more-than-full-time work schedule, I'm not trying to prove superiority, just trying to make helpful suggestions. But someone who's sensitive to the issue can interpret friendly advice as a superiority trip, and I need to be careful about the way I express things for that reason. It's a two-way street that everyone comes onto with different baggage.

This exact thing happened to me last weekend when I went to Bedford Cheese Shop looking for a certain cheese. I expected a snobby attitude and interpreted the counter-person's responses as snobby, when now I realize they might have just been genuine suggestions. This used to happen all the time when I worked at the record store. So much is about the expectations you bring to the table, and realizing that is important for both sides in a discussion.

@serious1. Nope. Just my name. Short for Michelle. My last initial and of course....Im the one and only.

@olddad.....sigh. Hysterical. Please absolutely insert an incredibly high level of sarcasm right about here____________.

I try to be tolerant of differences. My mother thinks I'm a snob because I choose fresh lemons over lemon juice in the green bottle and fresh Parmesan rather than stuff in the green can (what's with the green containers?). I do shudder a little when I'm in the grocery store and see young people with young children and carts full of junk - sweetened juice products, processed meats, boxes of "fast" food, soft drinks, snack foods - but rarely anything fresh or any produce. I cannot imagine it is cheaper to eat that way and it is so sad that these people are eating in such an unhealthy way.

@ AlBee - very well put. I'm tired of people excusing their rudeness by saying "I have strong opinions about food". So do I, but I refuse to make someone else feel small/stupid/unhip by presenting them in the "this is what I think and if you don't agree you're an idiot" manner. I grew up watching Julia Child, Martin Yan and Graham Kerr. I don't remember hearing a negative or elitist comment from them (well, except the day that Julia threw a long loaf of bread over her shoulder because it didn't have a good crust, but that was more funny than elitist). The first time I saw Jeff Smith (the Frugal Gourmet) he was demonstrating a very expensive duck press. He then said such fancy tools were nice but unnecessary and pressed another duck with a coffee can and brick. I learned a lot about cooking from him, most importantly that it's supposed to be fun and not to take it, or myself, so seriously. And yes, I'm aware of Rev. Smith's legal issues later in life. If it's true, it's a terrible, unforgivable thing that he did.

My sister is one of those people who will make rude, mean comments or remarks to people. ("I wouldn't serve this to my dog." "Nobody who's educated eats this anymore.") When called on it, she excuses it by saying "I'm only being honest" or "I have strong opinions on the subject". Very well, but that's also why I spend as little time with her as humanly possible.

I think that meanness and rudeness is becoming more pervasive because it's become socially acceptable to act that way. Spend a few minutes watching reality television. People are routinely sarcastic, mean and cruel to each other. Why should food shows/websites/blogs be any different? The only thing that you can do is not waste your time on them. I still come to SE, but a lot less often than I used to. I'm selective about which authors I read and don't usually bother with the comments.

meem21 at 10:56AM on 04/15/09

tells my point of view as well.

STAY STRONG AND STAY HUNGRY!

Totally, and its crossed my mind that those who are the most obsessed with "foodieism" are making up for something. Who cares about justifying what you like? Snobs in general are annoying.