After reading “When Did People Start Spending 25% of Their Paychecks on Pickled Lamb’s Tongues?”, an essay by Michael Idov from ‘Food Matters’ I have been persuaded that “foodie” culture makes food into a luxury item; changing the way food is perceived culturally. A foodie is best described as, "somebody with a strong interest in learning about and eating good food who is not employed in the food industry." (Khan, Social Forces), the influence of foodies in the food industry has changed the culture surrounding food, much like how consumers have in the past.
Everyone eats, and as stated by Fukuoka in his essay “Living by Bread Alone”, “Eating meals with family and friends has long been a tradition in most cultures” (Fukuoka 88). Foodies, however, …show more content…
The social stigma produced by foodies surrounding food through creative means such as blogging, has in my opinion, turned food consumption into, an optional hobby. Idov provides an example of few of his foodie acquaintances as showing a now normalized set of rituals pertaining to food. Upon being served their food “Marcos snaps quick photos of each dish as it is placed on the table” (Idov 101). All of the patrons in Idov’s essay are totally absorbed in their food. While this total absorption and hobbyist view of food and fine dining is mainstream now, as Idov points out, “One of the main hallmarks of twenty-something life...has traditionally been not to give a shit what and where you eat” (Idov 102). Now, with food being all the rage and patrons such as Marcos, the view of the practicality of food has shifted, “Food is now viewed as a legitimate option for a hobby, a topic of endless discussion, a playground for one-upmanship, and a measuring stick of cool” (Idov 102). Idov points out that a large majority of today’s “twenty-somethings” participate in this hobbyist attack on food by ordering from “secret menus” changes the culture the food …show more content…
just as the consumers of soul food in the 60’s has in the past. As an example, view Starbucks. A critically acclaimed coffee shop empire that is associated with hipsters and twenty-somethings that are overly obsessed with their morning Frappuccino or ordering off of a not so secret ‘secret menu’ to try the trending beverage of the season. Starbucks, and the culture forced upon by its consumers has made the company famous for its overpriced, poorly flavored coffees and illiterate baristas (at least when it comes to spelling customers’ names). This cultured change from morning coffee, the average cup of joe, to an over-priced, grossly altered in flavor, luxury that not everyone can afford. Foodies are now responsible for overthrowing mainstream cultured food and changing its culture just as consumers in the 60’s, and previous eras
Everyone eats, and as stated by Fukuoka in his essay “Living by Bread Alone”, “Eating meals with family and friends has long been a tradition in most cultures” (Fukuoka 88). Foodies, however, …show more content…
The social stigma produced by foodies surrounding food through creative means such as blogging, has in my opinion, turned food consumption into, an optional hobby. Idov provides an example of few of his foodie acquaintances as showing a now normalized set of rituals pertaining to food. Upon being served their food “Marcos snaps quick photos of each dish as it is placed on the table” (Idov 101). All of the patrons in Idov’s essay are totally absorbed in their food. While this total absorption and hobbyist view of food and fine dining is mainstream now, as Idov points out, “One of the main hallmarks of twenty-something life...has traditionally been not to give a shit what and where you eat” (Idov 102). Now, with food being all the rage and patrons such as Marcos, the view of the practicality of food has shifted, “Food is now viewed as a legitimate option for a hobby, a topic of endless discussion, a playground for one-upmanship, and a measuring stick of cool” (Idov 102). Idov points out that a large majority of today’s “twenty-somethings” participate in this hobbyist attack on food by ordering from “secret menus” changes the culture the food …show more content…
just as the consumers of soul food in the 60’s has in the past. As an example, view Starbucks. A critically acclaimed coffee shop empire that is associated with hipsters and twenty-somethings that are overly obsessed with their morning Frappuccino or ordering off of a not so secret ‘secret menu’ to try the trending beverage of the season. Starbucks, and the culture forced upon by its consumers has made the company famous for its overpriced, poorly flavored coffees and illiterate baristas (at least when it comes to spelling customers’ names). This cultured change from morning coffee, the average cup of joe, to an over-priced, grossly altered in flavor, luxury that not everyone can afford. Foodies are now responsible for overthrowing mainstream cultured food and changing its culture just as consumers in the 60’s, and previous eras