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food·ie
/ˈfo͞odē/
According to the dictionary, Foodie is an informal noun and is defined as someone with a particular interest in food, or a gourmet.
I’ve thought of myself as a foodie since the first time I heard the term used.
My first unofficial small business was launched when I was eleven. I bought slabs of Nestle milk chocolate from Sally’s Cake and Candy Supply, melted it down, and molded it into various shapes depending on the time of year. Suckers were a quarter, boxes of 12 small pieces were a dollar. Was I charging enough? Probably not, but I was hooked. I took a cake decorating class at my local Michael’s store when I was fourteen. The next youngest person in the class was a mom in her thirties (I don’t remember her name, but she was awesome.) I took the basic cooking classes that my schools offered in seventh grade at the junior high and ninth grade at the high school. I wanted to attend culinary school, but life got in the way.
My first official licensed business was Mrs. Thurman’s Home Baking. My kitchen was inspected just like a restaurant, and I baked for craft shows, special orders, a few weddings (but I hated making wedding cakes), catered a funeral for a friend’s husband, and I don’t even want to think about how many hundreds of dozens of Christmas cookies I cranked out for cookie trays.
I read cookbooks for fun. I peruse restaurant menus online, not only to see if I want to dine there, but also to get recipe ideas. I want a cow so that I can have raw milk to make cheese. You get the idea.
This blog is called Retrogirl’s Kitchen because my business is called Retro Daddio. Retrogirl is a nickname that I was given by some of my customers and it just stuck. Frankly, I dig it. So in addition to the geeky posts and small business posts, you’ll see a lot of food posts because it’s my passion. Luckily, I have a wonderful husband who is also a foodie and we get to explore this wonderful world of food together!
So imagine our surprise a few weeks ago when we sat down to watch television after dinner and found a documentary called Foodies! Obviously, this was something that we had to watch. This show was all about people who have a lot of money, and who travel the world to dine at restaurants who have three Michelin stars so they can review them. Some people seemed to do it for the joy of food, but there was also a discussion about the status it brings and wanting to be an influencer, to be admired, and to have chefs fear you. Say what???
Here’s the thing–I love reviewing restaurants because if I love something, I want other people to know about it. I want people to support that business, that restaurant, that author. I want to share my experiences with others so they can maybe have the same love for the same thing/place/dish/book/whatever. If we go somewhere and we don’t like the food or the service, or whatever, we simply don’t write a review. Everyone can have an off day. We’ll usually give a place another try unless it was REALLY bad, in which case we won’t go back, but we won’t publicly bash it.
I also reject the idea that being a foodie is a title that’s reserved for people with deep pockets. Do you love food? Do you love reading about food? Creating food? Growing food? Writing about food? Talking about food? Trying different cuisines, different restaurants, different techniques? Do you plan at least some of your travel around where you want to eat or drink?
Guess what? You’re a foodie!
We might be everyday foodies instead of elite ones, but I’m good with that.
So what’s your definition of a foodie? Does foodie have to be synonymous with food snob? I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments.
Well, I would guess I’m a foodie. My best friend and I love trying different places and cuisines. If you haven’t been to Corey’s Country Kitchen on Richmond Road- go! It’s a fabulous soul food place, and my food crush. I tried Zaxby’s for the first time while in Raleigh last weekend. Meh, but I tried it and I wasn’t unhappy with it. So… it’s good.
I think you know that ours is a foodie family! Ma started teaching me to cook when I was 18 months old. I’ve made cheese from scratch, butchered my own meat, baked my own bread from scratch using a sourdough starter older than us… And I made sure I found a partner in crime with suitably similar tendencies: Last summer, my darling Bride and I planned our entire vacation around driving to Lafayette, Louisiana to eat a sandwich she saw on PBS at 4:30 one Sunday morning. (And included a pilgrimage to Avery Island!) And we’ve managed to raise an enormous kid who is planning to open a restaurant… Food isn’t just a way to sustain life, it’s a reason to live!
And the fact that you and your Sweetie are of the tribe, too, is only one reason that we’re so glad to know and love you guys!
Well, I would guess I’m a foodie. My best friend and I love trying different places and cuisines. If you haven’t been to Corey’s Country Kitchen on Richmond Road- go! It’s a fabulous soul food place, and my food crush. I tried Zaxby’s for the first time while in Raleigh last weekend. Meh, but I tried it and I wasn’t unhappy with it. So… it’s good.
I think you know that ours is a foodie family! Ma started teaching me to cook when I was 18 months old. I’ve made cheese from scratch, butchered my own meat, baked my own bread from scratch using a sourdough starter older than us… And I made sure I found a partner in crime with suitably similar tendencies: Last summer, my darling Bride and I planned our entire vacation around driving to Lafayette, Louisiana to eat a sandwich she saw on PBS at 4:30 one Sunday morning. (And included a pilgrimage to Avery Island!) And we’ve managed to raise an enormous kid who is planning to open a restaurant… Food isn’t just a way to sustain life, it’s a reason to live!
And the fact that you and your Sweetie are of the tribe, too, is only one reason that we’re so glad to know and love you guys!
FOODIES, NOT SNOOTIES!
YES!!! I love this so much!!!