Is "Foodie" really a four-letter word?

As a fairly new member to CH I have been very excited to read about all this site has to offer. I am enjoying everything from the blogs to the recipes to the articles. But I was particularly stunned by most peoples' negative reference to the word "foodie". I've been calling myself a "foodycat" (my maiden name is Catalano) for close to 15 years, simply to describe my love affair with great food. How and why is it that the majority of CH's blogs I have read have morphed this term into something ugly?

Webster's dictionary define's a "foodie" as "a person with a particular interest in food, or a gourmet", which is defined as "a connoisseur of fine food; a person with a discerning palate". Isn't that the foundation of anyone seeking higher culinary experiences?

My first recollection of the word foodie simply meant someone REALLY into food, and I believe it existed purely to describe those who loved all/any aspects of it: cooking it, learning about it, eating it, writing about it, reading about it, exploring it, seeking it. The word existed long before the cliche'. How did it become a generic term that defines a shallow interest in food? Have we gotten so snobby that we have risen above the basic element here? It's FOOD, really great FOOD in any setting, price range, city we can get it, or kitchen we make it.

I consider myself a foodie, but not the way described in CH's manifesto. Zagat is not my food bible, just a resource, just like CH is also a resource, different, but still just a resource. Last time I ate what I was told I was about 14. I don't eagerly follow trends; my natural curiosity and excitement for the most exceptional food out there drives this bus.

I won't stop using the term foodie (or feel bad about it) just because it's been cranked so far off it's original base by.......who knows? Maybe it's time we grabbed it by the pasta strands and cranked it back into place. If you love all aspects of really great food, you're a food-ie even if you don't admit it.

foodycat in Not About Food

Old vs. new Manifesto.... why the changes?

As a fairly new member to CH I have been very excited to read about all this site has to offer. I am enjoying everything from the blogs to the recipes to the articles. But I was particularly stunned by most peoples' negative reference to the word "foodie". I've been calling myself a "foodycat" (my maiden name is Catalano) for close to 15 years, simply to describe my love affair with great food. How and why is it that the majority of CH's blogs I have read have morphed this term into something ugly?

Webster's dictionary define's a "foodie" as "a person with a particular interest in food, or a gourmet", which is defined as "a connoisseur of fine food; a person with a discerning palate". Isn't that the foundation of anyone seeking higher culinary experiences?

My first recollection of the word foodie simply meant someone REALLY into food, and I believe it existed purely to describe those who loved any aspect of it: cooking it, eating it, writing about it, reading about it, exploring it, seeking it. The word existed long before the cliche'. How did it become a generic term that defines a shallow interest in food? Have we gotten so snobby that we have risen above the basic element here? It's FOOD, really great FOOD in any setting, price range, and city we can get it, or make it.

I won't stop using that term (or feeling bad about it) just because it's been cranked so far off it's original base by.......whoever. Maybe it's time we grabbed it by the pasta strands and cranked it back into place. If you love really great food, you're a food-ie even if you don't admit it.

foodycat in Site Talk

help--ideas for mint

There is a really great recipe on foodnetwork.com for fresh honeydew minted limeade. I've made it several times and it's always a hit.
Also, I like to put it in couscous: saute chopped onion or shallots, substitute OJ for the water, and throw in chopped mint, chopped dried apricots, and toasted pistachios after it's cooked. Serve at any temp

foodycat in Home Cooking