Food lovers are passionate about discovering new restaurants, avoiding big chain establishments, and sharing their opinions and recommendations. They have an understanding of the chefs, cooking styles, and methods of the restaurants they visit. They also have knowledge of the quality and origin of the food they consume. Food lovers are often interested in fashion, education, and culinary tourism. Though there is some debate about what it means to be a foodie, popular nomenclature suggests that it is someone who is informed about the restaurants and dishes of a particular area.
This became clear to me when I was out to dinner with a friend who rejected the foodie label because she disliked when people take pictures of their food. In reality, if you are willing to wait in line for hours for a donut ice cream sandwich, you are likely a food enthusiast even if you don't post a photo of it on Instagram. I recently referred to myself as a “food enthusiast” in an informal conversation at a social gathering. Many publications have food columns aimed at food lovers, and many websites bearing the name “foodie” have become popular among them. The principles that define foodies and food enthusiasts are that they delve into the whys, flavors, and combinations of foods, always looking for defining moments and unique combinations.
Foodies don't just eat a meal; they savor it and consider every aspect of the dish during the process: the ingredients used, how and where they were obtained, the preparation (and the skills related to it), the taste, texture, smell, and presentation. A foodie is someone who delights in everything related to food and seeks a high-quality experience and taste. Though not an expert in the field like a chef, a foodie revels in their novelty, almost like a child at Christmas. Ferdman says that people who associate themselves with being foodies are actually distancing themselves from the group they want to be associated with. Foodies have a strong presence on social media; they have created their own YouTube channels where they show what they cook and where they eat around the world.
A foodie is someone who has an ardent or refined interest in food, eating not only out of hunger but also as a hobby. A food enthusiast must be willing to try new foods, even if they use ingredients or cooking methods that may be unfamiliar or unappealing. Typical interests and activities of foodies include exploring the food industry, wineries and wine tasting, breweries and beer tasting, food science, tracking restaurant openings and closures (and sometimes reopenings), food distribution, food trends, health and nutrition, cooking classes, culinary tourism, and restaurant management. Choosing to eat at different restaurants is one of the main signs that you are a food enthusiast; other signs include enjoying trying new dishes when you eat out and wanting to go to the grocery store weekly rather than seeing it as a chore. Foodies know very well the food they eat; someone who loves food may not know where it comes from but still enjoys the dining experience.
