I'm a very sensual person (in the purest, most non-sexual sense!). When shopping for clothes, I'm constantly touching the fabrics, not just looking at styles I like. I love perfume. I pamper myself in small, inexpensive ways. This sensualism extends to my relationship with food. I'm a dedicated foodie, but not in the "snobby" sense; if something is cheap, rustic, and delicious, I'm ALL for it! At home, I spend a lot of time cooking and baking because I truly enjoy it. Today, for the first time ever, I sucessfully made some beautiful French-style tarts (pear-frangipane and strawberry). I like looking at whatever I've made, and tasting it too of course, and thinking "my god - I did that!" It also gives me pleasure to provide great-tasting food for my family (which, at the moment, consists of my husband only), to know that I can take a bunch of raw ingredients and turn them into something sublime.

That said, I only cook 3 or 4 times a week and we eat out/get take-out the rest of the time. I just don't feel like cooking every night, particularly if it's after a busy or tiring day. Which is why I most especially enjoy eating at a good restaurant when I travel. I'm typically very tired from going-going-going all day long and there's nothing I like more than spending a wonderful 2 hours lingering over a delicious meal, a nice bottle of wine, and good coversation with my hubby (typically about everything we saw that day and what we want to do next and cultural tidbits and differences we've noticed). I love the European habit of eating dinner late; it ends the day/night on such a pleasant and comforting note and allows me some "processing" time, time to be calm and relax, before going to bed. I wouldn't say that eating good food is the #1 reason I travel, BUT it is the #1 thing I most enjoy when I'm actually on vacation.

Keep in mind, too, that some people are supposedly "super-tasters" who can taste food on another level from most people. I'm not saying I'm one of those (how would you ever find that out?!), but I can say that when someone doesn't relish food as much as I do and only looks at it as fuel, I am completely befuddled, perplexed, and feel almost sorry for that person. On the other hand, those same people feel the same way about me! They wonder why I care so much, and feel sorry that I "waste" so much time eating. Everyone's different.

I have to echo what robjame wrote about understanding French culture through food.

My son is leaving Wednesday for a 10-day exchange program in Bayeux where he'll be living with a French family. He's been emailing back and forth with the boy he's going to be living with for the past week, and I swear the very first question the French kid asked him was "What kinds of foods do you like to eat?" My son wrote back and said " J'adore toute la cuisine francaise." French kid writes back "Really?? Have you had escargots?" Son writes back "Oui, et foie gras et langoustines et magret de canard et fromage bleu d' avergne..." and so forth...then says his favorites are cornichons and rabbit and those big red French radishes and cabecou....

And they went on back and forth about food for a good three days....THEN they got to talking about music and their favorite rock groups. That would NEVER happen here between two teenage boys. Ever.

I remember watching the tonight show long ago when Johnny Carson & Ed McMahon were discussing this very thing. Johnny said he didn't care one whit about food and only ate to survive. Ed was obviously, on the polar opposite planet, obssessing over the next meal before he had finished the first. Interesting perspectives both of them.

StCirq - that's a great story!!

I guess I fall into that category that likes to have a nice meal, which can as easily be at a country creperie as in a Michelin starred place.

What I would HATE is getting mundane (or worse food). A good sandwich could do it. But it would have to be GOOD.

"To which I ask: Have you ever been to a restaurant that just blew you away? That changed the way you think about food?"

Sure. But I don't understand your point. I've occasionally been ecstatic over heavenly food in a restaurant -- that's not the same as living to eat.

I was objecting to a rather silly saying, not saying there's no such thing as loving a wonderful meal.

I wouldn't say I "live to eat", but I really should say that I "travel to eat". I find these days I spend more time finding out about local foods and doing some research on restaurants as I do museums or churches in the area. And when walking in a foreign city, one eye is always checking out the restaurants we pass as I want to find a "great place" for dinner or lunch.

I don't tjink I am a foodie exactly as i am picky but I look forward to certain foods in Certain countries. I love French stinky cheese...best in france :-) I also love how pizza is made in italy...much nicer than in Ireland and actually cheaper with a bottle of wine that what I pay ghere. I have eaten amazing ravioli in Italy that I have not tasted anything like it since. I like the different atmosphere of places and seeiong how people do things differently (this also goes to cooking and eating) every culture has some sort of identity or history linked to food.

As the original poster I want to thank those of you who responded. Just goes to show that we are different with our values. I would like to make clear two points. I do have a high regard for people, like Sheila, who take pride in the preparation of a meal for friends and family. We have a nice evening meal together each night, generally small portions of chicken or beef with veggies and salad. After all a good diet is important.
Now, on the other hand, when I am doing my inane British train travels I am quite happy with a previously made sandwich and a beer. Most evening meals will be at a pub. Some of these pub meals will be good while others not. The last point is I like train travel and being on the go. I do not expect others to enjoy it and quite frankly I don't care a hoot if they don't.

So, enjoy what ever it is that you take pleasure in. Food is good but train travel and stale sandwiches are better. :)