JK

"...if you are on vacation,why would you eat in your hotel room rather than out?"<BR><BR>Hmmm, let's see...to save money, to save time, because food is fuel to you and not the reason to live, because you enjoy the casual picnic fare rather than the often overly rich restaurant food.....many reasons. <BR><BR>It must be amazing to those who live to eat that others don't share their gluttonous obsession....or the waistline which often results from it. Sixty percent of Americans are overweight. That's a lot of food obsessed people.<BR><BR>And to those who found fault with the person who said he/she didn't like multiple course meals, perhaps that person is satisfied with a few spoonfuls of food, while others have no problem eating everything that is put in front of them. Personally, I neither need nor want all that food, nor do I want to spend that much time sitting on my backside. A couple of bites of yogurt and I'm good to go.<BR><BR>I suspect there are a more than a few overweight and angry people here who feel the need to criticize anyone who doesn't obsess about food.<BR>

please!

There is waaaay too much overgeneralization going on here, from the people who assume that those who want simple meals are being cheap, to those who assume that those who really want a fine meal are going for excessive quantity as opposed to quality.<BR><BR>If you come across a post that is less than polite, how about trying to raise the tone rather than stooping to meet it?<BR>

Suzy

I agree, the tone of this thread has gotten alarming. I'm very happy for everyone who has found their niche in the wide spectrum of investing time, money, thought, energy, or whatever into meals. Can't we all agree that it's a matter of personal preference?

mark

JK - "share their gluttonous obsession?" - that's a tad extreme. You sound like an angry person yourself.....maybe a eclair or two or three might do you some good.<BR><BR>The French differed between gourmand and gourmet - a gourmand was someone who was gluttonous. A person can be a gourmet and not be gluttonous.<BR><BR>I was always perlexed by those white wine reviews - "...hints of spring time apple blossoms and an undertone of licorise.." But just as I've learned to detect various nuances in color while looking at art - so has food expanded for me ( and wine) - it really is quite enjoyable.

StCirq

Yes, food is a matter of personal preference. I love food. I love to shop for food; I can esily spend half a day at an outdoor market. I love to cook food. I love to invite people over to share food. I love it when friends who cook invite me over to taste their new recipes.I love trying new restaurants - they give me ideas for things to cook at home and expand my repertoire of tastes and products. When I'm in Europe I rarely eat at fancy restaurants - maybe once per trip, and hardly ever the "big name" places. And I certainly don't plan trips around restaurants.I'm more interested in local specialties and regional cuisine that can be found in lowly establishments where the locals eat. But certainly food is one of the big things I travel for - right up there with history and scenery.Food teaches me about the culture. And when I return from a trip, I'm always armed with new ideas for cooking at home - it's a way for me of reliving and preserving trip memories.<BR>My question for the "food as fuel" advocates, is: Don't you ever just find yourself completely awed by something you've ordered in Europe? Are your taste buds never titillated beyond belief? Do you not ever say to yourself: "I've GOT to learn to make this!" or "I have to remember this and order it again." Or do you avoid new dishes entirely and just focus on what's known to you? I think travel requires a bit of "stretching" for most people, and I think a bit of "food stretching" is not a bad thing. I've seen my kids do a lot of "food stretching" in their travels, and the result has been that they are more willing to expose themselves to all kinds of unknown things, which I think is a positive attribute.

Suzy

Don't confuse us food-as-fuel types with the must-have-familiar-food types. Many of us are willing to eat almost anything, and thrive on new and weird street food, just like the locals eat, as we wander about.

Capo

Yep, food is about personal preference. And it's also important to people in varying degrees. I'm sure to some people, food is a major part of their European experience, whereas to others it's not as much of a priority. <BR><BR>I think, as the original poster here wrote, to say that people "obsess" about food puts a somewhat-pejorative spin on what is a passion for some people. <BR><BR><BR>StCirq, although I'm nowhere near as passionate about food as you seem to be, I so share your attraction to what you refer to as "lowly" establishments where the locals eat. In fact, one of my favorite pasta dishes on our recent trip to Italy was at a little trattoria in La Spezia. And we loved the simple, but delicious, food at our locanda in Siena; the woman who cooked there made a piece of pollo my girlfriend and I wanted to worship. But, in general, I'd say that, years after a trip to Europe, I remember restaurants more for their interesting atmosphere -- or an entertaining waiter -- than I do for some particular dish I ordered. Scenery, architecture and art are three things that "awe" me in Europe; food rarely has that kind of an impact.

jackie

"titillated beyond belief"? We ARE talking about food, right?

StCirq

Yes, Jackie, we are talking about food. I was "titillated beyond belief," for example, by a simple plate of linguini with fresh clams that I had at a seaside restaurant in Anzio, Italy, a couple of years ago. It has driven me mad that I can't replicate it, but I can't, because the clams aren't the same here. I can only manage a poor copy of it without the essential - the local ingredient. I guess "titillate" suggests something more sensual to you - well, I'd suggest that food and sex aren't that foreign to each other. I think that figures into the European food equation too. I don't think fast American food is particulary sexy; I do think a nice meal over a slice of foie gras and raviolis de langoustines with a glass of Cahors may end up being an evening to remember for more than the food.

SFreud

"JK'says-<BR>Hmmm, let's see...to save money, to save time, because food is fuel to you and not the reason to live, because you enjoy the casual picnic fare rather than the often overly rich restaurant food.....many reasons. <BR><BR>It must be amazing to those who live to eat that others don't share their gluttonous obsession....or the waistline which often results from it. Sixty percent of Americans are overweight. That's a lot of food obsessed people.<BR>_____________________________<BR>This seems to be written by someone who is unable to appreciate eating in a restaurant as a simple pleasure.Someone who might have some kind of complex about fat people,an anorexic perhaps? or maybe even a European who just hates Americans and equates all those people eating in the bistro that he works in as being fat,too well fed,and someone to dislike.<BR>whatever/whoever-the notion that people are "Obsessed" by food is based on the original posters question,taken from his reading of trip reports.Where people tell all details of hotels,museums,shopping and yes! food eaten while traveling! This makes him ask if Food is that important to "you"-<BR>Bill-food is important to everyone.We all eat in order to live.Some of us just like to enjoy it.While some others seem to have problems with that.<BR> You didn't ask about the "obsession" with hotels, and shopping,or is that the next post?<BR>

xxx

I'm amazed at the number of people who seem to think that if you love food and care about really good food, that means you are fat and overeat. I guess they'll never understand that there is a major difference between liking huge quantities of food and really appreciating quality of food. I am thin, have no weight problem at all and do not overeat, but I must admit that I live to eat. I would rather spend a hundred dollars for a truly spectacular tasting meal than sit and indulge in a a bunch of cheap fattening food, or cheap non-fattening food.

jackie

Well, StCirq, though I don't share your food sensibility, I admire the finesse with which you express it. <BR>

StCirq

Thanks, Jackie.<BR><BR>And while I'm at it,I will say also that I'm not fat. I walk a lot, I exercise, I am active. I don't even want to get into the correlation between being a "foodie" and being "fat." I just think food is an integral part of most people's lives and should be enjoyed as such and should be enjoyed as part of the local culture.

Lynne

<BR>The people I know who are 'foodies' are<BR>very far from being overweight because<BR>they are enjoying quality rather than<BR>quantity. IMHO seriously obese people<BR>are using food to satisfy other needs<BR>not met in their lives. <BR><BR>Not for nothing is the term 'balanced<BR>diet' valid ;-)<BR>

Lorraine

This is a great thread about people's attitudes toward food!

clairobscur

"titillated beyond belief"? We ARE talking about food, right?<BR><BR><BR>Yes, we are. The fact that you don't appreciate an excellent dish or are unable to perceive a major difference between a bland meal and an extraordinary one doesn't mean that everybody is like you.<BR><BR>There are people who visit a museum and think "oh, that's just another painting, what's the big deal?" and there are people who have a deep understanding of art history, could stay an hour just looking at an artwork in awe. There are people who are perfectly satisfied with the last canned song they heard on the radio, and there are people who could barely live without great music.<BR><BR>Is there anything you're passionated about? That you have a great knowledge of? That titillate you? Have you ever been in awe hearing, watching, feeling or doing something?<BR><BR><BR>Yes. There are many people who really appreciate food. And not just because they're snob. Because when they taste say, an industrial pate and a fine foie gras, they don't just think that the foie gras is marginnally better, but think that the difference is the same than between your 4 y.o. drawing and the work of an art student.<BR><BR>But it's so much simpler to say : since I don't or can't appreciate something, probably people who say they do appreciate it just *pretend* they appreciate it and are just *snob*.<BR><BR> How could someone be willing to spend 100$ or a meal when I'm personnally unable to notice a difference? They just want to flaunt their money. On the other hand, someone who don't understand that, for instance, there's a difference between this luxury car and this cheap one and state that both are just big boxes with wheels must be plain idiots. <BR><BR>After all, what the big deal with art, with cars, with travel, with poetry, with sightseeing, with sport, with beautiful furniture, with music, with sex? People are sooo snob!<BR><BR>There's a pleasure derived from food. A sensual pleasure. If you're unable to appreciate it,too bad for you. Stick to whatever activity you like and don't berate people who do.<BR><BR><BR>(and of course, appreciating food as nothing to do with stuffing oneself. You can stuff yourself with whatever shitty food and you can eat like a bird but only great food).<BR><BR>

clairobscur

Did I say that it's lunch time here?<BR><BR>This thread made me hungry. I'm going to stupidly waste my money and my time somewhere. Have a good day....

Sue

The Larousse Gastronomique makes it clear that disputes about food and its enjoyment are neither an unusual nor recent phenomenon. Below are some terms as defined by them. <BR><BR>(By the way, in case you’re wondering, as I was, who Brillat-Savarin was, the Larousse describes him as a late eighteenth – early nineteenth century French magistrate and gastronome [an expert on food preparation] whose lasting fame rests on a gastronomical work, la Physiologie du gout, which I think translates to Physiology of Taste.)<BR><BR>GOURMET – “Formerly, the word gourmet was never used in the inexact sense which is current nowadays. The gourmet, whose full title was courtier-gourmet-piqueur, was not a gourmand, in other words a connoisseur of good things, but rather a sworn official, charged with the duty of tasting wines and spirits….”<BR><BR>GOURMAND, GOURMANDISM, GOURMANDISE - "Many people take the word 'gourmandism' to be synonymous with ‘gluttony’. Brillat-Savarin is sternly critical of this interpretation.” [Here, they go on to quote Brillat-Savarin, as follows:]<BR><BR>“Authorities who thus interpret gourmandise have completely forgotten social gourmandise which combines the elegance of Athens, the luxury of Rome, and the delicacy of France. Such gourmandise orders with discernment, supervises with wisdom, savours with enthusiasm, judges with profundity. …..”<BR><BR>“…Gourmandise…is a passionate, rational, and and habitual preference for all [note, all] that flatters the palate….<BR>“Gourmandise is the enemy of excess; every man who gives himself indigestion or gets drunk, runs the risk of no longer being a true gourmand.” <BR><BR>Incidentally, the Larousse gives recipes on everything from dishes made with truffles, those very, very expensive fungi, to boiled beef hash, to yes, hamburgers. So as far as the ingestion of food is concerned, the Larousse makes room for all dining types.

jackie

clairobscur,<BR>I was not "berating" anyone, just amused and surprised over StCirq's choice of words. <BR><BR>Others on this thread have been pretty harsh, though, and I guess anyone naturally gets defensive when their interests are disparaged.<BR><BR>I'm an artist myself, so I understand your points. You see your food interest as an art, as well as an intense sensual pleasure. (Better and more varied than sex for many, I'm sure.)<BR><BR>I have more creative interests than I have time/money to devote to them. Maybe luckily, food/cooking isn't one of them, because I can't fit another in, unless I give up sleeping! <BR><BR>

Ken

Food was the least of my interests when I toured Europe. Some people are into food, and some people aren't.<BR><BR>My tour of Europe was a highlight of my life so far, but none of my memories of the trip include food. We ate at a few restaraunts, but we were equally as content stopping at McDonald's. (Go ahead, flame away.)<BR><BR>To each his own. I loved the museums and churches and countryside. I took a box of crackers and a jar of peanut butter with me, and some days just snacked on that because I didn't want to stop seeing things to eat!<BR><BR>(I know people who spend thousands of dollars to go on cruises because "the food is so good." It's just not my thing, but there's nothing wrong with people who enjoy that!)