Oh How the Mighty Have Fallen...
Apr 26th, 2004, 05:09 PM
#81
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Mathieu, as I see it, there is no black and white definition to the term "food snob" and plenty of room for gray. I stand firmly by my definition.
I absolutely have no time for <i>food snobs</i> who care only for pedigree products and/or ingredients, or for the "name" person or place of preparation. They're simply snobs and nothing more.
<i>Value</i> is another subject and usually is relative to the budget and experience of the person eating.
Pedigree may count for much when judging a gateau, chocolate mousse, creme anglaise, or a lobster bisque (or anything French for that matter) but there are thousands of classic meals where pedigree ingredients don't make the dish taste better. Oftentimes, ketchup is the only thing that works.
Some of the best macaroni and cheese I've ever eaten was made with a low-brow cheddar. Everyone who knows a great hamburger knows the secret is non-pedigree ground chuck with 20-30% fat content. Even cheeze-whiz has its place when we speak of the best potato pierogi I've ever eaten.
<i>A lust for flavor</i> is my definition of "food snob" and I don't care who made it or how pedigree the ingredients are. =D>
I absolutely have no time for <i>food snobs</i> who care only for pedigree products and/or ingredients, or for the "name" person or place of preparation. They're simply snobs and nothing more.
<i>Value</i> is another subject and usually is relative to the budget and experience of the person eating.
Pedigree may count for much when judging a gateau, chocolate mousse, creme anglaise, or a lobster bisque (or anything French for that matter) but there are thousands of classic meals where pedigree ingredients don't make the dish taste better. Oftentimes, ketchup is the only thing that works.
Some of the best macaroni and cheese I've ever eaten was made with a low-brow cheddar. Everyone who knows a great hamburger knows the secret is non-pedigree ground chuck with 20-30% fat content. Even cheeze-whiz has its place when we speak of the best potato pierogi I've ever eaten.
<i>A lust for flavor</i> is my definition of "food snob" and I don't care who made it or how pedigree the ingredients are. =D>
Apr 26th, 2004, 07:29 PM
#82
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I've been reading this thread with interest and amusement - it's always fun to see Europhiles falling on the gastronomically incorrect with glad cries of "Gotcha, peasant!".
I was going to stay out of it, but I can't let pass GSteed's statement that McDs "consistently sells the best coffee in the world". Since when? They don't even sell the best coffee in America.
And asking "If it didn't taste so good why is it so popular?" makes as much sense as asking "If Rupert Murdoch's newspapers weren't fair, accurate and thoughtful, why are they so popular?"
I was going to stay out of it, but I can't let pass GSteed's statement that McDs "consistently sells the best coffee in the world". Since when? They don't even sell the best coffee in America.
And asking "If it didn't taste so good why is it so popular?" makes as much sense as asking "If Rupert Murdoch's newspapers weren't fair, accurate and thoughtful, why are they so popular?"
Apr 26th, 2004, 08:11 PM
#83
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I did love the above "Gotcha peasant" line.
And, I seriously doubt that anyone eating fries at McDonald's would be interested in NYFoodSnob's [the name he has chosen as a moniker on this site says it all] opinion about creme anglaise or chocolate mousse.
Gotcha peasant is right!
And, I seriously doubt that anyone eating fries at McDonald's would be interested in NYFoodSnob's [the name he has chosen as a moniker on this site says it all] opinion about creme anglaise or chocolate mousse.
Gotcha peasant is right!
Apr 26th, 2004, 08:48 PM
#84
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I, too, have been following the thread with some amusement. I would have to agree with Mathieu that le snobbisme contains an element of condecension by its very nature.
What I find ironic is that in its infancy, going to McDonald's was itself a form of snobbery. When I was a kid it was a BIG deal to eat out at a McD's...my how times change...
What I find ironic is that in its infancy, going to McDonald's was itself a form of snobbery. When I was a kid it was a BIG deal to eat out at a McD's...my how times change...
Apr 26th, 2004, 09:11 PM
#85
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Reminds me of a great arguement I read when it was argued that "Titanic" deserved picure of the year because it was the most watched movie. Someone said that would be like giving a Nobel Prize to the inventor of Dipity-Do (hair gel).
Apr 27th, 2004, 02:47 AM
#87
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I grew up with foreign parents in America and hated having my cooked dinner every night. I wanted to eat McD's BK etc. like the other kids. We used to sneak out before dinner and go to BK (Big Brother was practicing his driving). Looking back I was fed good fresh food at home but I went to the dark side for a while because it was new to me.
As an adult I soon got sick of it as I hate the "fake" taste of a lot of fast food as most are full of additives and things that make it fresher for longer.
I grew up on homemade chips (fries) when the kids at school thought they came from the supermarket.
Once in a while its ok but in another country I prefer to try sandwiches and rolls that are tasty and different from what I get here.
As an adult I soon got sick of it as I hate the "fake" taste of a lot of fast food as most are full of additives and things that make it fresher for longer.
I grew up on homemade chips (fries) when the kids at school thought they came from the supermarket.
Once in a while its ok but in another country I prefer to try sandwiches and rolls that are tasty and different from what I get here.
Apr 27th, 2004, 03:48 AM
#88
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rexxx!!!hahaha...
"Yes, they care so much about freshness in France, that the minute you order, they go slice a fresh burger off the cow chained up outside."
...and then after they ate they go and poo next to the same cow...
))
"Yes, they care so much about freshness in France, that the minute you order, they go slice a fresh burger off the cow chained up outside."
...and then after they ate they go and poo next to the same cow...
))
Apr 27th, 2004, 07:24 AM
#90
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I actually regret not letting my kids have a quick snack at the McDonald's near the Arc de Triomphe. They wanted to but I was trying to be oh so correct. It would have been fun for them and they would have quit asking for food for a while. (I had actually eaten at that McDonalds 15 years before when I was hungy and time was very short.)
I've also eaten at McDonald's somewhere in Belgium (Brugge?), Vienna and at the border between two central European nations. In all cases it was a matter of time...needing to eat very quickly.
At home, I admit that my kids love McDonalds, but don't get it very often. If I take them, I'll get a fruit and yogurt parfait, although I admit that I sneek a few of their fries. (And since I've come back from Paris, I add even more calories and fat by dipping them in mayonaise!)
I've also eaten at McDonald's somewhere in Belgium (Brugge?), Vienna and at the border between two central European nations. In all cases it was a matter of time...needing to eat very quickly.
At home, I admit that my kids love McDonalds, but don't get it very often. If I take them, I'll get a fruit and yogurt parfait, although I admit that I sneek a few of their fries. (And since I've come back from Paris, I add even more calories and fat by dipping them in mayonaise!)
Apr 27th, 2004, 07:28 AM
#91
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have you ever heard that McD's cook with river fishes? the same fishes you can see or cannot see (it depends) in the Tevere river (Rome) and Arno river (Florence). I saw McD's waitresses fishing during the night!!
Ha ha
Ha ha
Apr 27th, 2004, 07:44 AM
#92
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I changed from church clothes to casual attire at the McD's at the Tower of London, and my husband had a cup of coffee at the one on the Champs d'Elysee. Peasants to the end, I suppose, but we <i>didn't</i> wear white walking shoes. Can that be considered a mitigating circumstance?
Apr 27th, 2004, 08:13 AM
#93
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"And, I seriously doubt that anyone eating fries at McDonald's would be interested in NYFoodSnob's...opinion about creme anglaise or chocolate mousse." [my post]
"What little you know, snob dear." [NYFoodSnob's snobby riposte]
Again, anyone who would pick a moniker like NYFoodSnob for a name instantly--in my opinion--has nothing to contribute but put downs.
I am a proud member of the card carrying peasant class!
"What little you know, snob dear." [NYFoodSnob's snobby riposte]
Again, anyone who would pick a moniker like NYFoodSnob for a name instantly--in my opinion--has nothing to contribute but put downs.
I am a proud member of the card carrying peasant class!
Apr 27th, 2004, 09:59 AM
#94
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I confess too - I shared an order of fries and a large, CHOCK FULL OF ICE Coke with a friend at the McD's in Brussels, while hearing friend's McDonald Adventures around the World and he swears the best Big Mac is in Russia... while I crunched on all that wonderful ICE in the cup...
Apr 27th, 2004, 11:13 AM
#95
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I?m gratified to see that my post garnered so many and varied responses.
I popped in to a McDonalds in Earls Court (London) only 3 or 4 years ago and an employee told me that that reason the fries were so good there (better than American, I thought) was that they still cook them in lard. I?ve since been told that is not true, but still that?s what he told me.
I ate a quick bite once at the Tower of London Mickey D and found the food horrible and really pricey, in a relative sort of way. (In other words, I could have had a real meal for what I spent on a burger, fries, and soft drink).
Once when coming back from Paris my friend and I were peckish but nearly out of Euros. I was headed back to England and didn?t want to break pounds. We had a wonderful snack of French fries and hash-browns that held us over for several hours for mere euro cents.
I popped in to a McDonalds in Earls Court (London) only 3 or 4 years ago and an employee told me that that reason the fries were so good there (better than American, I thought) was that they still cook them in lard. I?ve since been told that is not true, but still that?s what he told me.
I ate a quick bite once at the Tower of London Mickey D and found the food horrible and really pricey, in a relative sort of way. (In other words, I could have had a real meal for what I spent on a burger, fries, and soft drink).
Once when coming back from Paris my friend and I were peckish but nearly out of Euros. I was headed back to England and didn?t want to break pounds. We had a wonderful snack of French fries and hash-browns that held us over for several hours for mere euro cents.
Apr 27th, 2004, 05:41 PM
#97
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Ziana, you're not related to Salvador Dali, are you? How do you come up with these surreal posts?
Ah, lard. My mum, one of the old school, used to cook the Sunday roast lamb with lard. Of course, the next generation knew better and switched to olive oil, rosemary and garlic. So ... why do mine never taste as good as hers?
When McDonalds opened for business in Australia the outraged populace (some of it, anyway) commenced a long war of cultural attrition designed to prevent "chips" being called "French fries". McDonalds grimly stuck to their guns and I think to this day they're still selling "fries" to people who ask for "chips". I'm told they sell salads now, but their burgers are still horrible.
Which reminds me of the time I ordered "fish and chips" in a restaurant somewhere in the American South and received some nice battered fish fillets accompanied by .... potato crisps. There must be a lesson there somewhere.
Ah, lard. My mum, one of the old school, used to cook the Sunday roast lamb with lard. Of course, the next generation knew better and switched to olive oil, rosemary and garlic. So ... why do mine never taste as good as hers?
When McDonalds opened for business in Australia the outraged populace (some of it, anyway) commenced a long war of cultural attrition designed to prevent "chips" being called "French fries". McDonalds grimly stuck to their guns and I think to this day they're still selling "fries" to people who ask for "chips". I'm told they sell salads now, but their burgers are still horrible.
Which reminds me of the time I ordered "fish and chips" in a restaurant somewhere in the American South and received some nice battered fish fillets accompanied by .... potato crisps. There must be a lesson there somewhere.
Apr 27th, 2004, 05:55 PM
#98
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OK, Neil, I probably should know this, having traipsed through the British Isles with kids in tow on several occasions, but are "potato crisps" the same as our "potato chips" in the USA?
So much terminology, so much confusion. I fail to understand why English-language dictionaries that are allowing all manner of outrage into their pages these days can't settle on the proper definitions of various uses of potatoes. Chips, crisps, fries.....who's to keep it all straight?
So much terminology, so much confusion. I fail to understand why English-language dictionaries that are allowing all manner of outrage into their pages these days can't settle on the proper definitions of various uses of potatoes. Chips, crisps, fries.....who's to keep it all straight?
Apr 27th, 2004, 06:11 PM
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Gee, StCirq, I am astounded that with all the traveling you do--and the fact that you regard yourself as annointed board grammarian--you do not know that there are lots of differences in English from place to place.
And, no one, even you, can dictate uniformity of usage. "Crisps" in Britain are what Americans call "potato chips". And that is only the start of the differences. As someone who has traveled a bit in the UK, I have to tell you I don't always know what is being said. Just use the right words depending on where you are and you will do fine. If you use the wrong words, you will soon find out what the right words are.
I hope you are not suggesting that we need an "Academie Francaise" to enforce English usage. I think all that quibbling in France is largely silly and I certainly would not want to involve English speaking countries in that foolishness. Who is supposed to enforce usage? Suppose the Brits did it. Would we have to say "crips" instead of "chips"? What would happen if the wrong word were used (besides ridicule on message boards)? A prison term?
Languages constantly evolve and the same language used in different countries does evolve differently. Even Canadians use the language differently than people in the US do.
I thought you knew all of that, StCirq. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
And, no one, even you, can dictate uniformity of usage. "Crisps" in Britain are what Americans call "potato chips". And that is only the start of the differences. As someone who has traveled a bit in the UK, I have to tell you I don't always know what is being said. Just use the right words depending on where you are and you will do fine. If you use the wrong words, you will soon find out what the right words are.
I hope you are not suggesting that we need an "Academie Francaise" to enforce English usage. I think all that quibbling in France is largely silly and I certainly would not want to involve English speaking countries in that foolishness. Who is supposed to enforce usage? Suppose the Brits did it. Would we have to say "crips" instead of "chips"? What would happen if the wrong word were used (besides ridicule on message boards)? A prison term?
Languages constantly evolve and the same language used in different countries does evolve differently. Even Canadians use the language differently than people in the US do.
I thought you knew all of that, StCirq. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
