The Eight Types of Food Snob
1) The Four-Star Snob (Or Classical Form)
No meal which costs less than $50 is worthwhile. They like to drop the names of fabulous places they've eaten. They have no idea where to get decent pizza. And don't get started with the wine.
2) The Exotic Food Snob
More commonly male than female, the exotic food snob will mention frequently how good the street food is in Thailand or Malaysian, but will snub mac and cheese, classical French cuisine or a good roast. The fewer Americans who have tasted a particular cuisine, the more status it holds. Scorns home-cooked food. Closely related to, and overlapping with the
3) Spicy Food Snob
Exotic is better, but chili and barbecue are okay, too, as long as the food is HOT!HOT!HOT! Heat is directly related to "authenticity," so the spicier the food, the more authentic (even if the dish is traditionally not that spicy), and people who have a problem with heat are to be mocked.
And speaking of authenticity...
4) The Authentic Food Snob
No substitutions accepted! The authentic food snob doesn't care what s/he eats, as long as it represents in the purest form a dish once eaten by a peasant somewhere. Is certain that there is ONE authentic version of every dish. If the authentic food snob cooks as well as eats, will worship Paula Wolfert.
5) The Reverse Food Snob
Believes that anyone who prefers "fancy" food is just putting on airs and needs to be put in place. Gets pissed off by unfamiliar foods. Insists that everyone really likes like Hellman's and Jif better than homemade mayo or natural peanut butter, but won't admit it.
6) The Fresh And Local Snob (Guilty!)
"I only eat food grown within 100 miles of home, except for spices and olive oil." "Oh, I do only 50 miles and I've given up olive oil - I only cook in local lard now." "I only eat food grown within one mile of my front yard. I've lost eighty-five pounds."
7) The Healthy Food Snob
"No meat, and you know what? I don't even miss it. No rich sauces for me - I really like things light. Only fruit for dessert. Maybe a single square of dark chocolate once a week or so, but generally, I don't have much taste for sugar any more. No, not fat either. You know, once you break your addiction to unhealthy food, you just don't want that stuff any more. You should try it."
8) The Trendy Food Snob
Genuinely thinks that someone's knowledge or interest in food can be gauged by their level of devotion to the NYTimes food section. Often cooks as well as eats; if so, owns very expensive kitchenware. Thinks that has something to do with one's abilities as a cook. I'm sorry, "chef." Thinks that formerly trendy foods like sundried tomatoes are kind of, well, funny.
4 comments:
Funny post - I am somewhat guilty of the same one as you.
(excpet I can get olive oil produced withing 50 miles)
Sam, where do you get the olive oil? I get some in the summers at Boston farmers' markets, from a family that imports olives from Lebanon. What are other local sources?
Also, this post was hilarious. Especially the reverse food snob.
I think the ideal protocol is to go ahead and repost it but to make a mildly self-depreciating comment as an introduction.
This is very funny and true. Living in NYC there are days when I feel like I am surrounded by types (1) and (2) in particular. I would subdivide (1) into (1)(a) and (1)(b): the former only cares about *new* restaurants and spends an inordinate amount of time either trying to score reservations or an inordinate amount of money paying someone else to make the reservations, and the latter is more flexible in choice of restaurants as long as the place is expensive enough. Type (1)(a) seems to be completely indiscriminate about meals eaten at home or work, and thinks nothing of lunching on a flavorless, foamy sandwich from Subway while waiting on hold for the restaurant to answer the phone.
Post a Comment