Famous Death Row Last Meals
Debunking Beer Can Chicken: A Waste Of Good Beer, And Dangerous
Photo: Sayler's Old Country Kitchen
It looks like the populist fever that's been sweeping through American politics this season has hit the food world -- in Portland, Oregon, of all places.Food lovers have been flocking to Portland for years; the place is a culinary mecca and practically synonymous with the whole ethos of sustainability ("organic," "locally grown") that's swept through American cooking over the past decade. To criticize someone for being a "foodie" in Portland is like talking smack about steaks in Texas.
But one local writer lambasted foodie-culture in a piece that introduced last week's "Non-Foodies Food Guide" in the Orgeonian, the city's major daily paper. "I am not a foodie," writes Lee Williams. "To me, food is what you eat, not what you pray to. Call them gourmands, connoisseurs, picky eaters, or just plain old snobs. Foodies blog, write and chat about pet restaurants, trends and chefs. They leave little room on their plates or in their hearts for fast food, family dining and the untrendy. And they can be pretty mean to some places we love."
As if to rub organic sea salt into the wound, the paper also ran a Jeff Foxworthy-style sidebar, "You Might Be a Foodie If..." A few are funny ("Your toddler asks if her Goldfish crackers are farm-raised or wild-caught"), a few flop ("You're working toward your tattooing license so you can spend more time with Portland's tattooed chefs"), and some are downright bizarre or scary, take your pick ("You hate American cheese. And, honestly, America.")
Ostensibly, the "Non-Foodies Food Guide" seeks to highlight a number of affordable chain restaurants that are locally based, such as Taco Time, the Old Spaghetti Factory, and Shari's. But it's the brash tone of anti-elitist indignation that's got Portland's foodies up in arms, particularly in a city that's decidedly more NPR than Fox News.
As the Willamette Week, the city's alternative weekly, put it on its website: "We can't figure out whether the story was prompted by misguided faux-populism, demands from the advertising department or group dementia brought on by an office-wide outbreak of syphilis; in any case, its angry, anti-food lover's tone is puzzling and pissing off a hell of a lotta locals."
LOOK: Bank Vault Saves 22 Lives During Tornado
Live from Microsoft's New Generation Xbox event!
Brave Woman Stood Down Armed London Attackers
Xbox Reveal liveblog on Joystiq
Dozens Killed in Oklahoma Tornado; Death Toll to Rise
Killed Soldier In London Attack Identified
Xbox One architecture panel liveblog!
The List #0147: Escape a Car Underwater
Demi Looks FANTASTIC In A Bikini
H&M's Plus-Size Model Jennie Runk Says She Chose To Gain Weight
PHOTO: Dog Guards Dead Victim's Body After Oklahoma Tornado Disaster
Okla. Sheriff's Deputy Finds Dog Guarding Body Buried Under Destroyed Home
Selena Gomez Leaving Justin Bieber's House: Booty Call Rumors Swirl
Surgeon's Remove Giant Hairball From Tiger
South American 'Crazy' Ants Are a Threat in Southern US
Man Reportedly Beheaded In Brutal Assault In London Neighborhood
Helen Flanagan Launches PETA Campaign As Only She Knows How
Pope Francis Says All Who Do Good Are Redeemed - Atheists Included
U.S. Acknowledges Four American Citizens Killed In Drone Strikes
Wolf Blitzer's Embarrassing Moment With Tornado Survivor
Singer Sues McDonald's, Claims Chicken Sandwich Incident Ruined Her Voice
Mother Dies With Infant During Oklahoma Tornado
The World's Most Powerful Women
Help For Heroes Killing
PHOTOS: Tornado Aftermath Leaves Trail Of Destruction
PHOTOS: Christie Brinkley Gets Back Into A Swimsuit At 59 Years Old
NY Times Eviscerates Obama White House
White Father Allegedly Suspected Of Kidnapping Biracial Daughters
Who Won 'DWTS'?
Oklahoma Senators Face Difficult Options On Disaster Relief
WATCH: Tornado Victim Finds Dog During CBS Interview
10-18-2010 @3:16PM gobo said... I am a proud foodie; I love good food of all kinds. Am I a snob? No way... I love 4-star meals but I also love Taco Bell and KFC. Am I picky? Far from it. I hate picky eaters and avoid eating with them if I can.
Reply
10-18-2010 @8:00PM Frank said... I would never consort with someone who called themselves a "Foodie"
Reply
10-19-2010 @10:03AM gobo said... Your loss!
10-19-2010 @1:40PM Frank said... Not really.
10-19-2010 @10:46AM Patrick R said... "To me, food is what you eat, not what you pray to."
Oddly, the argument he uses against foodie-ism is precisely why I *am* so interested in food. He's right: food is what you eat... And you need it to live... And it provides all the energy and nutrients that your body, your earthly shell, uses to grow and sustain itself. Without that, you have nothing. To downplay its importance is self-destructive. I still believe that there's more than a little truth in the phrase "You are what you eat," and frankly I'd rather not be a bag of Doritos and a Double Down.
Reply
10-24-2010 @1:25AM LaFooday said... Would you rather be a white truffle or a quail egg?
10-19-2010 @4:54PM cathy said... I have to admit, if you've ever dined with a couple of "foodies" it can be embarrasing. You know the kind, they have to play 20 questions on how the salad dressing is made, or ask exactly when the fish was flown in. Some foodies are pretentious, and take all the fun out of a meal in order to prove they are knowledgable, when in reality they are just arrogant. http://newsy1.wordpress.com
Reply
10-25-2010 @12:20PM Karen K. said... I must admit to being a bit of foodie. While I LOVE food, if I'm asking 20 questions about a dish, it's because I'm hoping to make it at home. As for asking when a fish was flown in?? That's too much! What harm is there in enjoying a wonderfully prepared meal with family and friends? Be it in a swanky five-star restaurant or to nearest drive-in dive, food is food and is meant to be enjoyed!! :-D
10-20-2010 @3:20AM Pablo said... OK, this is clearly an overwritten article, and not something against foodies... Just read the author's comments
http://www.oregonlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2010/10/your_coments_non-foodies_food.html
Reply
10-23-2010 @8:37PM thegrrrr8est said... Foodies are no more obnoxious than wine snobs. Or fashionistas. Or bridezillas. Or people who claim moral superiority because they don't watch TV. Or who take pride that they read only nonfiction.
Bloated egos that are defined by externals are all equally obnoxious.
Reply
10-23-2010 @8:41PM Sean said... NPR would fire anyone with a honest opinion. Fox News foodies rule!!!
Reply
10-23-2010 @8:49PM Sammy said... Someone said something mean about the food you like to eat? Well, boo-hoo! Seriously, who cares? Being very interested in food is a hobby just like any other. I'm personally not all that interested, but I wouldn't think better or worse of anyone for this one hobby alone.
Reply
10-23-2010 @9:35PM Jess said... I think its wrong how people percieve people who want to eat organic and local, this is the food everyone should be eating. Our grandparents and great grands ate this way before they started using pesticides on everything they lived on family farms their food wasnt raised in cramped conditions on industrial inhumane food lots. I think it is important to realize there is a difference between people who like whole nutritious food and people who like expensive food trends and think they are so high and mighty because they pay 50 bucks for some burger with truffles.
Reply
10-24-2010 @1:24AM LaFooday said... I'm wondering how people in Alaska are going to eat only local foods in January.
10-24-2010 @1:35AM jess said... I dont live in alaska anymore but I used to, they preserve foods that they grow or catch if they want to eat it over the winter lol. how do you think the natives survived. you can grow a lot of food in alaska you can and freeze fish berries,vegetables etc. you can keep livestock there of pretty much any kind. it's probably the things people have been doing for hundreds of years preserving the foods to get through winters!
10-23-2010 @11:07PM liutenantsalt said... "organic sea salt"
That right there about summarizes the rampant stupidity of the "organic" craze.
How can a MINERAL be organic?
Reply
10-24-2010 @2:33AM handsome said... For your information, it means it's not bleached, nor is Iodine added. Nor is there any additives to prevent caking. But nevermind, you probably enjoy swallowing bleach.
10-23-2010 @11:19PM Bonita said... Don't you just hate the people that will only shop at organic markets-they refuse to eat at chain restaurants-they wear birkenstocks and drive Smart cars.
They were the teacher's pets and tattled on everyone.
Makes you want to spit in their tofu smoothie!
Reply
10-23-2010 @11:46PM Kathy said... Lol to Bonita--- you are so right! Makes me want to jump in my 'dumb' car and go to KFC!
10-23-2010 @11:59PM Caitlin said... I'm always wary about using the term "foodie" about myself, as I love all types of food, from gourmet down to fast, and I can't stand the snobbery of the people these guys obviously mean in using the term. That said...you hate American cheese and probably America? The only thing I hate is Kraft trying to say "cheese" that isn't even actually cheese is what represents this country. I think everyone needs to take a chill pill and deal with the fact that other people are allowed to have opinions, too.
Reply