I am a self professed "foodie," but if I see a fried bologna sandwich on a menu, and I have a few times, I always order it. White bread has its place in my life and always will.When we think of the stuff that dreams are made on, we might think of the spirits that Shakespeare’s Prospero conjures up in “The Tempest”; we might think of stars, rainbows, maybe even wishing wells, but what probably doesn’t leap to mind is a loaf of Wonder Bread. And yet, ever since the invention of the mass-manufactured loaf of white bread in the 1920s, that spongy tasteless loaf has been a way in which Americans have defined themselves and one another.
I'd take issue with the "tasteless" part. It may not be the most flavorful thing, but it certainly has it's own taste, at least Wonderbread does. It's almost hoppy. If I want to immediately be brought back to my child-self, all I need to do is make a fried bologna sandwich with Wonderbread and yellow mustard.
I don't really like the "foodie" label, because too often it means people that self-identify as connoisseurs of food, but only of foods foreign to them. It also means that they tend to think that things always need to be gussied up. For example, all those pretentious burgers that cost $15 and have organic microgreens fertilized with the farmer's own poop. As if expensive "artisanal" ingredients and Classical technique, paired with modern execution are all that makes food worth eating. Essentially, I think a lot of foodies are douches about their "foodiness" and yes, they need to recognize that white bread has its place and appropriate use. For example, the Fluffernutter. I haven't seen a gourmet version yet and I hope I never have to.
My definition of foodie as I was employing it is essentially "one who appreciates food." Believe it or not, not everybody does. There are a lot of people that will eat a bologna sandwich and never appreciate how amazing it is, or conversely there are people that will eat a well-prepared meal and also never appreciate it. Whether I'm drinking a beer or a fine bottle of wine, I try and appreciate its qualities. I can see where you are coming from though, there are people that use the term tondescribe themselves that I would rather not spend my time with. Food is amazing and it's most amazing when you can share it with others. I wish the #recipe tag on Hubski got more use. I think it's time I start posting some more. Anybody else in?
I've been thinking about using that tag for a little while myself. It's on my "to do" list. Edit: I didn't mean to imply that you're like what I was describing. I agree that appreciating food includes appreciating food for what it is, not for the cachet of luxury ingredients. In my mind, a "real" foodie can understand and enjoy nacho cheez with the same facility they can understand and enjoy Serrano ham, without any apologies.
Also, I think #recipes with an S is the tag I would use. Forgot about that
100% agreement. In fact, nacho cheese versus just about anything and there isn't a contest. I grew up skiing on an old trash heap converted into a hill called Mount Brighton. They had the best nacho cheese ever. So much of food is nostalgia for me.