Foodie facts for kids
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A foodie is someone who really loves food. They don't just eat because they are hungry. For a foodie, eating and learning about food is a fun hobby!
The words "gastronome" and "gourmet" are similar. They also describe people who enjoy food. But "foodie" often means someone who loves food culture in a more everyday way. It's about enjoying different foods and learning about them.
Contents
What is a Foodie?
A foodie is a person who has a strong interest in food. They enjoy exploring new tastes and learning about where food comes from. It's like a hobby where food is the main focus.
Foodies are often curious about:
- Different types of cooking
- New restaurants
- How food is made
- Trying foods from around the world
Where the Word "Foodie" Came From
The word "foodie" first appeared in print in the early 1980s. It was used in both the United States and Britain around the same time.
One of the first people to use it was Gael Greene in New York Magazine in 1980. She wrote about people who were "serious foodies."
Later, in Britain, a writer named Paul Levy helped make the word popular. He even wrote an article in 1982 describing himself as a "king foodie." In 1984, a book called The Official Foodie Handbook: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/85994679 was published, which helped the word spread even more.
What Foodies Do
Foodies enjoy many activities related to food. It's a special hobby group!
Some common interests and activities for foodies include:
- Visiting wineries and wine tasting events.
- Trying different beers at breweries.
- Learning about food science (how food works).
- Following new restaurant openings.
- Exploring food fads (popular new food trends).
- Taking cooking classes to learn new skills.
- Going on food trips to try local dishes in different places.
- Looking for the best version of a specific food, like the best burrito.
Foodies also love to read about food. Many newspapers and magazines have food columns just for them. There are also many popular websites and food blogs that foodies enjoy.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the interest in foodies grew a lot. This led to:
- TV channels like the Food Network.
- Popular cooking shows like Top Chef and Iron Chef.
- Many new cookbooks.
- Special food magazines like Gourmet.
- More farmers' markets where people can buy fresh, local food.
- Websites like Zagat's and Yelp for restaurant reviews.
- Special stores for kitchen tools, like Williams Sonoma.
- The rise of the celebrity chef, who became famous for their cooking.
Today, foodies are very active on social media. Many food lovers have their own YouTube channels. They share videos of what they cook and where they eat around the world.
Why Some People Don't Like the Term
Even though "foodie" is a popular word, some people don't like it.
Chris Onstad, who writes the webcomic Achewood, thinks the word sounds childish. He feels there are already many words to describe people who like food or cooking. He believes adding "-ie" makes it sound less serious.
Journalists like Roberto A. Ferdman also criticize the word. He wrote in Washington Post that calling yourself a "foodie" can actually make you seem less like a true food expert. He says that real food experts don't usually use the term themselves.
Ferdman explains that loving food is great and helps the food world grow. However, he thinks the word "foodie" is used so much that it loses its special meaning. It becomes just a common way to say someone likes to eat a lot.
See also
In Spanish: Comidista para niños
- Culinary tourism
- Fooding
- Foodpairing
- Gastronomy
- Gourmand
- Gourmet
- Deipnosophistae
