20 Jul Food Snobs
Technical difficulties (sigh) have sidelined me for a few days, but onward we go…
I’ve been thinking about the subject of food snobbery lately, and it has been nagging at me. There is nothing more disheartening than having a friend who is hesitant to invite you to dinner because he is afraid the meal will not live up to your (perceived) standards.
When such a situation comes to pass, I kindly remind said friend that I do not dine at four-star restaurants every night, and that I also eat hamburgers, hot dogs, and the occasional pizza. Granted, they are not likely from a fast-food chain, but I go for quality in all flavors.
When I think of true food snobbery, I think of those who approach cuisine as a fashion, where they must have the latest scoop on the hottest “It” chef, and their names on the short list for reservations at THE place to be seen. How boring.
A genuine love of food permeates all of the hype — it is a quest for the sublime. Such a moment can be delivered by a local hole in the wall, or an international mecca of dining. I think of a recent lunch with a friend in Brooklyn , where I had the best slice of Sicilian pizza that has ever touched my lips. I will hold the memory of that far longer than some of the bizarre menu items I have seen lately.
Memorable cuisine, after all, is about integrity.