Foodie
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2008-07-12T11:36:28Z
Gych
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/* Pursuits */ Linked directly to Yelp Inc
'''Foodie''' is an informal term for a particular class of aficionado of [[food]] and [[drink]]. The word was coined in 1981 by [[Paul Levy]] and Ann Barr, who used it in the title of their 1984 book ''The Official Foodie Handbook''.
== Distinguished from gourmet ==
Although the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, foodies differ from [[gourmet]]s in that gourmets are epicures of refined taste who may or may not be [[professionals]] in the food industry, whereas foodies are [[amateurs]] who simply love food for consumption, study, preparation, and news.<ref>{{cite news | author=Nicole Weston | url=http://www.slashfood.com/2006/02/10/what-is-a-foodie-anyway/ | title = What is a foodie, anyway | date = February 10, 2006 | accessdate=2007-07-01 | publication=AOL Living}}</ref> Gourmets simply want to eat the best food, whereas foodies want to learn everything ''about'' food, both the best and the ordinary, and about the science, industry, and personalities surrounding food.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://thenibble.com/nav2/letters/food.asp|title=FAQs about food|publication=the Nibble|accessdate=2007-07-01}}</ref> For this reason, foodies are sometimes viewed as obsessively interested in all things culinary.
== Pursuits ==
Foodies are a distinct [[hobbyist]] group in the United States. Typical foodie interests and activities include the [[food industry]], [[wineries]] and [[wine tasting]], [[food science]], following [[restaurant]] openings and closings, [[food distribution]], food [[fads]], [[health]] and [[nutrition]], and [[restaurant management]]. A foodie might develop a particular interest in a specific item, such as the best [[egg cream]] or [[burrito]]. Many publications have [[food column]]s that cater to foodies. Interest by foodies in the 1980s and 1990s gave rise to [[the Food Network]] and other specialized food [[television programming | programming]], popular films and television shows about food such as [[Top Chef]] and [[Iron Chef]], a renaissance in specialized [[cookbooks]], specialized periodicals such as [[Gourmet (magazine) | Gourmet Magazine]] and [[Cook's Illustrated]], growing popularity of [[farmers' markets]], food-oriented websites like [[Zagat's]] and [[Yelp, Inc.|Yelp]], publishing and reading food [[blogs]] (a number of people photograph and post on the Internet every meal they ever make or consume), specialized kitchenware stores like [[Williams-Sonoma]] and [[Sur La Table]], and the institution of the [[celebrity chef]].
==See also==
* [[Gourmet]]
== References ==
<references/>
== External links ==
*[http://www.bartleby.com/63/82/6682.html William Safire's distinction between gourmets and gourmands]
[[es:Foodie]]
[[Category:Food and drink appreciation]]