OT: Are you a foodie or a chowhound?

[foodiedelite]

Recently I stumbled across an interesting site www.chowhound.com.

I always considered myself a foodie. I guess I'm a chowhound instead. I enjoy eating almost anything and everything. I opt for off the track restaurants and food from vending carts. I like to experiment with my dining options.

A foodie on the other hand, likes their food, but would rather try restaurants and recipes, which are highly recommended. Not paving the way for adventure.

Which are you?

[Wendy w]

This is interesting. After considering myself a foodie I guess I am a chowhound. Some of my favorite places to go are obscure ethnic markets and restaurants. I have gone to chi-chi foo-foo places that have been highly recommended but disappointing at times.

Thank you for sharing this. I'm sure that we will have some interesting answers.

[Svadhisthana]

I would say.........both. I love to try new things, but sometimes a familiar place is comforting.

[gertdog]

I'm a foodie, I guess. When I visit new cities/countries, I do a ton of reading beforehand to see what's recommended in terms of food and restaurants. I try new recipes, but I like those recipes to come from a trusted source (CL, for example :) )

[SusanMac]

Pretty interesting. They should come up with another term besides "chowhound!!" Given the definition, I'm definitely a chowhound. Not sure I want to describe myself that way though.

How about Food Adventurer!

In fact, it drives me absolutely nuts when I go out to eat with people who have a very long list of food aversions. They're definitely missing out.

[kwormann]

Well, then I guess Im a chowhound too...I love adventures in eating! However, I don't like the word chowhound, so I'll keep foodie as my title......;)

How 'bout foodie explorer?????

[Julia1Pin]

Another chowhound checking in. I'll try pretty much anything once. I've even tried cows brains (nasty, vile stuff) :confused: :rolleyes: :(

[sunberst]

chowhound.com was listed in the chicago tribune last weekend! they had a whole section on foodies and my friend gave me the article.

would have to say that i am a chowhound. i have been known to spend my entire lunch break driving 30 minutes just to get this awesome soup i like. if i am in the mood for say miso soup & a veggie wrap, i will go to the japanese place and get the soup, then go to roly poly and get the wrap.

btw- i love the word chowhound! i think it is cute. :)

[Canice]

Neither: Both categories are too heavy on attitude for me -- but I've never liked the chowhound site. In fact, I hate to say this, but I can't stand it; I have tried to find good information there (keep in mind my experience is only with the San Francisco portion of the site - perhaps it's much nicer in the other regions) and those people are waaaaay more sarcastic and impressed with themselves than anyone you'll find in the food pages of any metropolitan newspaper. Also, the interface of the site is dreadful; take a look at this sample page and you'll see what I mean. Anyhow, that's just one HO; the site is very popular, so obviously it has its devotees!


http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/sanfrancisco/sanfrancisco.html

[sunberst]

i never even noticed that chowhound.com had a bb/message board.

[TerriS]

I love the chowhound site. I have gotten great restaurant recommendations from there. But just like with any food reviewer, you sort of have to figure out if the folks' tastes mesh with yours. The folks on the DC one are pretty good and know their food, and most have really cool online personalities. There are a few pompous folks but they also posess a vast wealth of knowledge and admit their pomposity. :)

I guess I'm both. I think of a foodie as somebody who slavishly follows food trends. Well, in a way I do that. Pesto got popular; now I love pesto. Vietnamese got popular, now I love Vietnamese. I think of myself as riding the waves of food trends rather than slavishly following them, though. But I also abhor most chain restaurants and love finding random, off the beaten track places, as well as love trying new ingredients and new recipes. In my kitchen I'm definitely a food adventurer. (I feel like a food adventurer should wear a little cape like a superhero.) :)