Foodie culture

melgibson on 07/04/2014 - 13:27

Cannot believe the $ ppl now spend on food over other types of entertainment. Friends of all ages seem to regard eating out as the exemplary social activity but also to dress it up as adventurous, discerning, politically engaged (organic) , and an everyday thing. To me it is just a combination of gluttony, mid class aspiration, and a lack of imagination. I cringe when i see cooking shows using religous words like divine, heavenly, bliss and frame the chef(cook) as an important vocation. I see murder when someone tells me how amzing their barrista (cooffee maker) is.

How does the descent into foodie culture sit with ozbargainers who must hold a latte and compute that since milk is$1 a litre and a 5kg tub of instant roast is $9 that this fad is for the sheeple

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • 2ndeffort on 07/04/2014 - 14:00
    +16

    Could not agree more. Dont mind a good feed and happy to pay a little extra for a special meal/occasion but I have friends that are 'foodies'. There is a degree of snobbery over ingreients/chefs etc that would make the attendees of the annual Porsche club Polo tournament blush!

    I hate it where there is a story behind everything I am going to shovel into my gob. I have sat through meals where Latte Lefties bemoan and besmirch the establishment we are having a brew at, and refuse to have anything because they know that the coffee isn't 'free-trade' or the eggs aren't 'free-range'. As an OzB, my ears naturally prick up at the mention of the word 'free' but aside from that very annoying.

    • bs0 on 09/04/2014 - 19:57
      -2

      but think of the poor chickens! </sarcasm>

      • redraoh on 10/04/2014 - 01:52
        +29

        It shouldn't be sarcasm…factory farmed chickens and cows, pigs, etc., are treated appallingly.

        Don't need to be a foodie to have some respect for animals (and yourself, healthier animals = healthier you) and not support those industries.

        • redraoh on 10/04/2014 - 14:19
          -5

          http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/tests-reveal-health…

          You can find similar results for meat, milk, etc.

        • melgibson on 10/04/2014 - 18:29
          -8

          Lol. "Motherearthnews" . Who was it that said "inf you get rid of god you end up with superstition"? Keep eating your organics. You will be rewarded…….lol

        • redraoh on 10/04/2014 - 19:17

          Did you even open the link? The page lists a number of studies that showed pastured chickens produce healthier eggs.

        • melgibson on 10/04/2014 - 20:58
          -7

          Sorry love but they said the same thing about vitamins ….its just another market. Heard today homeothapy has been discredited.

        • [Deactivated] on 10/04/2014 - 22:02

          It's about keeping them healthy so they don't create the next avian flu/swine flu.

        • redraoh on 10/04/2014 - 22:54
          +1

          I see you're not actually interested in why "healthier animals = healthier you". Don't waste my time next time.

        • Pacify on 12/04/2014 - 15:49

          Factory farmed animals practice needs to end. They are living, intelligent animals, which we should not be sticking in cages for their entire lives.

          The conditions in most battery farms are just horrendous, not sure how anyone could eat a battery chicken

        • Pacify on 12/04/2014 - 15:52

          your opinion on this matter is quite disturbing

      • forever saving on 10/04/2014 - 10:08
        +9

        Some animals are treated terribly - there are some horrific videos on this. I support free range - it seems to be getting bigger now which is a good sign.

        • melgibson on 10/04/2014 - 22:53
          -5

          Chickens have it great compared to the shameful treatment od refugees.

  • tanoshiiki on 07/04/2014 - 14:07
    +12

    Everyone has their own interests and hobbies and I would say I probably save on certain aspects of life to try new food and dining experiences.

    Completely understand if you view food as it should be, fuel for the body.

    • Serapis on 11/04/2014 - 01:12

      On some days, i wished my required daily intake was all in liquid capsules / pills so i didn't need to think about food.

      Other days, I want to be treated like a king. I want someone to slave away and create the best looking / smelling / tastiest dish they can make to place me in awe and indulge my senses. Obviously unfeasible every day, maybe once a week / fortnight is good. Just something to look forward to every now and again.

  • melgibson on 07/04/2014 - 14:10
    +14

    I will share a friends facebook post from yesterday.

    "90 min wait for the best croissants outside Paris - totally worth it! — with Bish Lesko at Lune."

    Dont worry. She is not my friend anymore!!!!!!!!

    • cloudy on 07/04/2014 - 15:44
      -1

      Reading that qoute from your (now expired) friend, make me vomit.

      I am completely with you, the foodie culture overtaking some many places makes me weezy.

      90 minute sit in the park with my gf having a D&M chat will fill my life many more times than the layers of butter.

    • DrStinge on 10/04/2014 - 07:40
      +3

      Probably a good idea next time to remove the tagged friends name.

      • forever saving on 10/04/2014 - 10:09
        +2

        Doubt she'd be an OzBargainer anyway :p

      • abc on 11/04/2014 - 13:13
        +1

        Look it up. It's a guy.

  • donbot on 07/04/2014 - 15:07
    +4

    Last Sunday in Elwood, VIC at about 9am - I drove past a shop that had a line outside of it with about 50 people queued up. Out of interest sake, I googled what the shop was.

    It was a bakery that sold Crossiants. People were lined up for Crossiants, at 9am on a Sunday morning. For real?

    I say good on the bakey for making such a hype about them - bake all night, sold out by 10am, home by 11. Sure as hell beats being open til 5pm trying to flog them off.

    • schwinn on 10/04/2014 - 11:28
      +2

      It could be cronuts…

    • ohsnap on 11/04/2014 - 20:55
      +2

      Haha, coincidentally I was in said queue at said time. They sell out by 9-9.30am almost every weekend ever since they've been open. I know some people queue way before they even open. We aren't so crazy, just happen to be up early that day due to daylight ending, so decided to try our luck - got some after 25 mins wait on that day. They really were the best croissants I've tasted but probably not willing to queue again for them.

  • QW3RTY on 07/04/2014 - 15:27
    +10

    Food is all about taste and experience. I love going to different restaurants and sampling what that individual, family or business has to offer. Often, it's very humble and a good entertaining experience. Something like Korean Barbeque has a great blend of taste and experience; you have a great time cooking your own food with friends. Takes a meal past the point of jsut fuel for your body. I do agree that some people can get a snobby and wanky, but I feel that's just their personality in general — just snobs and (profanity).

    I will leap out and defend an occassional barrista coffee. My workplace offers dehydrated roast and tag bags; there's nothing wrong with knocking back a bit of the freshly ground stuff. It just gets my goat when people happily shell over $6-7 for that particular experience.

    • melgibson on 07/04/2014 - 15:33
      +5

      Yeah. I'm not talking about being a monk. What bothers me is a culture that values consumption of premium food as a virtue. I'm relatively young and i cannot believe how youth culture has been drowned in hipster food fetish.

      • QW3RTY on 07/04/2014 - 15:42
        +1

        Just tracks back to being a status item. "Oh, I went with Remington and Cassandrini to Tetsuya's on Saturday. It was divine."

        Humans can be (profanity).

        • banzini on 09/04/2014 - 14:48
          -1

          sound like losers

      • SirFlibbled on 08/04/2014 - 16:21
        +1

        Exactly. I love going out for a good meal and love going to local places which specialise in particular types of food. My wanky friends only ever want to go to posh places. I'm trying to buy a house atm so dropping $100 on dinner is just not going to do my savings any good so I've stopped going out with them.

        I was toying with doing an anti-foodie blog lately. Basically the blog will follow the following rules:
        2 - Must be a suburban restaurant that does something unique (ie not the bog standard chinese restaurant down the road or a restaurant in a hub)
        3 - A meal must be $30 or less.

        • Nuggets on 10/04/2014 - 17:57
          +1

          $30?! Strewth.

        • Baghern on 10/04/2014 - 20:41
          +2

          Wait a minute, this sounds like you're anti-foodie not because its too expensive, its just you can't afford it…

          I've had really good $20 steak…

          Then again I've had amazing $200 steak…

        • SirFlibbled on 10/04/2014 - 21:37

          $30 a meal isn't unrealistic for most restaurants.
          The rules are there so that you have to get creative and try different places and go out of the way to check out some places.

          But you're right. Currently if I have the choice between spending $150 on dinner and putting it on my deposit, it goes on my deposit.

          Mind you most of these people also complain about their CC debts so they can't really afford it. And they're all young mid-income earners.

        • Serapis on 11/04/2014 - 00:53

          I've cooked amazing $20 steak, the device I used for cooking it cost $200 =/

      • MrGrinchy on 09/04/2014 - 21:26
        +6

        Hey, count your self lucky in 2014, compared to us oldies who in the early 80s, had nothing but
        meat pies or rolls. and we thought pizza hut was the best ever too and special.

        Oh and we didnt have iphones ;)

        • airzone on 11/04/2014 - 17:30
          +2

          And you had to walk 20 miles up-hill to school in the snow… Both ways! :)

  • PresidentClinton on 07/04/2014 - 15:47
    +4

    If you simply consider most adults as grown children, everything will make sense :)

    • [Deactivated] on 09/04/2014 - 17:49
      +6

      You've hit the nail on the head! It's the same in hotels and planes. In fact they are worse. Just a bed/seat.

      There is possibly an element of racism as well. So called 'ethnic' restaurants, for example, Vietnamese restaurants in Springvale where the locals aren't rich, but expect fresh, authentic food at competitive prices can often produce excellent food for around $10. Yes the surroundings may be basic, but for me that actually adds to the experience for me as I know the focus is purely on the food. I'm there for the food not the interior design. Food of the same quality was served in a pretentious manner in a trendy location the price would be 2-3 times.

      Spending relatively large sums regularly soon adds up. No wonder even people on good wages are often in debt/don't have much savings.

      • hahaboy on 09/04/2014 - 20:30
        +1

        A lot of the restaurants in Springy are pretty white wash and for the white man. Most have sweet/sour pork and honey chicken. Great dishes, but not sure on authenticity.

        • [Deactivated] on 10/04/2014 - 00:18
          +1

          Couldn't disagree more. And more to the point, hardly relevant to this argument.

  • mini2 on 07/04/2014 - 16:29
    -2

    With those wanky restuarants, been to Tets/Quay/Ocean Room etc etc…can someone please explain to me what's the freaking fuss is about? Just put the plate on the table, don't give me that spiel and now fk off kthxbai as I'm hungry after waiting for an eternity in between courses. Perhaps my OCD is elsewhere and it's not with food.

    • Baghern on 09/04/2014 - 09:31
      +5

      Any food is good enough, 50%… better food is 80%

      Things like Tet and quay, are the last 1%-5% that we should be grateful for that we are able to have the opportunity to experience.

      No one is forcing you to go there.

      I'm pretty sure my parents would prefer my life than the decades of back breaking work just to put food, any food on the table.

      • mini2 on 09/04/2014 - 10:25
        +1

        No one forced me there, in fact I just went there to figure out what's the fuss is about and I struggled to comprehend.

        Oh by the way, just because I can't understand it doesn't mean I don't appreciate the time and effort the chef and other kitchen staff put in. Obviously they've put in the hard yards to get to where they are especially what I've heard from a friend's daughter, the extraordinary amount of work she's done in order to get herself employed at one of these establishments.

        • [Deactivated] on 09/04/2014 - 18:02
          +1

          I go to good restaurants sometimes through work. It's interesting at first, but (for me) the novelty soon wears off.

          Yes the food is sometimes nice, but most restaurants seem to have similar menus: duck confit, a few different steaks, a fish dish, an 'ethnic' dish (snort) and a vegetarian one. It gets boring after a while. And I wouldn't pay those prices other than for a special occasion.

          Maybe the very top have the skills to change the menu regularly without the quality deteriorating (due to the inherent risk of experimentation.) I guess if you go to mediocre restaurants and start getting bored, going to a 'top' restaurant can be exciting for some.

          Personally, I'd have a heart attack paying the bill @$100+ per person. :D

        • Baghern on 09/04/2014 - 19:41
          +2

          Well you have too much of the good stuff its would obviously get boring.

          I love all food. Paying for good food/chefs is a lot to do with access.

          As I've said we're lucky to be able to access what would be food for the kings centuries ago.

        • Serapis on 11/04/2014 - 00:57

          The joys of capitalism, the can of coke Obama is drinking is in essence the same as what you can buy in shops =P

    • cuteseal on 09/04/2014 - 14:53
      +1

      Probably because you've shelled out top dollar and they want to justify the "dining experience".

      • [Deactivated] on 09/04/2014 - 18:03
        +1

        Which is just human nature, but not worth the expense for most people.

    • King Tightarse on 10/04/2014 - 11:24
      +6

      If you have no palette, taste or appreciation best you just stick with maccas.
      We live in a freaking smorgasbord of delicious food. Basically, you can eat just about any cuisine and so cheap. We can buy everything! As RalX pointed out above all we have now is in sharp contrast to the wasteland that dining out used to be (70's and before).
      We have it GREAT!

      Philistine!

      • mini2 on 10/04/2014 - 22:58
        +2

        Hmmm Hungry Jacks for me thanks, MickyD's too expensive in comparison when I don't want to spend cash.

        On a different note, I prefer the finer things in life but don't you find some of the foodie stuff is just a great lump of exaggeration and sheeple in action? Different blokes, different strokes so I agree to disagree.

        • Serapis on 11/04/2014 - 00:59

          With all this money, people do need to indulge their gluttonous side every once in a while…

          I just prefer to dump mine on the casino tables and try turn a profit =P

        • pyro love bird on 11/04/2014 - 11:42

          "try" my dad once did that after winning a large sum of money from the lottery.
          Then he lost everything and ended up in debt T_T

  • Jmcotseeya on 07/04/2014 - 17:02
    +7

    Q Whats your fave cuisine?….
    A Turkish
    Q and where should i go for some fabulous Turkish nourriture?
    A the kebab shop

    I'm actually a foodie but of the ozbargain breed. I'm into offal. At $3 a kg for some fresh chicken liver ya can all get stuffed. Sear and then add lemon juice, olive oil and some raw crushed garlic. Don't clean up, allow the cockies to congregate and them fry them with brown sugar lemon and honey. For desert, cultivate a boil, lance it and mix the putresence with milk. 80 cents

    • fertiliser on 07/04/2014 - 17:07
      +18

      are you saying you bait cockatoos with cooked chicken liver and then fry and eat them?

      • QW3RTY on 07/04/2014 - 17:27
        +10

        I just distrupted the awkward bus-silence, by bursting out in laughter on the bus. Worth it.

      • Theshashiman on 11/04/2014 - 17:10

        I joined just to upvote these last two comments. .brilliant

    • [Deactivated] on 09/04/2014 - 18:05
      +1

      Great if you have the time/energy. But 'ethnic' restaurants usually charge reasonable prices given the preparation, cleaning up, etc. you avoid eating there.

  • SuperMick on 08/04/2014 - 11:47
    +5

    I'm retired now, but when I was working, I worked as a Chef. What I really hate, is someone will say "what did you used to do", 'I'm a Chef". They then will go into raptures, about how they cook lamb shanks, chicken, whatever. Do people do this to Plumbers, or tell Carpenters how well they made a shoe box?

    • PresidentClinton on 08/04/2014 - 15:05
      +4

      Depends on whether they plumb or carpent as much as they cook

    • Third_Gear on 09/04/2014 - 21:26
      +5

      Short answer is yes. It is human nature for us to try and relate to each other on common ground. People do love food so your opinion as a professinal would be valued.

    • cannedhams on 10/04/2014 - 21:08
      +4

      You should tell them you were a porn star

  • BuyoTheCat on 08/04/2014 - 12:49
    +2

    There is coffee then there is good coffee.

    • SirFlibbled on 08/04/2014 - 16:16
      +1

      I find a lot of people can't tell the difference. Near my work there's a massively popular cafe. Filled every morning with the young and hip crowd. Every time I go there (usually dragged by work mates) I've very unimpressed by their coffee.

      To me it tastes like slightly coffee flavoured milk. A coffee, imo, should be strong flavours but minimal bitterness. This isn't very bitter because there's very little coffee taste. But everyone seems to love it.

      I've decided it's just that people want to be seen drinking coffee but they actually don't like the taste.

      • guysmiley on 09/04/2014 - 08:05
        +1

        Why buy coffee from there is you don't like it?

        I have a cafe in my building that makes less than good coffee, so I walk down the road if I want a coffee, or I bring my own plunger coffee. simple.

        I used to work right near a proper coffee house (roasted their own beans, experimented with blends and different brewing methods) their coffee was spectacular. Compared to that, most takeaway coffees I get are adequate.

        • SirFlibbled on 09/04/2014 - 09:15
          +1

          It usually goes like this…

          people say "Let's go for a coffee"
          I say "sure"
          [walk out of the building]
          They say "Let's go to the crap place"
          I say "But the coffee there is crap, let's go to the other place"
          They say "but we all want to go to the crap place, we don't actually enjoy the taste of coffee"
          I say "fiiiiiiiine"

        • MrGrinchy on 09/04/2014 - 21:37

          711?

        • ankor on 09/04/2014 - 21:41

          Story of my life. But now I'm an ozbargainer I've become an office 'poddy'.

        • [Deactivated] on 10/04/2014 - 20:09

          Good on you. Just because you work with people doesn't mean you have to like them or hang out with them.

          It's good if you can (for the right reasons, tho)

      • hahaboy on 09/04/2014 - 20:35
        +3

        I worked with a bunch of corporates, where coffee culture is huge. I once recommended just in casual conversation to try the $1 coffee from 7eleven, cause to me it's about the same taste as a $4-5 cap. latte, and when working day in day out, it all adds up quickly.

        Got shutdown by a dirty look from a colleague, and didn't bring up that idea ever again. Pompous scumbag.

        • Serapis on 11/04/2014 - 01:07
          +1

          Offer to buy him coffee, then after he drinks it and comments on how great it tastes, proceed to tell him it was from 7eleven.

          Sit back and enjoy the view as the smug look on his face disappears.

    • Serapis on 11/04/2014 - 01:04

      Then there are personal preferences. I don't get coffee for the taste, i need it to be a punch in the kisser on crappy mornings.

      Triple shot espresso please

    • Pacify on 12/04/2014 - 15:51

      Indeed there is, but its so easy to make good coffee yourself, and it only costs $20-30 a kilo for the beans, vs $5 for a single cup

      • [Deactivated] on 12/04/2014 - 17:22

        |$12 a kilo if you roast yourself. Tastes better, too. An expensive machine helps and will pay for itself in the long term.

  • CI on 08/04/2014 - 16:23
    +1

    I enjoy new types of good
    What I don't enjoy is someone telling me they only go to their barista

  • meowbert on 09/04/2014 - 08:46
    +1

    When I was younger I used to drink a lot of booze, go to the movies and eat McDonalds. I now rarely drink, don't watch movies and only sometimes hit fast food. The question is, if you don't indulge in booze what do you do socially to bring people together?

    The answer for me anyway was to enjoy fine foods instead. On that note, 5 star dining is out and mid market food is here to stay. Bargains to be had!

    • hahaboy on 09/04/2014 - 20:36
      -1

      Examples?

      • meowbert on 10/04/2014 - 07:33
        +2

        Chur burger, me crackles, el loco, ippudo, din tai Fung, etc. These places are all fantastic and will run you 10-15 bucks for a full meal.

        • hahaboy on 12/04/2014 - 21:38

          Cheers. Will look it up. Never heard of a single one tbh ;s

  • Baghern on 09/04/2014 - 09:26
    +3

    Normally I'd say you're living in the past but… I thing Grow up is more apt here

    Its called the modern world.

    Words are used differently, mean different things, carry different weight

    We living in an age/country where near everyone can experience things they would not of had in the past.

    First world opportunties

    No one is forcing you into it.

    I find hipsters funny, I find anti-hipsters just sheeple

    • [Deactivated] on 09/04/2014 - 18:09

      Chill out. These are just people's opinions. Feel free to have a different opinion if you want one. In your 'modern world' people are free to think how they wish.

      • bs0 on 09/04/2014 - 20:04
        +6

        that's also his free opinion^

  • Archi on 09/04/2014 - 10:17
    +5

    some people have different hobbies and some see value in other ways.

    i'm not a foodie… but I can appreciate fine cuisine, the lengths and efforts a chef can take to prepare a meal.
    but I also enjoy trying different foods and different eateries at all price points.

    I don't drink or smoke but the people that do just astounds me… I understand, but I don't see the value in going out on a Friday night and spend $200 on alcohol and get completely wasted and wake up the next morning a raging hangover.

    'in a way using money to buy your own grief…'

    • mini2 on 09/04/2014 - 10:28
      +3

      They're doing it wrong, should've piled themselves up to the point they're semi-tipsy before going to get knocked out at the pub. Might save them a few quid in the process.

    • [Deactivated] on 09/04/2014 - 18:11

      What puzzles me is why some people seem to need to spend huge sums on their 'hobby.' Surely you can enjoy something without spending big?

      • hahaboy on 09/04/2014 - 20:46
        +2

        What are you going to spend your money on then?

        There is only so much internet a person can do and call it a "hobby" :P

        • [Deactivated] on 10/04/2014 - 00:25
          -1

          Pay off the mortgage, save for retirement, etc.

          Just saying you don't need to speng HUGE sums to prove you are serious about something. Get vfm. You can always spend it later…..

        • Archi on 10/04/2014 - 09:50
          +3

          then you get hit by a bus on the way to work…

          enjoyed life much …? nope just saved and saved and saved

        • [Deactivated] on 10/04/2014 - 11:46
          +3

          But most people won't get hit by a bus. That's just head in the sand thinking.

          I didn't say don't enjoy life. Just be wise with your money.

          Isn't that what this site is about?

        • mini2 on 10/04/2014 - 23:00

          Earn more fixes the problem. Now I gotta go earn more..it's almost like an addiction. At least (arguably) it's a good addiction.

        • [Deactivated] on 11/04/2014 - 13:29
          +3

          Most people just spend more whem they earn more. Catch22.

        • mini2 on 12/04/2014 - 07:06
          +1

          Go earn more again. There is only so much that you can buy.

        • redraoh on 12/04/2014 - 16:17

          It's easier to save $20-30k/year (or sink it into a mortgage) than increase your net pay by that much. And when people do get that raise, I bet they don't save all of it.

          I live on less than $15k/year and I'm trying to even get that down. Most people blow most of their $50k+ incomes.

        • [Deactivated] on 12/04/2014 - 17:28

          Oops +ed that comment!

          Meant to say: fast cars, holidays, renovations, fancy restaurants, etc. In this world you can always spend more. Earning more is never the solution, although it can help.

        • hahaboy on 12/04/2014 - 21:44

          What do you work in? part-time i assume?

        • redraoh on 13/04/2014 - 00:03

          If you're replying to me, I mean my living expenses are that low.

  • Archi on 09/04/2014 - 10:25
    +5

    OP suggests
    "How does the descent into foodie culture sit with ozbargainers who must hold a latte and compute that since milk is$1 a litre and a 5kg tub of instant roast is $9 that this fad is for the sheeple"

    MMMmm various oil paints in different colours $20 and a canavs $50. Picasso your a rip off

    just because I don't understand art doesn't mean I cant appreciate it.

  • melgibson on 09/04/2014 - 10:57
    +2

    In melbourne the kids have replaced activism through the political system with "oh my god like nigerian organic free trade coffee beans….. For my latte".
    In melbourne the kids think multiculturalism is simply the right to a wide and variable food court.
    In melbourne the act of sitting at an eatery, being seen and talking about how amazing the duck toastie is Is the end point……i mean what else are you going to do . Look at facebook?

    • Baghern on 09/04/2014 - 11:09
      +2

      The only thing that was really relevant there is "kids"

      • [Deactivated] on 10/04/2014 - 20:13
        +1

        Think he means that youth used to hold strong polital opinions, now they are just consumers.

        But consumers have power and ideologies are just that ideas. Maybe todays youth are smarter when it comes to changing the world even if they don't shout about it?

        • melgibson on 10/04/2014 - 21:01

          Maybe…. Though how would you know? Reminds me of the impotent porn star

        • [Deactivated] on 11/04/2014 - 13:30

          ????????????

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