Originally Posted by
robyng
I can only tell you from my POV...
I am 66 years old - and started to dine in fine dining places when I was in my late 20's - about 40 years ago. The word "foodie" didn't exist back then - and it still makes me cringe now.
As I interpret it today - it's a person who goes around trying to dine at great places - put notches in their belts (if you know what I mean about that) - but who actually doesn't know very much - or hasn't tried to learn much - if anything - about food or the cuisine where they're dining. This is probably a pretty harsh assessment.
...
On my part - these days - I am not in synch with food trucks - or high end restaurants that serve 30+ course meals that last for 4+ hours (some other things too). Robyn
Not a bad assessment.
A little OT but just my 2 cents, but perhaps when the term was first used, it described those who thought food was a hobby and were passionate about the same…that said, I would say around 2005 or 6, about the time that egullet peaked (and jumped the shark about 2009 IMO), I got the sense that all of a sudden the term started to be used by those wanting to feel superior/elitist towards others in their culinary experiences versus those that were impassioned about the subject. I think at about this time, many boards turned to “I know more about you about food and therefore your review of this place means nothing” bickering etc.
I prefer to describe myself as a food and beverage enthusiast….for the record, my wife and I dined at french laundry (I think 2 years after it opened) before people have even heard of it or Thomas Keller…but at this time, we were most enthusiastic about wine versus food…
back OT, my 2 cents for those that have not been to Japan, research the style of food you are looking for or that people want more...this is a good link.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2036.html
then figure out whether you want a fast dinner or a short dinner and do you want to drink and what you want to drink...
then hunt around for places in your budget range and that places like bento.com has reviewed or review on other sites. try to avoid the superiority reviews personally and find people who have objective opinions...
there are soooo many restaurants in Tokyo given it is a huge, i mean huge city taking into the metro communiting areas.
good luck. personally, i have never had a bad meal in Japan and had better japanese food than even some of the supposed best places in NYC and other cities...at of all places, the basements of department stores...
