Well, put it this way. I won't laugh at someone for liking Olive Garden,
but if I find out that they do, I will forever discount their food, wine,
seat, political, and lifestyle preferences.

I will definitely admit to being a food snob and always eat the local cuisine when I travel. I feel sorry for our foreign clients who are treated to one of the mall restaurants when they visit us. My coworkers (and boss) think fine eating is a "feed a family of four for a week" monster plate from Champs, Maggianos, P.F. Changs, etc., etc. We're lucky to live in a town with fantastic local chefs and restaurants well beyond what one would expect for an area of this size. But do our guests get treated to those... Aargh.

1. A paella should never contain chopped onions, nor should seafood be mixed with meat. Spanish food never ever contains coriander/cilantro - I know it looks the same as flat leaf parsley, but it isn't. Spanish omellete never has peas, corn or any other vegetable that can be scooped out of the kitchen sink plughole in it.
All these aberrations are an offence! And don't get me started on British supermarket sushi... urgh!!!
As to whether I "say YUCK" whenever eating something that tries to imitate British food... errr... who would bother?

2. My own brand of food snobbery makes me laugh (or wince) at patronising TV presenters and food writers who get it wrong. (For instance: the lady providing the condescending posh voice-over on a recent 'Masterchef' episode in the UK insisted on repeatedly calling norimaki rolls "No-ree" - with the 'no' pronounced 'no' - as in yes/no).

3. When I go to the States I HAVE to eat at Taco bells at least once. The limited edition tofu burgers and ebi (prawn/shrimp) burgers at MacDonalds Japan were delicious. And I have a soft spot for a good chicago style pizza. I even tried MacDonalds battered squid rings in Italy once... they weren't awful.

The diaspora of cooks and musicians caused by hurricanes Katrina & Rita will greatly benefit the areas in which these wonderful people practice their art. Maybe we need a new thread for great Creole and great Cajun food (there's a difference Boudreaux!) served outside Louisiana.

You are so right, suthurn. We shouldn't be too quick to condemn regional cooking outside its region, even pre-Katrina. Granted, it's more miss than hit outside its home region, but not everyone spends their whole life within 5 miles of where they were born and that includes chefs.

Some here might disagree with my evaluation, but the best gumbo I ever ate was in Merdian MS (it is within 100 miles of NO, I think) and I have had decent cajun food in AL and NC.

Sweet Willie is known as somewhat of a foodie to many here. In this case, however, he is actually correct.

Saint Viateur is the only way to go. Our trip always yield 3-4 dozen bagels. They had Real Bagel in Toronto for a while but they closed down. For good breakfast head to any Cora's location. Cora's even has a few in Toronto. Avoid Beauty's unless you want slow service, cold food and overpriced food.

Haven't been in a couple of years, but always loved Fairmount Bagel Bakery. However, heard they've gone "designer?"

Most people who know me would say I am a food snob, but I am the first one they call for a recommendation, even in their own cities.

I dislike almost all chain restaurants and have almost trained everyone I know not to take me to one.

With all the great local options out there, why eat somewhere you could eat in anytime, anywhere?

No, unless you consider "Supersizing" a meal, a sign of snobbery.

Feh...

NY pizza is greasy, it's crust limp and indistinguished.
Only a native NYer would believe their pies were best.


NY Bagels are O.K...
But they hadly measure up to a 2 a.m. run to the Western Bagel plant out in the San Fernando Valley of LA to get fresh-out-of-the-oven bagels. (...but any hour is good, they bake 24/7/365...)

You hit the nail on the head IMO. I LOVE Chipotle, but if I were in Mexico i certainly wouldn't eat there. Good food, good drink, and good company make for a great evening.

I haven't been to Mexico for a few years. Do they have Chipotles there now?

Western Bagel is good but even better is the Brooklyn Bagel Company on Beverly Blvd near Downtown L.A. ^

In related news, I was talking with my wife the other day and she called me a food snob

She told me that I would eat anywhere, but when it comes to cooking at the house I always try to do all this fancy stuff

So what's wrong with that