Why Foodieism Elicits Such Disdain among Privileged Class Pursuits

 

Before assuming the role of managing director at Forefront Wealth Management, LLC, in New York, NY, Dr. Derek Bryson Park received his MPA and PhD in international and developmental administration from New York University. He also served in executive capacities at organizations such as Lehman Brothers Inc., Cohane Rafferty Securities LLC; and Mahler & Emerson, Inc. (an affiliate of Brean Murray, Carret & Co., LLC). An avid foodie, Dr. Derek Bryson Park explores different cuisines from various cultures in his free time.

A professor of philosophy at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Susan Wolf has discussed what it means to be a foodie in a world where non-foodies are reluctant to accept foodieism. Being a foodie revolves around enjoying fine cuisine and creating food at home with meticulously curated ingredients.

Dr. Wolf thinks that the discomfort of being a foodie stems from the idea that foodieism represents an investment that makes light of other people’s lack of sustenance and resources. Aside from that, foodies are thought to be snobbish by giving the impression that they think others cannot distinguish one variety of food from another.

In truth, other sects of the privileged class are into more expensive hobbies than foodies, yet they don’t elicit as much disdain. Dr. Wolf posits that it may be because food is universal; while attending concerts and operas is not necessarily comparable to others’ activities, what foodies do is.

Spending on a hobby is fine, but foodies receive more judgment because their discerning tastes revolve around food, which is a basic need. However, this looks too much like a double standard, considering that individuals who appreciate opera, for example, aren’t necessarily snobs. In both instances, people simply have an interest in which they wish to invest. Having said that, Dr. Wolf would want those who would spend $100 on a meal rather than on someone who really needs it to give pause to such inclinations.