Are You a Foodie? Or a Culinarian?

The word foodie is a surprisingly controversial thing to call someone, or self-identify yourself as. This is in part because different people have different understandings of what the term means. Some think it's a compliment, an acknowledgment of a passionate interested in food. Others consider it a pejorative, an insult, actually. A foodie is frivolous and trend-following and not to be taken seriously. Lately, I've been hearing another term slipping into the language: culinarian.

I've only heard the term culinarian used a few times, casually dropped here and there in the middle of a sentence. A few times on the radio, a few times at food events but enough that it's got my interest. It's used by people who are seriously interested in food and cooking. People who know their techniques and ingredients in a solid, non-trendy kind of way.

I'm someone who does not care for the word foodie and I've gotten used to not using it, even though it is a convenient short cut way to describe an interest in food. Because culinarian has a less frivolous feel than foodie, I'm inclined to prefer it but truth be told, I will probably stick with my practice of not using any single word to describe myself and my interest in food. I've gotten used to letting my words and actions speak for me without feeling the need to paste a label on it.

How about you? What do you think of being a foodie or a culinarian? Or do you use another term that fits the bill?

• The image above is from the infamous 'Is It Local?' episode, a very funny and classic spoof on foodies from the TV series Portlandia.

(Image: Portlandia)

Comments (37)

Does the label matter? Can't I just like good food?

I feel the same exact way about not wanting to assign a label to myself. The word "Foodie" means very different things to different people, and once you have branded yourself by some term, that is all people seem to remember. I eat a predominantly vegetarian diet but whenever I am asked if I am a vegetarian I always say "no." I do not like the pressure and judgements that are tied to labels. I just like food. :)

I always say that I'm a food nerd if I'm forced to describe my hobbies.

oh I like that, food nerd! I don't think foodie is a bad thing, I always took it as someone who enjoys eating and likes to try new dishes.. guess I was off on that term..

People generally think of me as a fat bastard.

I like good food. Period. If you feel the need to label that, your priorities are off (ironically making you NOT what you keep trying to call yourself!)

Just enjoy food and stop trying to come up with words for it.

this generation decided to be good at something and that something is labelling stuff.

it really doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme. choose one if you like but we've pretty much labelled everything that needed to be labelled, anything else is just annoying and redundant.

I'm with everyone else.

I'm just someone who likes to cook and eat food, old recipes or new, familiar Ingredients or something unheard of till now, and it truley makes me happy to be able to share this with anyone that I happen to be cooking or baking for. Just as simple as that.

I agree with the most recent commenter, I think labels don't really matter, as long as you know what you are passionate about, love the flavors of, etc. However, I am a true lover of food and all that recipes bring out of ingredients when their flavors combine. I would call myself a food and cooking enthusiast.

I dislike the term for the reasons you stated, even though my husband insists on using it and it makes me cringe every time (he's not so much on paying attention to the connotation of words). I do kinda like the suggestion of "food nerd." But mostly I like that episode of Portlandia...thanks for giving me a Tuesday afternoon chuckle just thinking of it.

I agree that the term "foodie" is sort of fraught with negative meaning, but "culinarian" sounds so pretentious that I can't even imagine using it to describe myself. For all the negative associations with "foodie", at least people sort of know what it means when you use it.

When I describe my interests in food, I do sometime use foodie, but I usually say something like "I'm sort of a foodie" in a self-deprecating tone, to indicate that I know it can sound bad but it's really the only word I can think of to succinctly convey the meaning I intend.

Ultimately, I agree with most of the commenters that the labels don't really matter. I don't like labeling my interests, but sometimes it just makes it simpler to have an all-encompassing term to use.

how about "picky with a discerning palate"?

To me, declaring yourself a 'foodie' is sort of like declaring yourself a 'Christian', as though your love of food (or God?) is purer than everyone else's. Smacks of piety.

I love food. I love to cook. I cook with great joy in my own kitchen, which enriches me and my family. All is good. No labels needed.

I don't think culinarian is any better than foodie.

Compliment, not complement.

Yes to the other commenters so far -- labels are silly! These nouns aren't necessary. It's like someone who plays recreational soccer saying "I am a soccer player" instead of "I enjoy playing soccer." The first sounds like they take it overly seriously or think they're somehow a professional, and the second sounds like the hobby it really is.

So in the same vein, I'm no foodie, but I love cooking new things, reading about food, and trying new restaurants.

Funny - just yesterday I was trying to decide whether my hat should say "gourmand" or "chowhound". Things just got even more complicated!

I have been labeled so many times, I don't even care if it has a pejorative side to it anymore.

I always thought that «foodie» seemed more like a fun, unattached way of explaning that you enjoy cooking and trying recipies with new ingredients you have not tried yet.

Culinarian sounds haughty, in a prententious My-ingredients-are better-than-yours-because-they're-more-expensive kind of way.

But I certainly cannot call myself a «chef».

So «food geek» would be more up my alley, I guess, with the «already a geek» label attached. :)

I don't care for the labels but I'll make a distinction if someone asks if I'm a foodie - I usually tell them that 'No, I'm not one of those crazy people taking pictures of food in restaurants'.

I do, however, grow a significant amount of my own food at home (including 3 dozen varieties of herbs) and I go to extra lengths to interact with farmers and buy their food in season (some of which I preserve for later use). So which label does that earn? For me, it's just enthusiastic and informed consumer.

I thought I was alone in my "food nerd-ness" yippee! :D

I'm in the biz and I've only ever heard the the term culinarian used to refer to someone who is a professional cook, recipe developer, writer etc.

yeah, if someone describes themselves as foodie, I usually end up translating that as "I am kind of a tool," while if someone called themselves a culinarian I would probably hear "I am a huge tool."

"I enjoy good food" pretty much says it all without making you sound like you're trying to sound cool.

I eschew the term "foodie," too, because of its connotations (at least in my mind):

- an "I"-centric focus, i.e. "I discovered x food," which is already too common in contemporary culture
- treating food as a thing to behold in and of itself, often separate from the human relationships behind it
- food as a religion, in which there are rights and wrongs, sins and taboos

and so on. I haven't found any label that fits so far. Just enjoying food for all it has to offer, people included.

I love planning meals, especially dinner parties. I love finding new recipes to try. I love fancy food, not (gak) trendy food. I mostly love simple, tasty food made with enthusiasm and fresh ingredients. I love shopping for food. I love cooking food. I love eating food. I love talking about food with other like-minded people.

I don't know what that condition is called in this country. In France, I would just be considered normal.

I agree with miabica. Why do people need a special label to describe a healthy interest in food, which is just considered normal in most other cultures?

I concur with catherineap. Culinarians are food preparation professionals, usually in back of the house positions. It helps to have an ACF certification with a few letters behind your name, too.

I had no idea "foodie" was considered a pretentious term. I thought it just meant someone who was interested in food - eating, cooking, and talking about it. I have described myself this way many times, but I probably won't anymore. Culinarian and gourmand sound much snobbier to me.

One of my coworkers considers himself a foodie, but he's the opposite of snobbish in regards to food. He loves to cook, bake, try different kinds of foods and ingredients, but he also enjoys chain restaurants and the like. I don't know if he's aware that there's a bad connotation to the term foodie.

Personally, I like food, good and healthy ingredients, inventive recipes, clean fusion, and learning. However, I don't like labels.

Just like I rarely eat meat of any kind (but will depending on the situation) and absolutely love vegetables and beans (cultural tradition), I hate being labeled as a vegetarian.

I tend to stick with 'avid home cook' or 'good home cook' because that's what I am. No one has ever called me a 'foodie,' though I have been called a 'food snob' once or twice--which I'll gladly admit to. This pursuit of cooking and eating the best food I can find is a form of snobbery, and I'm lucky I'm able to do it. I really don't care what I'm called, I suppose, but I'll stick to calling myself a 'good home cook.'

Love the Portlandia reference. Such a good skit. That is all.

I don't mind the term foodie, but then again, I also like using the terms nerd and dork as terms of endearment.

I like food nerd. But I also have the habit of sticking "nerd" onto the end of all of my loves: music nerd, history nerd, book nerd, etc.

I feel like I have also heard/read "foodist" somewhere? Or maybe I'm just putting "food" onto "faddist" or something.

Who cares what the right term is; I enjoy cooking and eating good food and appreciate the efforts of those who do the same.

I think Culinarian sounds pretentious...

Me like food. Me eat it.

No fancy words needed.

I consider the scene from "Portlandia" used for the image representing this article a prime example of these terms and others like them.

For those of you who haven't seen the series, it's not a good thing.

"I love food. I love making food, I love eating food, I love talking about food, I love learning about food." = explaining myself

I usually just say "I like to play Iron Chef" and leave it at that. But I've never viewed the term "foodie" as a pejorative. I would definitely take it as a compliment if someone described me as such.

I just like that you used a snap shot from Portlandia. I'll go with food nerd or compulsive cooker, thank you.