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Food Tattoos: Would You Get One?

2008_8_23-food-tattoos2.jpgWe've always thought it would be cool to get a tattoo, but we've never thought of the perfect image. Why not food? Some pretty vegetables, perhaps? Or maybe a nice cupcake? (Now if only we could get over our fear of needles.)

 
 

Food tattoos are gaining popularity and range from meat and cutlery to colorful desserts and beloved products. So we want to know: Would you get one? What would it be? Or maybe you already have one?

Tell us in the comments.



Related:
Food Art: Tropical Food Stamps at the USPS

(Images: The Rozillis! and Amy Adoyzie, used with special permission)

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Comments (20)

I know a guy with the USDA Grade A Beef stamp on his butt... does that count?

posted by islandchild on August 23rd 2008 at 6:20am
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This seems like the thing for chefs to do these days.

Not for me.

I'll stick with the Tasmanian Devil on my shoulder. (I'm just kidding, I don't have any tattoos.)

Funny though, I just read about a restaurant that opened in Chicago whose overall design is based on tattoos.

posted by art on August 23rd 2008 at 6:23am
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I have a cupcake tattoo ♥


http://flickr.com/photos/misscupcakeface/2789194193/

posted by misscupcakeface on August 23rd 2008 at 7:36am
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I would love to get an artichoke tattoo. Not only are they one of my favorite foods, but they are beautiful as well. As long as the tatt doesn't come out looking like a lotus flower.

posted by mangabanga on August 23rd 2008 at 8:41am
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I have a friend who also has a cupcake tattoo, with a whisk and rubber spatula crossed underneath. (Hi Tina!)

One of the best food tattoos I ever saw was a giant head of garlic, rendered perfectly in old-fashioned botanical-plate style, on the arm of a barista in Minnesota. Totally gorgeous.

I have lots of tattoos already, and have seriously considered getting a HUGE back piece of an illustration from a Native American children's book, of a SUPER CUTE squirrel standing over a giant cornucopia of colorful fruits and veggies, with his paw extended like he's 'presenting' it to you or inviting you to it, like the Price is Right girls. It's an amazing illustration and very large, and so colorful, I think it would be a beautiful tattoo. Some day!

posted by Bx on August 23rd 2008 at 9:35am
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i've got a lot of tattoos, too, but no food tattoos! i LOVE the cupcake tattoos ladies - but (gasp) i don't really like cupcakes. maybe a kitchenaid mixer with wings in memory of my grandma?? i inherited that kitchenaid when she died! ahahah. sorry. bad taste. bahah.

posted by kdkaboom on August 23rd 2008 at 11:17am
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if I got one, I'd probably do a little strawberry on my left leg. I had a small strawberry birthmark there that eventually faded, and I remember being about 6 or 7 years old and crying because I realized I couldn't see it any more. and I always love eating strawberries.

the rachel ray tattoo on the eating in cleveland page is terrifying.

posted by lcg on August 23rd 2008 at 1:10pm
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I love my food tattoo--a pair of pea pods with "petit pois" written below. It's located on my lower back. Not many people see it, but knowing that it's there gives me joy.

posted by pea on August 23rd 2008 at 2:26pm
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Favorite food tattoo I've seen...one of the fellows who works at Bouchon has a tattoo of the chopsticks instructions on his inner arm. Hilarious!

posted by Casey Dukes on August 23rd 2008 at 2:51pm
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Not big on tattoos and deathly afraid of needles, but the artichoke thing sounds neat.

posted by sar3j on August 23rd 2008 at 3:19pm
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I grew up around a lot of men with tattoos and I don't find them appealing at all. The art is always overly simplistic (even when it's relatively detailed or sophisticated by tattoo standards) and I've noticed that you rarely (or never) see people happily showing off their tattoos when they're older and their skin has changed.

I wouldn't get a tattoo, and I'd be even less inclined to get a food tattoo as I'm not so sure it'd offer a message I'd want permanently attached to my body (like food is what I prioritize or value most in life).

posted by Orchid64 on August 23rd 2008 at 3:45pm
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As an aside, if you ever want to work in Japan or visit the onsen, never get a tattoo! The Japanese associate them with gangsters (yakuza) and most onsen ban people with tattoos from using the facilities.

It's very serious and you can be refused a job if you have a visible tattoo.

posted by Orchid64 on August 23rd 2008 at 3:47pm
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A good friend of mine who owns Yield in San Francisco has two awesome food tattoos - an avocado on one bicep, and a bunch of brussel sprouts on the other.

posted by elmcclell on August 23rd 2008 at 4:04pm
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I'm happy with the three tattoos I already have, but I wouldn't be opposed to a food-inspired tattoo just because it was a food-inspired tattoo.

A few weeks ago, a friend sent this link to me: http://www.flickr.com/groups/foodtatts/

posted by OneWallKitchen on August 23rd 2008 at 11:43pm
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It depends on how you define it (strictly food or not), but guess I've got a foodie tattoo; a bunny that says "vegan" on my wrist. You can see it in the second picture of my ice cream entry: http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/best-lick-2008/roasted-apricot-ice-cream-with-almond-praline-ripple-best-lick-2008-ice-cream-contest-entry-1-059463

posted by BitterSweet- on August 24th 2008 at 4:14am
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I have a food tattoo- a friend of mine drew up a "sacred garlic clove", much like the sacred heart. It's on my foot, and I am trying to think of something similar for my other foot.

posted by JigsawJones on August 24th 2008 at 4:55pm
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I want my first tattoo to be a red onion. I think they are gorgeous, and my favorite of all the alliums.

I have also seen many cool food tattoos: pomegranate, asparagus, etc...

posted by spotonmeg on August 24th 2008 at 7:50pm
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not really food, but i do have a queen anne's lace tattoo... also known wild carrot flowers, so i guess it counts a little...

hopefully more to come :)

posted by closertotheocean on August 25th 2008 at 5:15am
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Yes! I want one around my wrist, a very delicate circle of thyme, my favorite herb.

posted by sjbreeze on August 25th 2008 at 11:24am
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i have a cupcake tattoo. and i loveee it. i mean among 20 other ones but they arent food related haha except for some cherries haha

posted by littleone on August 27th 2008 at 6:58am
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