This week, we’re happy to welcome Merilee Kern, Executive Editor of The Luxe List to discuss her thoughts on what it means to be a foodie.

I was recently immersed in casual conversation at a social function and referred to myself as a “foodie”. The person I was speaking to looked at me quizzically, and asked “what makes someone a foodie…doesn’t everyone like food?”

To this, I replied with my own personal off-the-cuff definition of a foodie relative to why I consider myself one and what it generally means to me. My answer was this: “For a foodie, eating is more than an act…it’s an experience. Foodies don’t just eat a meal, they revel in it and regard all facets of the dish in the process: the ingredients used as well as how and where they were sourced, the preparation (and skill related thereto), taste, texture, smell and presentation.”

I was not at all prepared to answer this question so specifically, but was relatively satisfied with my on-the-fly answer that duly conveyed how I personally identify with the word “foodie.” The question weighed on me however, as I later wondered if I had defined it correctly in a universal sense. Had I aptly conveyed the intended sentiments that most associate with the word “foodie”—a moniker I wear with much pride?

In pondering this, I decided to query applicable industry purveyors who would have an interesting and presumably on-point perspective of the word. Here are some of the easily digestible definitions and perceptions of the term “foodie” that I received:

“A foodie is someone who delights in all things food related and seeks the high quality experience and taste. Today foodies unite for events, grub crawls, Yelp reviews, and even persuade restaurant owners to change menu items.”

–Brandon Sowers, BAMGAM.ORG

“A foodie is someone who seeks out experiences through flavor.”
–Babette Pepaj, BakeSpace.com

“A foodie is a person who is concerned enough about what they eat to search out the “best” food, know its source or provenance, and cares about flavor, taste, texture, aroma more than how much they can eat and how much it costs. Foodies often also want to eat seasonal. Locally and sustainably produced food, too.”
–Jill Nussinow, The Veggie Queen

Thanks to Merilee Kern and The Luxe List for this post!