What the hell is a foodie, anyway? Do we not all eat food?

This word is repeated ad nauseam and I am perplexed by it even though most people would say that I am one. GAD and I both love to eat out and we have had the pleasure of dining at some really cool restaurants. For example:

Graham Elliott (Chicago) watermelon pop rock foie gras & deconstruced Twinkie caesar salad

Mercadito (Chicago) Tequila and salsa flights with lunch.  

Morimoto (NYC) 8-course chef’s tasting menu

Danube (formerly NYC) authentic wiener schnitzel and the beginning of my obsession with St. Germaine

Centrico (NYC) quail in rose petal sauce

Prime 112 (Miami Beach) steak so good and wine so sweet that I passed out in the car heading home

Jean-Georges Steakhouse (Las Vegas) amazing lobster tail and Schramsberg champagne

Julian Serrano (Las Vegas) paella to die for (see above)

And then there are the slew of upscale Houston eateries: Brasserie 19, Hugo’s, Philippe, Stella Sola, Reef, Ibiza, Catalan (formerly), Bar Annie, Mark’s, Mockingbird Bistro, Glass Wall, Haven, Canopy, Ouisie’s Table, Tiny Boxwoods, and T’afia, and many many more.

We have gotten into such a habit of eating beautifully on occasion that it is standard for GAD to keep his camera handy so he can photograph our food so it can last, literally, forever.

But does this make me a foodie?

What if I told you that I get equal (but different) delight from queso & chalupas from Tchapultapec, chicken fajitas from Pappasitos, fish sandwich & fries with gravy at Whataburger, and let’s not forget hamburgers. I LOVE hamburgers. The Counter. Little Bigs. Basically anywhere.

Wouldn’t those simply (and inexpensive) delights make me an anti-foodie?

I have come to be really concerned that we believe that good food = big cash. It’s just not the case. When the basic ingredients at most restaurants are the same, why is some food more flavorful? Or healthy? Or expensive?

Of course, my business friends point out that solo chef restaurants have higher overhead expenses than, say, Chilis which leads to the mark-up, but I think that restaurants also taken advantage of people like me who think it’s okay to spend money on food that is unique, in a beautiful space, and treats me like a human being instead of a numbered table station.

But wait – is that such a strange request? If we eat out shouldn’t we be able to enjoy healthy, well prepared food, in an environment that allows us to have leisurely conversations without spending all of our entertainment money at once? Should there be a special term for this?

Perhaps I should live in Europe, but why don’t Americans deserve food as it was intended – a way for people to gather at the end of our day, to talk about our day’s work, to come together to complete something shared, and to satiate our basic hunger? Without going bankrupt and without having to eat fast food?

I am lucky. Mid-thirties. No children. A job and a boyfriend who afford me the opportunity to eat at these amazing places. But what happens when my situation changes? No nice restaurants for me?

It’s true, I should not eat Whataburger with fries & gravy but I also should not have to spend $100 for dinner.  Where is the balance? 

Part of that is coming to the realization that I am going to have to cook more. And not cook crap food. I am going to have to be able to cook good food quickly and inexpensively. Yes, it is starting to take up some of my blog writing time, but it is starting to help me feel less suckered by restaurants and less likely to pick up something crappy when I know I can make better myself.

Please note: this is not to say that I will be able to kick my fancy restaurant habit. In fact, JB is picking out someplace good for GAD and I to go to when we visit Miami next month. However, I could start looking at my kitchen as my own solo chef establishment. I kind of like that idea.

As an example: Here is the vegan dinner I made last night. Polenta with fresh spinach and homemade simple tomato sauce topped with pine nuts. It was delicious!

August is restaurant month and so I encourage everyone to take advantage of the price fixed menu at some of the “fancier” restaurants in town.  Here is a link to a list of participating restuarants. http://houstonrestaurantweeks.com/

Also, if you are a “foodie” here is a link to the Houston Culinary Awards survey. Support your local restaurant and chef!  http://houstonculinaryawards.com/