Eat*Drink*Cleveland: Simpsons

Foodies on the Simpsons

Last week I watched the Simpson's for the first time in a long time. I love the show but have been so busy that I haven't gotten a chance to watch much this season. But I knew I had to make time for an episode that was sure to be near and dear to my heart - The Food Wife. I set the DVR in case something came up - I knew I didn't want to miss this one!
This episode follows Marge and the kids as they become foodies and start a food blog called the Three Mouthketeers.

This of course is something I totally relate to. While our motivations for starting our blogs differ wildly (Marge wanted to be the Cool Mom and I finally took the plunge to make my love of food public) it's not at all surprising that the episode was particularly funny to me and the other crazy foodies out there. I loved the special appearance by foodie bad boy Anthony Bourdain. And I'm sure there are a lot of folks that can relate to the foodie rap:

We're blogging a food blog...
I'm throwning down mad foodie game, knowing all the chefs' names
Rolling into K-Town, bibimbap bulgogi
The hotties that I chill with are Sriracha and kimchi
House-made terrines, my ducks are always confit
I braise with a billion more BTUs than I need
I cook Thanksgiving turkey in a trash bag, sous vide
A fumatore in Brindisi Fed-Exes me small salami
Don't scoop me gelato unless it's got umami
I'll be Frank like Bruni, ruthless like Reichl
Wiley like Dufresne, and when I take the mic
Rhyme about radicchio, criticize Colicchio
Every pub is gastro, all my beef carpaccio
Throw it in the pho, yo
And don't you call it pho, pho
Talk about broth-squirting dumplings
Dumplings! Dumplings! Dumplings!
We're blogging a food blog...

Homer initially rejects their new found appreciation for fabulous food but finally jumps on the band wagon once he becomes jealous of the attention Marge is getting from the kids. He ends up at a meth den because Marge gets nervous when he tries to join them for a food event and sends him to the wrong address. The similarities between the restaurant and the meth den are hilarious.

The Foodie episode obviously pokes fun at the masses that are obsessed with food and the blogosphere. Their portrayal is intentionally over the top. I know that some people consider foodies obnoxious food snobs that eat in some fantasy universe where everything is gourmet, locavore and expensive. Others love everything about food but refuse to use the term due to those unsavory connotations it brings to the table. Even Cleveland's own Iron Chef Michael Symon voiced his strong opinion about the topic on Facebook recently (he hates it!) I will sometimes use the term because it easily captures in one word my love of all things food. I don't focus on the negative connotation about it because I differentiate between foodie and food snob (or pompous ass, depending on the situation.) But really, I'm a lover a food who gladly shares that love with anyone who will listen. I sing the praises of all good food and appreciate a really good hot dog as well as the best of fine dining.

What do you think of the term? Love it? Hate it? What would you rather call yourself or the foodies in your life?