How do people become great chefs? How do they acquire necessary skills to cook such great food that cost so much money and time? Great chefs of today did not get the same exposure in food as we do today. Also many of them were not rich, which means they did not have the benefit of tasting good food. But somehow they found a way, from their passion and interest for food, to train themselves to become who they are, great foodies .The presence of those chefs shows that in order to become a foodie, which defines people who are interested in food and have a refined taste in food, it does not matter what your socioeconomic status is. The only thing that matters in becoming a foodie and joining the foodie culture is that person’s passion and willingness to learn about food.
The food culture has come a long way since Julia Child. When there were one or two shows that were about food and cooking, now, there is a channel dedicated just for food: The Food Network. Sometimes, major TV networks like Fox broadcast food shows like ‘Hell’s Kitchen.’ Also, when people walk into libraries and bookstores, they can find a whole section filled with books related to food. However, unless people take interest in food, they don’t notice how much the food cultures improved and how big it is. For instance, before I took English 1101, which has food as its topic, I never knew that there was such a wide range of literature and media coverage on food. Reading books like “Bittersweet” and “Garlic & Sapphires”, helped me better understand the food culture. The author of “Bittersweet”, Matt McAllester, showed throughout the book how his memory of his mom cooking in the kitchen and his attempt to learn how to cook helped him cope with his mom’s death. Reading this book, I’ve realized how food can impact one’s life and a whole novel can be written based on the idea of food. I was able to relate his message to the readers to my own life, as I found Korean food as a solace. When I realized how much food comforted me, I found a passion for food within me as I’m trying out new food and look up for many different food recipes. Also, after reading “Garlic & Sapphires,” I’ve learned how much people take interest in food and the media tries to satisfy their interest. The author, Ruth Richel, disguises herself in costumes to give the readers an unbiased review on restaurants. As she’s arriving to the airport, she tells herself, “If every restaurant in New York knew what I looked like, I had to look like someone else” (Reichl 24). Reichl gave me a better insight to the foodie culture as she showed professionalism in her job as food critic. Coming from an affluent family, I have tasted many good foods and been to restaurants where people refer to as five-star restaurants, but I have never had that much interest in food and did not consider myself as a foodie. I just ate food. However, as I’m going through my English class, I’ve taken more interest to the food culture and found myself taking more time researching about food. Reading through the books and watching cooking shows have made a foodie. I found a passion in food as I found a connection between food and my life, and I’m willing to learn about food.
Many of famous chefs would not have been where they are if they were not true foodie. They are the front runners in the foodie culture as they spread the joy of food by offering people with great food. From tasting the great food, people become more appreciative and aware of the foodie culture. Many great chefs, when they first became foodies, did not have a high socioeconomic status. Chefs like Joel Robuchon, Alain Ducasse and Gordon Ramsay, who have received the most Michelin Stars in the world, have all started out in low socioeconomic status (Michelin Stars are awarded by Michelin Guide to restaurants of outstanding quality. They are awarded sparingly and one of the most prestigious rating chefs can get). Many of the great chefs have started out as a poor and inexperience apprentice working at restaurants, and what kept them motivated to become the best and survive in the culinary world were their passion and interest for food. For instance, Gordon Ramsay, who is ranked 3rd in the world in terms of Michelin Stars, grew up in low to middle income household. His dad did not have a secured job. His dad worked as welder, shopkeeper, swimming pool manager, etc. His mother was a nurse. Chef Ramsay had a difficult childhood as his father often neglected him, according to his biography “Humble-Pie”. Despite growing up from a difficult childhood and lack of experience with high-quality food, his interest in food grew strongly. Ramsay could have taken a job in hotel management which he studied in College. It could have offered him more money and job security over the time, but he chose to become a chef even though he knew it would be a difficult road. The one and only thing that separate Ramsay from any ordinary chef is his passion to learning about food. If he was not the true foodie and just took chef as being a just job, he would have ended up as an ordinary chef serving low quality food. Chefs like Gordon Ramsay show that being a foodie does not mean that you need to be rich and spend as much money as they can to buy expensive food. It’s about taking your time out of the day and learning about food and cooking, not just appreciating the good food that you eat at a restaurant.
In the movie “Ratatouille,” the main character in the movie shows how your socioeconomic status has nothing to do with becoming a foodie. The main character, Remy, is a rat who lives in a house in the country inspires to become a great chef. The entire colony, to which Remy is part of, only eats food for survival, not necessarily to taste it. They would go through the garbage and look for food that is edible. In contrast, Remy would always think of a way to create his own food and make ordinary food special. As he watches other rats eating garbage, he says to himself, “if you are to eat, then I only want to eat the good stuff.” Remy even risks his life by going into the kitchen and experiments with food. He would feel joy by coming up with combinations of different food and finding ingredients for his food experiments. He gets pleasure from learning about and tasting food. Although the movie is fictional, the movie conveys its message about food and socioeconomic. Remy is represented as the member of lower class of the society who make little to no money and has spend his entire day looking for food. Despite his low socioeconomic status as a rat, his passion for food takes him so far as to risk his own life to taste good food. He would sneak into a kitchen at nearby house and start experimenting with fresh ingredients even when he knows when the owner house sees him, he would get killed. For instance he would taste cheese and strawberry one at a time, recognizing their own flavor. Then he would taste both of them at the same time and he feels joy by tasting a new flavor. Also, he would sneak into the restaurant at which his favorite chef, Chef Gusteau, and cook with joy. Every time, he would experiment with the food and by creating a new food, he feels happy. The movie shows that even if you think you don’t have the time, strength and money to take interest in food and learn about it, there is always way if you are a true foodie. Remy could’ve easily gave up on his interest in food and just live as a normal rat, foraging for food through the garbage, but his passion and willingness to learn about food made him a true foodie.
Everybody can enjoy a good food. But becoming a foodie takes more than tasting the great food. A foodie has to be able to expand his knowledge in food and expand his view on foodie culture as I have. I did not just read those books in my English class. I somehow found a way to relate to “Bittersweet” to my own life and also expanded my knowledge on how much professionalism there was in media coverage on food. A food also has to be willing to learn about food and have a passion for it. Chef Ramsay and Remy both have shown that you do not need to have a large sum of money to become a foodie. Chef Ramsay’s parents did not have enough money to take him to fancy restaurants and Chef Ramsay himself did not have enough money to eat great food because he was a student. Also, Remy couldn’t afford even a regular food that we consider the least edible because he was a rat. His own existence was for survival and he and his colony had to eat food from the garbage just to fill their stomachs. Being a foodie is more than just tasting a good food, it’s about having a passion and willingness to learn and explore the world of food.
References:
Reichl, Ruth. Garlic and Sapphires. New York: Penguin, 2005. Paper.
Ratatouille. Dir. Brad Bird and Jan Pinkava. Perf. Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, and Brian Dennehy. Pixar, 2007. Film.
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