Do You Have Issues?

November 12th, 2007 · 6 Comments

The NY Times Magazine has an entertaining little piece on upscale Hollywood’s “food issues.” Poking fun at Hollywood’s weird, pseudo-scientific food trends and obsessive-compulsive eating behavior is fair game and worth some — OK, a lot of — ridicule. The town’s capacity for self-indulgence and neuroses is historic and inarguable.

But things get interesting when a smug interviewee suggests a cause of these obsessions:

“If their souls were satisfied,” [the owner of a popular LA restaurant] reasons, “they would be eating the salmon the way it should it be ordered.”

The way it should be ordered is not steamed, it seems.

I lean toward thinking that obsessive monitoring of food can get a little batty — but “soulless”? Hey now! That’s all fine and good for lampooning Hollywood, but what does it imply about the rest of us with “food issues”?

When we have goals for our health, sometimes we want as much input as possible on what goes into our mouths, especially if work or social life requires us to eat out more than we’d like.

And to return to Hollywood for a moment, this is an industry town. Restaurants like the one owned by the guy interviewed above function as business venues as often — I’d guess, more often — than as sacred spaces to let loose and enjoy food with loved ones. When you’re out for a work lunch at a restaurant that you may not have even chosen, why shouldn’t you get your salmon steamed?

But how about you, wherever you are: Do you wear your “food issues” badge proudly, or is it something you admit with a few bashful eyelash flutters?

I’m on Team Bashful, but I’m trying to change that, somewhat. I do remember once gleefully asking the Mexican cook at a restaurant where I worked during a vegan phase in college to make me a “Spinach Quesadilla, hold the Queso.” He did it, nodding his head sadly at this crazy gringa. Probably, he was worried for my soul. Needlessly, as that was the last no-cheese quesadilla I ever ordered.

Tags: Media Images · Health News

6 responses so far ↓

1 Melissa H. // Nov 12, 2007 at 2:08 pm

Oh I totally am one of those annoying When Harry Met Sally types… I was before I started watching my weight b/c I was picky… But now, it’s for my health. I’ll be honest, I don’t care what waiters or chefs think or if it ruins the experience; I’m not such a foodie that I feel like I’m ‘missing out’…

I see it like it– it’s my body and I wear the Food Issues badge proudly. If I want something plain, steamed, sauce on the side…I do it. I don’t care what my co-workers, table-mates, husband, friends think…my body my temple. It sounds selfish and narcissistic maybe, but I can’t seem to ditch these few lbs I’ve put on and the last thing I need is to order to appease some chef ;-)

PS–LOL about the spinach quesadilla sin queso ;-) Las gringas son locas ;-)
2 Sara Grace // Nov 12, 2007 at 4:40 pm

It doesn’t sound selfish - but if it is, that’s exactly what restaurants are supposed to be about! Your attitude expressed above is also exactly why I’m learning to ask for exactly what I want: I’m afraid that in my case NOT asking is too much about caring what others think, not about what I really want. I’m too old for that!
3 amanda // Nov 12, 2007 at 5:36 pm

we must have the same mind because I posted about this article too on saturday! except, as much as I appreciated the topic, I don’t think the article conveyed the right message.
4 Sara // Nov 12, 2007 at 5:59 pm

lol… i went and read your execellent post. i’m a bit schizophrenic on this topic - half the time I feel like you, amanda. i LOVE a good restaurant, and have never once asked for a substitution in one. :-)
5 Melissa H. // Nov 12, 2007 at 7:35 pm

I think if I were a genuine foodie I’d have problems accepting subs, but I am just someone who likes to eat :)

Order how YOU want it. If you want it made as is, cool. But if not, it’s not “Weird” anymore to ask for things prepared differently, really! Even in big cities I do it…and I’ve found most chefs to be accomodating b/c with allergies and illnesses, so many people actually have bigger issues than simply “weight control”.

You’re worth it! :)

PS-Once the food comes, 99.9% of the time, no one ever asks how yours was prepared, nor do they care! People just want what they ordered. :)
6 Melissa H. // Nov 13, 2007 at 1:27 am

The “you” was intended in the general sense, by the way! I just re-read this and realized it sounded way wrong!