WHAT IS A CHOWHOUND? CLARIFY, PLEASE [Moved from Boston board]

[gorditwo]

It sems to me that the true definition is in finds like Angela's. Places that are off the beaten-track, out of the way, and offering unexpected meals that are both tasty and cheap. Others seem to think that is too narrow a definition. I think it doesnt take much of a hound's nose to go to a well-known, fancy place and "discover" anything. Though not that I have anything against a fancy place. I'm inclined to think that places like Speeds, Taco Lupita, are real chow finds. What do you think?

[currymouth]

'" A person that has an excessive amount of time on their hands and revels in the art of pissing off people who do not know which is the salad fork"

[hiddenboston]

Someone who finds the Food Network more exciting than late-night Cinemax...

[dingey]

Haaaaaaa! Nice.

[finlero]

Two things you might want to read:

1) The "Chowhound Manifesto" written a few years ago:

http://www.chowhound.com/manifesto

2) A really interesting thread currently going on in the Not About Food board, with some particularly interesting comments from current/former (respectively) Boston hounds MC Slim JB: and limster

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/501489

[hiddenboston]

I don't think there is any true way to define a Chowhound. Some of us, like myself, love to find little-known places that are often off the beaten path. Others love the popular places such as Eastern Standard and Radius. And then there are others who like going to both types of places. And yes, you'll find folks here who like chain restaurants, too. So I'm not sure there is really a way to define a CH person. And that's what makes this site great; you can have someone rave about the wings at the 99 while at the same moment, someone else is gushing over the short ribs at Grotto or the Steak Tartare at The Butcher Shop...

[dingey]

I guess my interpretation is that a Chowhound is anybody who's food-obsessed. Upscale, downscale, doesn't matter, as long as it's GOOD. Chowhounds are willing to walk into a dive and eat the food if it looks interesting. Likewise, they're not intimidated by places with obtuse food explanations and pricier menus (if the bank account allows). A Chowhound would rather blow money on food and drink than anything else. A Chowhound is somebody that plans vacations around EATING (or at least makes that one of the top priorities!). A Chowhound lays awake at night trying to figure out the best way to use up some leftover chicken.A chowhound is somebody who wishes they didn't have a dayjob so that they could devote their time and energy to things like homemade stock, demiglace, and canning. Or maybe that's just me! :)

That's my guess. Anyone else?

[ChefBoyAreMe]

Actually, some chowhounds prefer cooking over going out, so limiting the definition to those who prefer a certain type of restaurant is too narrow.

I think a chowhound is someone with a degree of food obsession...the type of person who will go to 5 different stores to get 5 different ingredients that could all be bought in one place, just because the other places have better versions of what they want.

A hound is the kind of person who is more interested in spending a Saturday or Sunday cooking a meal than watching a game.

Or the kind of person who wants cooking gear for gifts, especially if he is a guy...I call them "sporting goods."

A hound most enjoys a restaurant when the food is something he or she couldn't make at home, or couldn't make as well, and is disappointed if they fall below this standard. And that's true whether it is haute cuisine, or a hot dog.

Bottom line, most people eat to live...hounds live to eat.

[gorditwo]

hadn't thought of that, so true...

[grayelf]

If you combine dingey and CBAM posts, you get the definition of a Chowhound, or at least of this Chowhound :-).