Most overused phrases...

[pastry634]

in food reviews! I stole this post from another food-geared website, and I think its an interesting topic. The examples the original poster gave was "cloying" and "toothsome"...and I completely agree! Expanding upon the original post, what are the most overused phrases, words, or flat out cliche' things in food reviews?

[jarona]

"flavorful"--the food SHOULD have flavor. Either it has flavor or it is bland. Flavorful is one of those annoying words.
"pop". This is a relatively new cliche word. Giada uses it all the time. The only food that should "pop" is popcorn.
"yummo" --up there with "delish" and "nutrish". I'm not fond of Ms. Ray's language.

[RShea78]

"""flavorful"--the food SHOULD have flavor. Either it has flavor or it is bland. Flavorful is one of those annoying words.""

Well, "rich" can be annoying at times too. Especially when used to describe something in a negative reference or like "that was so rich is why I am sick".

"Marvelous" Kind of annoying Billy Crystal expression, often used in food. It is even worse if the one saying it gives me a spit shower.

[RGC1982]

Brighten, as in, add these fresh herbs to "brighten
the flavor. How in the world can you brighten a flavor?

[Samalcious]

"Wondrous."

[small h]

Apparently food can be brightened by mint and cilantro. Throw out your fluorescent bulbs and read by the light of your herb garden.

[RShea78]

"Patina" Overuse and misuse.

I recall an article (no longer online) where someone had their copper item completely cleaned and polished then sprayed some clear coat layers to seal the new shine. Author then tried to use patina to describe the new appearance.

[nkeane]

eclectic

buzzing

vibrant

flavor explosion

yummy(biggest; pet peeve! really? you are a paid journalist and you are using the term YUMMY?)

splurge worthy

[pastry634]

This is kind of off the topic, but I hate how whenever chefs are asked how they view their cuisine, they now all say something about "striving for freshness." Really? I should hope so!

[invinotheresverde]

Nothing is worse than yummy.

[pastry634]

What about "yumm-o!" Rachael Ray style

[bulavinaka]

Argh... how about just, "Rachael Ray"?

[invinotheresverde]

Nails on a chalkboard.

I also loathe "appies" and "sammich". Moreso "appies", though. That cutesy shit just drives me nuts.

[small h]

Yummy is inexcusable, as is any other word that people should stop using when they turn 6: goodies, deelish, etc.

[Marge]

Amazing!

[greygarious]

I'll see your "amazing" and raise you an "awesome". I can't decide which annoys me more. Both are general superlatives with no inherent appicability to food.

Several days ago I went so far as to search the boards for these and other grating cliches, in contemplation of starting a thread such as this. Then I thought better of it, realizing that the easily amazed will continue to be so.....Here is the tally: delicious - 21,447...tasty - 15,858...amazing - 15,482...awesome - 8,064...yummy - 6,151...yum -4004...delightful - 3432....delectable - 604...luscious - 575...scrumptious - 393...toothsome - 203...ambrosial - 29.

It is of some small consolation that so far at least, delicious and tasty are used more often than Valleyspeak buzzwords.

[tatamagouche]

This probably belongs on the Media board; you might want to check out an earlier thread first...

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/461726

[James Cristinian]

This is not something I read often on this board, but I run across it all the time in local and other media... to die for.