SNAX Everywhere

Whether you look for it on a sticker at the supermarket or you use it to describe your philosophy of food economics, local is a word that is ubiquitous in foodie culture. But...what does "local" even mean? Mecca talks with guest host Graham Ambrose, who uses The Wienery, a beloved "local" hot dog joint, to remind us that the word "local" is worth revisiting.

In food culture, when a man eats and drinks joyously and excessively, he often gets referred to as “Falstaffian,” that Shakespearean character who is fat, jolly, and debauched. But do women, as eaters, get to be Falstaffian? Usually jolly and debauched are reserved for men. Women who love to eat and drink with gusto are just fat. We decided to talk about it. Let’s consider Falstaff’s own words: “If sack and sugar be a fault, God help the wicked! If to be old and merry be a sin, then many an old host that I know is damned: If to be fat be to be hated, then … banish plump Jack, and banish all the world.”

Foodie. Even foodies hate copping to that word. Why do people hate foodies, and what can we do about it?

Show me a guy who says he doesn’t eat fast food, and I’ll show you a guy with a glove box full of French Fry cardboard. As concerned food people, do we still get to eat real-deal fast food? Why, or why not?