bakechef
Executive Chef
Well put, I agree. I have been waiting to reply to this topic, because I wanted to write a meaningful reply. I'm a bit of a food snob. I often honestly find the "food snob" choice to taste better and seem healthier to me. But, I have no objection to buying/eating the "low brow" version if it tastes good and isn't full of weird chemicals.
I had to start reading labels back in the '70s, when I noticed that I have an unpleasant reaction to MSG. It meant that I couldn't buy most canned soups and lots of other pre-made foods, so I learned to cook them myself. I have no objection to pre-made foods, if they are made of healthy ingredients and taste good, e.g., Habitant Pea Soup. One of two canned soups I could find back then, that didn't have MSG. The other one was Howard Johnson's clam chowder.
There's another reason some people might be picky eaters. People have varying levels of tasting ability. BBC - Science & Nature - Human Body and Mind - Test your tastebuds
I'm a super taster, so I really dislike most bitter. I love chocolate, but not dark chocolate. It's too bitter. I've been told again and again that it's an acquired taste. I haven't acquired it and doubt that I ever will. I can taste the sodium bisulfate (or maybe it's the sodium benzoate) in ReaLemon. It's bitter and makes it unpleasant. So, am I being a food snob when I say I prefer stuff made with actual lemon juice or organic bottled lemon juice? I try not to be obnoxious about it, but if you ask me what I think of that homemade hummus with the ReaLemon, I'll tell you.
I've always liked to cook, but after meeting Rob, and him reacting badly to MSG lead me to making more of our stuff from scratch. Over the last 9 years it's become easier to find stuff without MSG especially broth.
I have a feeling that I may be a super taster, dark chocolate is too bitter and it overwhelms my tastebuds. Same with coffee that's too strong. I can enjoy espresso when it's in a latte or something similar, the milk mellows it for me and I can taste the different notes, but straight up espresso just tastes like a bitter mess.
I also think that is why there are many processed foods that taste bad to me, like cool whip, while not nasty I can definitely taste things in it that are unpleasant and "artificial" while others think that it tastes great and like whipped cream.