Have You Heard of Toothsome?
Commentary by Craig J Selby
Food writing is a hobby. I have a
big belly, and I like it to be full, especially with delicacies from some of
the latest restaurants to don our landscape with their offerings. But, the
challenge is not in writing a fair, balanced review for both restaurant and
cuisine, but it is discerning the right words to use to paint a picture of
deliciousness – before our readers get the chance to decide whether we know our
stuff or not.
My Editor @TheYumList (shout out to
Monica) recently shared this tongue-in-cheek article with the team – food words
banned from a leading Australian food review. Perhaps she was hinting at
something for us all, or perhaps just sharing what is really a good article
about the state of language use? Either way, it is a good read – on words that
one should not use when writing food.
So, before you post that next
Instagram-able plate, think carefully about your choice of descriptors!
Picture Source: dherbs.com
Picture Source: dherbs.com
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The 10 words that
are banned from the Good Food Guide
They may seem innocuous
enough, but these ten words are on the no-no list for any Good Food Guide
reviewers, no matter how 'crispy' the crackling.
Bellissimo! Delicioso! Olé! Bon appetit! Spare us the foreign-language
sign-off. Arigato!
Crispy Crisp is fine. Preserve your "ys" – you may need them
later. For words like jiggly, wobbly, dastardly and stupidly.
Devour If you're a dinosaur devouring a unicorn, we can live with
it. Everyone else, please try again.
Funky A room is not funky, but dry-roasted shrimp paste can be.
Gobble Is only OK if you're talking about the noise a
turkey makes..
Iconic when you mean famous. The Momofuku pork buns are
famous. The Sydney Opera House is iconic.
Nestled You know what's nestled? A baby penguin against its dad, a set
of mid-century tables and Russian dolls in varying sizes. Do you know what's
probably not? That asparagus dressed with a poached egg.
Smothered Approach with caution. Unless you are describing a dish that's
had its nose and mouth held until it suffocates to death. In which case,
smother away.
Toothsome Ugh.
Unique It it actually? Or is it rare or special in some way?
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