One of the gratest American authors of the last century, Kurt Vonnegut, once said a very smart thing about food. In his 1979 novel Jailbird, he famously penned the quote: “You can’t just eat good food. You’ve got to talk about it too. And you’ve got to talk about it to somebody who understands that kind of food.”
Being lovers of all things edible and potable in this life, that statement rings true for us here at The Manual. It doesn’t matter if it is litrally the fanciest meal of your life or street meats in a foreign country that cost you about four cents US, or hell, even a meal that you thought was good … until you landed in the hospital with food poisoning — all of these can be transformative experiences. Each and every one of those meals deserves to be talked about in some way.
Talking about food, too, opens you up to learning about other foods and other experiences you may not have had before. Oh, you had that? Have you tried this? or If you didn’t like that, stay away from this!
For some, though, putting words to such a great (or terrible) experience might seem as monumental a difficulty as cooking the meal they just consumed. That’s okay, though. Not everyone is skilled in the same ways (and that’s what makes us all individuals … cue “The More You Know” comet), and there are plenty of people out there who have already put words to the page to describe food.
Next time you have a great meal — or just need a new quote to post on Twitter — scroll down for the best food quotes. Ever.
For more inspiration, check out the best quotes about whiskey, beer, manliness, and our favorite last words from famous men.
Anthony Bourdain
“Your body is not a temple, it’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.”
M.F.K. Fisher
“First we eat, then we do everything else.”
W.C. Fields
“I cook with wine. Sometimes I even add it to the food.”
Erma Bombeck
“I am not a glutton — I am an explorer of food.”
James Beard
“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.”
Gael Greene
“Great food is like great sex. The more you have the more you want.”
Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
“Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.”
Paul Prudhomme
“You don’t need a silver fork to eat good food.”
Julia Child
“The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.”
Jonathan Swift
“He was a bold man that first ate an oyster.”
