Is it really that insulting to have a customer like your food so much that they want to share it with friends and family? Is it that bad that they want to remember the moments visually? And is it that damaging when they want to give your restaurant free advertising?
I thought I could leave it alone, but I cant. The topic came up at 6 Course Discourse, a culinary forum I organized as part of Dine Out Vancouver. It featured talks from local chefs, including Scott Jaeger of The Pear Tree in Burnaby. He finished his presentation by imploring diners to Eat it before you tweet it. Not the other way around.
Since then, Ive noticed more chefs speaking out about this so called problem.
Yes, fair enough. I understand the labour that goes into a dish and the importance of eating a dish at the served temperature, so I agree with Jaeger about tweeting after eating. I dont always follow this rule but its different when its a job. The importance of live tweeting and capturing the perfect photo end up playing a significant role.
More recently, some chefs and restaurants have even banned mobile phones and photo-taking completely. While some diners would support this, many are offended by it.
The arguments are that it ruins the surprise and that it is rude to other customers. I agree that there is an etiquette and flashes should be used with caution, but its also rude to control actions of paying customers. Did the people banning photo taking forget who pays their bills? If a customer pays for the end product, it is theirs. After all, they bought it.
Its not just customers taking photos. I follow many chefs who enjoy taking photos of their food too. Its a way of sharing ideas and a celebration of food in general. In a time of instant gratification and easy access to public information, people live vicariously and I dont see it ending anytime soon.
The thought of ending food porn by banning taking pictures of food is not a solution to a chefs or restaurants issues. Instead it causes more friction and if you really cant stand seeing valued customers take photos of your food, then close your eyes.
Nowadays taking food photos are part of the growing food culture, and for some it is part of the dining experience. And if it makes for a more enjoyable meal then who cares? You dont tell someone how to wear their clothes after they buy them, so why tell them how to enjoy their meal?
See Mijune at the Bacchanalia Gala Reception at The Fairmont on Feb. 22, at the BC Chefs Presidents Ball on Mar. 1 at Ebo Restaurant in Burnaby (Tickets $110 email [email protected]), and at Champagne Wishes at Blue Water Café for International Wine Festival. She will also be judging the Chefs Table Societys The Curry Cup on Mar. 4 (Tickets $59). Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @followmefoodie.
