To hate the current craze for calling food 'dirty'?

[MyGastIsFlabbered]

Just that really, what is it about calling food 'dirty'? That word had really negative connotations for me so I'm willing to accept it's my issue, but where did it come from and why?

I hate it and will never eat something labelled ‘dirty’, however tasty!

I've had this book for about 5 years. It has some great recipes.

At an outdoorsy event this morning (about 9.30am) a women next to me in line at a food van asked for a ‘dirty cheeseburger’.

My pearls were well clutched

I hate it too, and hate ‘cheeky’ as a description of food or drink. The only exception is ‘dirty rice’ which is a Cajun recipe.

Grown women saying ‘I’ll have a cheeky glass of wine’ sounds absolutely pathetic.

Something like a "Dirty burger"- would mean it's from a slightly or highly suspect kebab van or take away! (but normally huge and delicious)

Much, much more annoying is a "cheeky" anything!

I’ve now seen the word ‘dirty’ too often and it looks weird.

@thegreatcrestednewt

I once wrote an essay on this phenomena- it’s called “semantic satiation” ... try saying that with a mouthful of dirty burger...

I've only really heard of having a "dirty pint", when your so-called mates affectionately spike your beer with miscellaneous liquids while you're in the toilets. Maybe that's just a thing where I'm from, haha...

Just an additional fyi, "dirty bulk" is a term used by body builders to describe putting on weight through eating anything rather than by "clean gains". So if you want to gain 30 pounds it's far easier to do that with pizza and milkshakes than chicken breast and spinach.

They then work out lots to build muscle from the extra weight and then "shred" after to reveal the form of the muscle.

I’ve literally never heard this. I need to get out more.

Not new. This has been a thing for at least 10-15 yrs with people saying... “I’m going for a dirty burger / pizza / Nando’s / etc etc. No different to “junk food” tbh.

M&S 'dirty fries' - why would I want to buy them?

It's a way for too cool people to allow themselves to eat burgers isn't it?
www.sohohouse.com/restaurants/dirty-burger

'Dirty' I can live with. It's 'Cheeky' that galls. I once declined a date to go for a "cheeky Nando's".

I never understood this either, it sounds horrible. Is it along the lines of kids saying “sick” when they like something?

I would never use the word dirty to describe food. Just seems wrong. Although cheeky, as in cheeky glass of wine, gives me the absolute rage!

I have never heard of dirty rice either, but accept from posters on here that I am unusual in that!

I think it has two distinct uses now. One is for food that isn't great for you or had little nutritional value. Eg I really fancy a dirty kebab later.

The other is food that has has stuff added to it, eg dirty chips, covered in chilli or bacon bits and cheese or dirty rice.

Don't particularly like either. There's a restaurant chain called Dirty Bones that is very try hard!

I hate it too. To me it feels like they’re playing on sinful/iver-indulgent. Maybe I’m going OTT but it’s almost like they’re drawing on the sexual trope that dirty = naughty = good.

and clean eating is just as bullshit

I’ve now seen the word ‘dirty’ too often and it looks weird

*thegreatcrestednewt - me too!!

Dirty celery, a Fenland speciality, you'll never eat washed, horrible white celery again, it has a regional certification too.

Dirty rice is because the chicken liver, bits if meat etc make it look brown / grey.
It a Cajun dish so presumably been around since at least 1700 or so.
Cheese on chips does not dirty fries make. They're just cheesy chips!

Agreed. I saw a restaurant advertising 'dirty burgers' today and commented to DH that even if I was starving that would put me right off

m.youtube.com/watch?v=L_6GGDhHzKI

Dirty food, like a kebab or a pot noodle!