Over-flowery food language

[LydiaTheTattooedLardarse]

I’ve noticed it a lot on MN over the years, but it seems to be getting worse lately. No one seems to be able to talk about food without behaving like they’re in those M&S ads with Dervla Kirwan! It’s all so over the top.

On one of the Christmas food threads the other day, someone was waxing lyrical about showing off their “glossy sprouts” and “vivid red cranberry sauce” (as opposed to beige cranberry sauce?), while someone else was talking about something cooked in “lashings of butter”. When did anyone last use the word “lashings” outside of an Enid Blyton novel.

It’s everywhere at the moment. Dare to admit you don’t have 37 different vegetables and there are gasps of “But Christmas dinner should be a feast!”. And it’s not even just about fancy or party food. Even fairly ordinary day to day food gets described like it’s something Michelin star. I remember one woman going into raptures about her “famous” lasagne and all its joys - ending on “And I DON’T skimp on the cheese!”, as if this was somehow terribly indulgent. It’s only a bloody lasagne!!

Why can’t MNers have a normal conversation about food without acting like they’re writing (bad) copy for a catering brochure?

I was expecting far more vivid (sorry) examples of flowery language in your OP. I don't think any of the examples you give are particularly OTT. What's wrong with "lashings"? I hear that plenty.

Looking forward to some more Nigella-esque examples

I haven't especially noticed it here.

I find it quite amusing on restaurant menus - food always has to be 'nestled' in its accompaniment, for example - I'd be disappointed if the trend passed!

“Lashings” just sounds like you’re trying terribly hard to make something sound incredibly indulgent and special. Whereas it’s actually just a bit naff.

Never noticed it on MN.

YANBU but it's always been the same lol.

MNetter's kid likes reading = "They devour books".

MNetter has hungry teenagers = "They inhale food".

MNetter wants to talk to someone = "I've reached out"

Not as flowery as you're describing perhaps, but just as odd.

Oh yes, the “devouring” of books!

'Inhale food' makes me think of food going into the airways and causing choking.

I went through a phase of (on Facebook) describing perfectly ordinary food in an elaborate way - so beans on toast would be something like "youthful haricots bathing luxuriously in a veritable spa of finest home-crafted tomato jus, reclining on a mattress of finest artisan breads" (etc).
It amused me, anyway.

I am pretty misanthropic in general, but I rather enjoy this. We have a wondrously rich and nuanced language. I like to see people using it.

I admit that I haven't really noticed "flowery" language, but there is plenty of food related language which irrationally irk me.

1. "Washing down" food with a drink.
2. "Mopping up" the sauce with bread or something.
3. When the teeny tinies complain that their monstrous, 8ft tall husband "wolfed down" or "gobbled up" the half eaten lettuce leaf they were saving for dinner next week because they couldn't eat the whole leaf.
4. Reiterating something was homemade too much. "For dinner yesterday, we had a homemade cottage pie, made with homemade mashed potatoes, and homemade gravy. Followed by a homemade apple crumble with homemade custard. We then finished off with a homemade cup of coffee, served in a homemade cup, stirred with a homemade spoon, which was in my homemade drawer, in the homemade kitchen cabinets, in the homemade kitchen, in my homemade house." Ad nauseum to the point where the word "homemade" sounds weird.

I totally agree about "lashings" though. I prefer "metric fuck tonne".

I totally agree!!! Lashings made me think of Enid Blyton but i kept quiet as i'd already annoyed everybody enough on that thread.

I also noticed this and find it utterly bizzare, and if I’m honest in part wonder about the weight of tne posters,

there are continuous threads about food, you’re favourite sandwich, or comfort food, or your takeaway order etc, and people pile in describing eating an avalanche of food, and with descriptors like lashings of, and its always something like butter or cheese , and then talk about its delicious, bliss, how they are drooling, salivating etc.

and anyone who dares say it’s too much, gets told they are a teenie tiny, competitive under eater and the piss taken out them for apparently eating a massive salad.

i saw one takeaway thread and posters were ordering multiple dishes for one person, like multiple meals. Someone else commented how a box of six donuts was a portion. Threads on how many Xmas food they’ve already consumed, how many Easter eggs they can put away, how to eat your children’s eggs.

at rhe same time, multiple jealous bitter threads on weight loss injections. Bizzare assumptions women look younger fat. I’d bet good money there is an overlap.

@5foot5

"What's wrong with "lashings"? I hear that plenty."

I have read about those sort of house parties but have not attended one myself. It just doesn't appeal to me, and anyway my leather jeans seemed to have developed a rather irritating squeak.

😆😆😆

I think what you are describing is excess, not over-descriptive language, which is what the OP seems to dislike.

I would describe myself as a foodie because I am interested in food. Reading about it, cooking it and eating it. I actually have quite a small appetite and often end up leaving some on my plate when I can't finish it, but I still love it and like to talk about it.

Whilst I acknowledge there is a lot of over-blown descriptions used sometimes on menus or adverts, I see nothing wrong with using some imaginative language when writing or talking about everyday life. Why reach for the same old boring words to describe something if you can paint a better picture by choosing different ones?