You’ll recall that, when Anthony Bourdain passed away, Gordon Ramsay jumped into the ‘food tourism’ niche on TV with a copy-cat show for National Geographic (NG) called Uncharted. But I’m not going to get into the controversy over Ramsay’s opportunistic move today…
Millennials look for food adventures both at home and abroad.
But there’s a limit to their sense of daring do…
Instead, I want to look at the results of a recent survey of Brits commissioned by NG as a support for Ramsay’s show.
The study polled 2000 British adults between the ages of 25 and 75 about their eating habits. Perhaps as a result of the renaissance in home cooking triggered by the pandemic, the survey revealed that only 36 percent of the food consumed by millennials (25 – 40) is traditional British food. A whopping 70 percent say they like to cook with rare or new-to-them ingredients compared to just 7 percent of those aged 57 – 75 (boomers).
And on motivation: 60 percent of the younger folks say they cook to escape the pressure of the daily social and business meat grinder.
No place like home
Millennials also told pollsters they’re more prone than boomers to travel abroad for the food. But when they get there, 37 percent admitted they consume at least a few meals at well-known international fast food chain outlets. It’s nice to have something comforting and familiar now and then, they said.
And even the most adventurous millennials like to lean on the familiar at home, as well. An overall average of all survey respondents said 38 percent of what they eat each week is traditional British fare. (I wonder if Vindaloo or Butter Chicken takeaway count as ‘traditional British fare’ now?) Boomers were slightly more likely than average to eat British, at 42 percent.
The adventure factor
When asked what they considered ‘adventurous’ in cooking and eating, survey respondents suggested:
- Eating local cuisine abroad.
- Ordering something off the menu they’ve never tried before.
- Adding something new to a recipe.
and…
- A full 33 percent said trying a new store-bought sauce is daring.
Okay. ‘Daring is as daring does’, I guess. One person’s ‘daring’ is another’s ‘ho-hum’. Who are we to criticise them? I’m sure there are those who would look down their noses at us when we decline to try sheep’s eyeballs or barbecued snake.
Alternatives exist
I’m boycotting Ramsay’s new series (whose initial episode aired September 15 at 9 p.m.) on principle. I just don’t like the way Ramsay rushed in to fill the vacuum left by Bourdain’s departure. The term ‘crass’ jumps to mind. And I suspect that Ramsay will have at least a little difficulty filling Bourdain’s culinary seven-league boots.
But I’m happy to remind you that Stanley Tucci’s acclaimed series, Searching for Italy, on CNN, is gearing up for a second season. He’s slated to eventually visit 20 regions of Italy famous for their foods. I’m getting antsy with anticipation. Tucci won an Emmy Award for his initial 6 episodes. I loved them. Even my 96-year-old mother loved them. If you prefer to do your globe trotting from the comfort of your armchair, I can’t think of a better way to go than Searching for Italy.
Maggie J.