Foodism in Ireland: feeding foodie philosophy or showing a shift in contemporary food culture?

Figures & data

Figure 1. Thematic map 2 shows map depicting the five final main themes.

Diagram showing the five final themes which were developed further on in the thematic analysis process: Theme 1. An evolving food culture/Theme 2. The two perceptions of Irish food/Theme 3. A breakdown of hierarchies/Theme 4. Influencing factors/Theme 5. State Body Remits.

Table 1. Predetermined code 1 with corresponding interview data extracts.

Q5. What do you think best describes Irish food? (Traits or examples)
K	Data extract	High Quality/Local/Humble home cooking/Evolving/ Raw Ingredients (dairy, seafood & meat).
M	Data extract	Healthy/Tasty/Fresh/Traditional/Local/Raw Ingredients (beef, seafood, milk & butter).
A	Data extract	Simple/Accessible/Diverse/Produce or Raw Ingredients* (potatoes, herbs, seafood & lamb).
J	Data extract	Spontaneity/Evolving/Producers & Produce (cheese/bacon/salmon)
P	Data extract	Inspirational/Good/Simple/European Twist (evolving)*/Produce or Raw Ingredients (bacon & cabbage)
G	Data extract	Fantastic/Local/Sustainable/Good Quality/Evolving/Great Produce (raw ingredients).

*Note: Produce and Raw Ingredients can be considered the same thing.

*Note: Cooking with a European twist could be considered as evolving.

Figure 2. A summary of interviewee K’s perceptions of the Irish foodie.

Figure 3. A summary of interviewees’ perceptions of the traits foodies possess.

Table 2. Interviewee’s views on foodies as a subculture or mainstream culture.

Q9.1 Do you see foodies as a subculture or more mainstream?
K	Data extract	“There is an interest, a growing interest for food. And of course, people have more access to more food ingredients, even in your supermarket. Jesus, the choice of ingredients. You couldn’t find stuff ten years ago and now you have this exotic stuff. That is definitely mainstream, in a way”! (K1, 220–224)
M	Data extract	“Foodies [are] still a subculture but it’s quite a large subculture, it’s definitely growing but it’s not ‘mainstream’ mainstream. It would be more mainstream amongst a certain socio-cultural or socio-economic grouping”. (M2, line 400–401)
A	Data extract	“Yes, I think it’s more mainstream, I think, it’s more popular. It’s a thing now to go to Starbucks, as a teenager, and that classifies you as a foodie” (A3, line 156–157)
J	Data extract	“I think they’re mainstream really” (J4, line 357)
P	Data extract	“I think it’s subculture, really. I don’t think it’s mainstream … it’s growing all the time. I suppose, maybe I’m wrong, but I tend to immerse myself in that community the same way that other people might immerse themselves in the football community or GAA or something like that. It’s certainly bigger than it was” (P5, line 129–134)
G	Data extract	“They’re not necessarily the mainstream but I think what you see happening is that when you look at the trend as foods become more mainstream, they become more affordable and then they become more a part of the conversation” (G6, line 229–231)