Published: September 01. 2010 2:00AM

By Stephanie Trotter
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Foodie
n.
Slang. A person who has an ardent or refined interest in food; a gourmet.

When it comes to quashing hunger pains, some are, well, happy with a Happy Meal. But a special, select few wouldn't dare crack a smile at that entree entry. In fact, they'd cringe at the thought of a generically made burger served in a cardboard box passing by their lips. This narrow niche of diners seeks specifically made-to-order meals prepped with great fanfare. They eagerly anticipate the excitement that comes with a cadre of flavors marching across the tongue.

Meet our foodies, including married Eastside mother-of-one, Cynthia Jones. “I think some people would say I'm picky,” she shares. “But it's not picky, it's looking at it through a more educated palate. I don't say, ‘Ew, they put cilantro on it and that makes me gag.' I'm pretty willing to try and appreciate everything, from a really great hot dog to five-star meal. We do want to experiment. We will hit new restaurants. I don't think there's one in town that's considered a good restaurant that we have not been to.”

And thus the budding passion of a foodie. They're a different breed from straight-up gourmets, who are epicures and often professionals within the industry. A foodie is simply an amateur who loves food for consumption, preparation, study and news. A hobbyist, if you will, who is well-versed in the latest and hottest restaurants, wines, butchers and cooking aides.

“I've just always been interested in food, for some reason,” explains Greenville attorney David Keller. “My mom was a great cook and my aunt, whom I was very close to, had more to do with it. She would take me to most restaurants when I was younger.” To this day, Keller remembers what he ate where, growing up in Texas. “I know what I had at my high school prom,” he admits with a laugh. “Shrimp Imperial at Brennan's in Houston and turtle soup. When I told the waiter how good it was, the chef came out and said, ‘Are you the one who likes my turtle soup? Nobody appreciates me.’”

Today, food still drives his psyche and daily plans. Trip itineraries are arranged not by business or pleasure, but by Michelin-rated restaurants. “We always find nice places to go,” he says with a smile. “My favorite restaurant in the whole world is Daniel in New York City, which just got bumped from one to three stars. A restaurant called Le Bec Fin in Philly, that's one of my very favorites too.” The lawyer's list goes on and on, from dry-rub ribs at Rendezvous in Memphis to a Lowcountry eggs Benedict topped with she-crab at Hominy Grill in Charleston.

When not traveling, he and his wife tend to eat out in Greenville three to four times a month. “Greenville is really pretty good,” he observes. “A lot of people who come here tend to be surprised we have good restaurants.” Talk Greenville food contributor Janet Poleski agrees. “For a small town, we have some fantastic restaurants here that rival big cities,” she confides. The pro chef goes on to defend foodies, saying they are not culinary snobs, simply enthusiasts. “I think they just have a passion for good food. A foodie can find something fabulous at any restaurant. That taste can be as simple as a Jack's Cosmic Dog on the way to the beach, or a really expensive dinner.”

Jones concurs, adding, “We look for the total experience. That's what draws us to a restaurant. We look for food, ambiance, service. It's more of an event than filling our bellies. We can fill our belly at home.” She and her husband, Steve, enjoy dining out at Azia, Devereaux's, Stellar Wine Bar and Trattoria Giorgio. “When we moved here, we would go to a restaurant called 858 and At Your Table at Greenville Mall. They were good, but not to the caliber or selection we have today. We've come really far.”

When not dining around the town, the Joneses cook up sumptuous meals at home in their large kitchen, replicating the atmosphere Cynthia experienced coming of age in an Italian-American home. “It's the center of our social life and also as a couple. We are either entertaining or cooking for just the three of us,” she reflects. After a moment of thought she concludes, “The love of food is really the love of friends and family. It's not just eating the food, it's who you're sharing that meal with. It's not a one-dimensional thing. It's sharing a meal with friends and family.” And with that, let's dig in. Mangia.

Janet's faves for foodies

• Pomegranate

• The Lazy Goat

• American Grocery

• Smoke on the Water

• Five Guys