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xtiaaneubaten t1_j6c1wxc wrote

As a chef of 20 years I could relate to "the annoying foodie" archetype as it was presented, cooking at home at whatever level simply is not comparable to working in/running a commerical kitchen.

Think of it like "the music nerd groupie" cliche, or someone who knows a few lines of code trying to be "in" with a developer

It happens in every industry and anyone who has done something that takes quite some skill and time to learn will recognise it.

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extra_specticles t1_j6c5kh2 wrote

In Britain we call them "xxxxxx wanker". So food wanker, beer wanker, dnd wanker, porche wanker, etc in appreciation of this gem.. https://youtu.be/_XKh_WGg1_c

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happyposterofham OP t1_j6c2uer wrote

So, I think this is where I draw a distinction -- if we're talking about the guy who is like "I could make this myself! Why are these portions so tiny! Why does it cost $xxx!" then I understand how that's sucking the passion out of cooking, since like ... you're not paying to grandstand about how the guy who's feeding you is a dumb scammer.

But, the guy who goes there and is trying to understand what's going on? Like I don't know, it feels like of all the people sucking the love of your craft away, the guy who is ultimately a little too overenthusiastic and would commit a party foul if you ran into him at a mixer or something definitely doesn't strike me as the worst guy there -- certainly not to the degree the film focuses on painting him as unequivocally The Worst Person There of the diners. In fact, he's probably the most common, since we all have that one passion we focus on highly and love to talk/think about.

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Kitahorror t1_j6cbr7y wrote

>But, the guy who goes there and is trying to understand what's going on?

Tyler doesn't go there 'trying to understand'. He goes there thinking he already knows everything. Tyler thinks he's a special little boy that the chef is going to love because he's going to show off how knowledgeable he is. He thinks he's above the rules laid out every time (taking photos, not running during the hunt, and honestly I think he expected to be spared). He expresses elitism over those who don't know as much as him, even though his own ability and knowledge is demonstrated to be lacklustre. He idolises the head chef whilst minimising the contributions of the other chefs (not asking the other chefs name early on, not recognising the whole menu is a collaborative process with others having input beyond Slowik) Oh yeah, and the whole thing about dragging another person to certain death.

Key to his character is 'I'm special and I can do what I want because of it.'

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Anouleth t1_j6cngju wrote

>He idolises the head chef whilst minimising the contributions of the other chefs (not asking the other chefs name early on, not recognising the whole menu is a collaborative process with others having input beyond Slowik)

I don't see your point. These are all things that Slowik plays into. He lives apart from the other workers, and is treated differently. He builds a reputation and mystique around himself, and his workers are treated in a dehumanized fashion. A point could be made that people like Tyler bring out the 'worst' in Slowik - their desire for spectacle over craft. But that's not the point that the movie articulates. Tyler is criticized for just being inauthentic, which is boring, because everyone already hates inauthenticity.

Also, like, I've worked in food service before. I never wanted any customer to ask my name.

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Kitahorror t1_j6crkw3 wrote

>These are all things that Slowik plays into. He lives apart from the other workers, and is treated differently. He builds a reputation and mystique around himself, and his workers are treated in a dehumanized fashion.

And arguably, Slowik punishes himself for exactly this. Or rather the sous chef is the one that came up with the idea for them to all die in the end. Slowik is not innocent, he knows this and accepts his own death as part of the piece.

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xtiaaneubaten t1_j6c4axo wrote

Well I guess the writers wanted an "everyman" character that people could relate to as much as you have, only to pull the rug out from under you.

"I could be that guy, omg hes a murderer, is it then in me to be a murderer?" or something along those lines...

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