I'm Only Here for the Food!

When I went to Panama, I took my trusty Nikon D40 along with three of my four lenses, the 18-55mm, 55-200mm and a 35mm which I got about two week prior to my trip. As part of a personal experiment, I used mostly the 35mm. On my last day, I left behind that camera along with the 18-55mm and 55-200mm for my sister. I knew she wanted it; however, she was hesitant to ask for it… Ah, the things what the eldest one has to do… One of these days I will ask her to send me some of her pictures and put them here. Hope they will be good.

So, if I left that camera behind, what I have been using to take pictures? Well, after I came back, the following weekend I went out and got a shiny, brand new… Nikon D40!!! What? Why the hell would I get the same camera, if I had the almost perfect excuse to get a new one, like the D90? After all, this one has a lot more features that the D40, not to mention the ability to auto-focus my fourth lens (the Nikkor AF 50mm)!

Well, the answer to that question is value. Although I know I have pushed certain capabilities of the camera, I also know I still have a lot to learn. And, that is partially the reason I kept that 35mm lens with me. Since it can’t zoom, I am left with almost one thing to focus on: taking pictures. Now, that does not mean I won’t be getting other lenses anytime soon: I still have the 18-200mmm in mind. Likewise, someday I will get a D90 (though it will depend if other cameras will replace it in the future…). But, regardless, the point I am trying to make is that of what I find worthy today, right now. And that is the D40.

What does this have to do with a food blog, aside from that being a tool of this “trade”? Well, just like I find that camera worthy, other will consider it way superior to their point and shoot and yet another group will think there are better options. The same argument applies to food and restaurants. Fellow blogger (as of Friday, May 16th, it is “down”) Ben of Chowtimes mentioned a couple of times, readers “complains” they visited a couple too many run-of-the-mill, cheap sushi spots and, as a “foodie”, they should visit the more expensive, authentic ones. While I do think everybody should visit both instances, i.e., good ones and bad ones so they can have a better assessment of what is “good” and “bad” (for themselves and based on other opinions), at the end of the day, it boils down to what they consider to be worthy. From what I have read on their sushi related posts, there is something that entices them to visit them and they are satisfied after their visit. Who are we to “complain” about it?

On the other side of the coin is that of some cuisine being expensive, for example, Korean. While I do agree it is slightly more expensive than your usual restaurants, more often than not, I have found their food worth what they ask for. Then again, others do not think the same…

So, what does this mean? In my case, as a blogger, while I do think I should listen to my readers, at the same time, it is my blog and it is about my perspective of things. And what is my perspective? I feel that most restaurants that charge over $20 per dish is overrated. Food is something that should be accessible to everybody and, in my opinion, anything higher than that, well, it better be a good reason behind it! And, no, fancy ingredients won’t do it; learning to cook regardless of what you have as ingredients serves as a really good benchmark of your skills.

But, once again, am I cheap? I have spent decent amount in food, the most spent was birthday dinner with a friend (my treat). Every penny of the over $150 bill was worth it. So, what is your opinion about this? What you consider to be worthy?