And, in Worth Another Post:

Fay, honey, ~ma. Just pure, strong vibe of ~ma.

I will note that just about everyone on the "there's no such thing as cred" side of the argument has made sure to establish their own as quickly as possible before arguing fervently that it doesn't matter.

I *have* been defensively trying to throw out cred, mostly about my bro, because I was waiting for someone to say "Your example doesn't work, because how do WE know he cooks anything other than Spam? Maybe it's an all-Spam restaurant!"

Actually, I don't think I ever said there was no such thing as cred; my feeling was just that one can't assume knowledge (or lack thereof) of quality based on one expression of liking something of inferior quality.

Also, I have a question for my liquor savvy folks:

Ahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Clearly *I* will not recommend a goddamned thing.

one can't assume knowledge (or lack thereof) of quality based on one expression of liking something of inferior quality.

And I disagree. Like I said over an hour ago, just because such an assumption could be wrong doesn't mean it's not a valid starting point.

Clearly *I* will not recommend a goddamned thing.

::SNORT::

Oh, dear. My timing is impeccable, as usual. (See: Skimmy McSkimmerson)

Oy vey, y'all. I totally waded into the shit, didn't I?

The problem is the idea that someone who likes crappy [foo] cannot, therefore, be trusted as able to assess/appreciate "quality" [foo]. One does not follow from the other.

Your brother eats Spam. That's his choice. He doesn't care what other people think of that choice. It does nothing to diminish his authority as a chef.

But your brother doesn't serve Spam at his restaurant. (I presume.) That would certainly affect how people perceived him as a chef and the restaurant.

My timing is impeccable, as usual. (See: Skimmy McSkimmerson)

Ha ha ha ha. I didn't even realize that was unintentional. Poor Barb.

Oy vey, y'all. I totally waded into the shit, didn't I?

Keep your head down.

But your brother doesn't serve Spam at his restaurant. (I presume.) That would certainly affect how people perceived him as a chef and the restaurant.

But if he did serve gourmet Spam, that would be kinda awesome.

But if he did serve gourmet Spam, that would be kinda awesome.

Periodically, chefs will do things like that. Because, sometimes you have to challenge received notions of what's good food. Or they want the challenge.

At one point haute cuisine was only within the French canon, and there wasn't even a way to discuss other cuisines.

Spam has its place in certain styles of food. Genki Sushi, I'm informed, has a Spam roll. Which, FYI, I've had (a friend of a friend brings Spam sushi to parties we've attended), and they're awesome.

one can't assume knowledge (or lack thereof) of quality based on one expression of liking something of inferior quality.

And I disagree. Like I said over an hour ago, just because such an assumption could be wrong doesn't mean it's not a valid starting point.

Okay, we do disagree. I know that cooking/good food means more (or something different) to you than it does to me (at least on the cooking front, since I what I do isn't really cooking, not in a creative sense). So we have different starting points when dealing with this issue, and that's...well, it is what it is.

But if he did serve gourmet Spam, that would be kinda awesome.

Sweet Italian Jesus, never give him that idea, because he would SO do it.