The Latin word Sybarīta comes from the language Greek and refers to Sybaris or Síbari . It is an Italian city, located in the gulf of Taranto , which was formerly famous for its splendor and for him refinement of its inhabitants, known as foodies .
Currently, sybarite is used as adjective to qualify the individual whose tastes and hobbies are fine and distinguished . Foodies are usually people of good economic position , which have the necessary financial resources to meet their refined consumption.
Regarding food, foodies enjoy the good table . They can buy high quality imported food, organic products and frequent calls deli (A term composed of German that refers to stores where exclusive products are sold, difficult to obtain and of a very high quality). Drinks such as high-cost varieties of wine, champagne and liquor are also often privileged, since the price is usually linked to the quality .
The classic cars or of Last generation , the new technological products and the recognized designer clothes They are other usual consumption of foodies.
As you can see, leading the lifestyle of a foodie requires significant financial outlays, since these people They opt for high price products. That makes some individuals, in the eagerness to live like foodies, contract debts that threaten dangerously against their economic stability.
It should be noted that the idea of sybarite can be applied to cultural or symbolic consumption , which transcend the purchase of products. A foodie from the music , to cite a possibility, is a music lover : love listening to music throughout the day, frequently attends concerts, etc.
It is important to understand that the sybarite does not pursue exclusive products in order to show its economic level; on the contrary, he feels a need that arises from a sensitivity special, thanks to which he is able to experience a series of sensations when he consumes them that do not compare with the perception that other people have of them.
Of all the characteristics mentioned so far, in the Iberian Peninsula and in certain Latin American countries it is common that the love for good food and for exclusive or refined products is enough to be qualified as a sybarite. In other words, in these regions the term can be considered a synonym for "gourmet ".
The figure of the sybarite appears in all art forms, whether he is mentioned as such or not. Its presence may have different intentions: depending on the tone of the work and the ideas of the creators, it can be used to denounce certain injustices of society that prevent some from accessing basic comforts while others can lead a life of excesses, but also to build characters that lead that lifestyle with a depth that transcends mere possession of expensive cars and real estate. In the novel "Against the grain"by the French writer Joris-Karl Huysmans, the character Jean Floressas Des Esseintes is a clear example of a sybarite in fiction.
A term whose meaning closely resembles that of sybarite is "dandy", also written "dandi"; It is a concept of English that serves to describe an individual very interested in fashion, who wears very refined clothes and that comes from the bourgeoisie. The first dandis appeared in 18th-century England, but also in France, and used to have strong personalities and have values Advanced for your time. It is known by the name of "dandismo" to the current associated to this type of people.
