Whether or not you’re a true geek, you likely know what it means to be one. It can’t be argued that, when it comes to pop culture, “geek” means a deep interest in (perhaps even devotion to) fandom(s) from books, comics, tv, games or movies. It does get a little more specific than that (e.g., genre-wise, geeks are typically into sci-fi/fantasy and not police procedural dramas), but there are sometimes rather unexpected fandoms that pop culture geeks end up being into. 

If you read this blog often (or have heard me on Geek Watch One), you know a lot of the fandoms I follow – Marvel, Doctor Who, the paranormal, among others. But one I’ve never mentioned is likely unexpected for those who don’t know me well. I love food shows! Whether it’s travel programs showcasing foods in various regions of the country or globe (Bizarre Foods, No Reservations), shows focusing on a specific category of food (Man Fire Food, Carnival Eats) or, most especially, cooking and baking competitions (Chopped, The Great British Baking Show) … I’ll watch them all. I even watch ridiculous shows like F*ck, That’s Delicious (it’s hosted by a rapper, features local NY/NJ spots and involves a lot of drinking/smoking).

But why are these shows such a draw for me? Sure, I like to cook and bake, and these shows do give me a lot of new ideas (I can come up with a keto-friendly version of just about anything). But it’s more than that. I think the geek aspect comes in with exploration and knowledge – I love discovering new things and these shows provide food, techniques, styles, locations and even cultures. It’s information I may never have a use for, but I love knowing it anyway. I binge these shows the same way I binge Marvel shows – seriously, I watched all the available seasons of TGBBS on Netflix in less than a month (that’s 70 or 80 hour-long episodes).

So basically, a geek is a geek, regardless of the subject. If it’s a deep dive for the love of a genre or character or just for knowledge, it most definitely qualifies as a geekdom. If you get joy from something, there’s nothing wrong with indulging in it. And if you care to share what your unconventional geekness is, I’d love to hear about it!