I firmly believe that cooking is a form of art. A delicious one at that! However, there is a fine line between truly aesthetic dishes and food that is simply pretentiousness plopped on a plate. And sometimes… sometimes you just want a burger, you know? With normal buns instead of portobello mushroom caps and ketchup instead of 13 types of hand-made condiments spaced out on a drumset. There’s nothing wrong with simplicity. When done right.
However, a lot of chefs and restaurants believe that they’re more important than they really are and they try to show this through the food they serve. Finding the perfect balance between looks and taste isn’t for them, no sirree! Instead, they opt to create the most ‘dazzling’ dishes that end up overwhelming and confusing the customers.
The crème de la crème of pretentiousness ends up on the r/StupidFood subreddit that is dedicated to shaming the most arrogant food creations on Planet Earth. Have a taste of their best (or is that worst?) photos and remember to give the food that you wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot spork a big ol’ upvote. Grab your silverware and let’s go!
I had a chat about the subreddit with Clackpot, the founder of r/StupidFood. I was also interested to find out more about aesthetics and pretentiousness in food, so I reached out to talented pie artist Jessica Clark-Bojin, the founder of ‘The Pieous’ project and author of ‘Pies are Awesome.’ Scroll down for Bored Panda’s in-depth interviews with Clackpot, as well as with Jessica, who spoke about the importance of cooking to put a smile on someone else’s face and why it’s worth experimenting with food.
#1
When You Ask For Plain Rice
Final score:
363points
Andy Acceber 1 year ago
Groan. #DadJoke
110
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Redditor Clackpot, who founded the r/StupidFood subreddit, went into detail about the community with Bored Panda. They noted that the pretentiousness in food lies in the chef, not the actual dish itself.
“It’s not a binary choice,” Clackpot said when I asked where the line between pretentious and fancy food lies. “Supremely wonderful food can also be sphincter-tighteningly precious, and I will cheerfully deride the pretension whilst also applauding the skill and imagination required. And really the pretension in food is about the creator, not the food itself nor the outcome. Consequently, although it is very difficult to define what makes food stupid, it’s actually very easy to decide whether it is stupid or not, it’s a subjective call which we are all equipped to make,” they told Bored Panda.
The founder also told us a bit about how they founded the subreddit in the first place (you can find the full story on their wiki!). “In a nutshell, I was bored and hungover one Saturday morning five years ago and I knocked it together and forgot about for more than a year until it started to gain a little traction,” they shared with Bored Panda.
#2
Delectable!
Final score:
315points
Random Anon 1 year ago
Okay I’m going to be honest and say that looks the aftermath from the beer and green curry the previous night.
107
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#3
Zero Waste! You Know, Minus The Coffee Grounds You Just Wasted
Final score:
310points
Jihana 1 year ago
At least she’s honest
181
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The ‘Stupid Food’ community has changed “immensely” over the 6-and-a-bit years since being founded. Instead of trying to control it with an iron fist, Clackpot let it grow naturally. “Stupid Food is an entirely different creature to what I originally envisaged, but I’ve allowed it to grow in its own way and here we are. To be honest, I don’t like the modern Stupid Food nearly as much as the thing I conceived but it has been fascinating to watch it grow and mature,” they opened up.
Moderating the actual community is a fairly easy task, however. Something that many of us Pandas probably didn’t expect to hear. “You might think that a sub racking up millions of pageviews per month would be infested with the worst of humanity but it’s actually amazingly easy to handle with just two main moderators, myself and /u/VodkaBarf. I seriously hope that it never gets toxic because I fear it could get out of hand very quickly. But I feel that by allowing the sub to grow into its own thing without too much steering or interference, it has developed an identity of sorts and maybe that encourages mostly tolerable behavior.”
Clackpot added that making any ‘absolute’ statements about cooking or food would be “unmitigated piffle.” For them, food is extremely subjective, while pretending that we’ve found some objective truth is “completely meaningless, and indeed approaching Stupid Food level of pretension. “Food is a highly subjective thing which each of us experiences individually/ Literally every human being consumes food and we each have our own view, some of which will differ wildly from one another,” they said.
#4
Soft Serve Coffee In A Donut Cone, With A Shot Of Espresso
Final score:
296points
Monkey Love 1 year ago
So far this is the only intriguing one.
204
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#5
Butter Knife
Final score:
275points
Alexia 1 year ago
After the s**t shaped chocolate above, this is pure bliss
213
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#6
But Which Side Is Gonna Pay For It?
Final score:
272points
Jihana 1 year ago
LOOOL I actually love this! 
142
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The ‘Stupid Food’ subreddit has been naming and shaming arrogant dishes for more than half a decade, since April of 2015. In that time, it’s amassed a following of 306.5k redditors who are always hungry for new content. We just hope their appetite doesn’t grow bigger than the members’ ability to sate it with new and interesting photos…
The subreddit’s tagline is “Pretentiousness. On a plate. Without the plate.” The moderators note that the group is “a place to lambast idiotic methods of serving food, or any other epicurean insanity worthy of ridicule.” I love this extremely colorful description. But what I enjoy even more is that they also have a TL;DR follow up, in the spirit of simplicity being the best approach: “Food. Point. Laugh.”
Pie artist Jessica also believes that it’s not the food but the creators who can be pretentious (or not). “There is no such thing as pretentious food, only pretentious chefs (I say this with tongue planted firmly in cheek!) But seriously, I believe that with food art, as with any art, the intention of the artist and the context in which the plate is presented have to be taken into consideration before one can truly judge the dish,” Jessica told Bored Panda.
#7
Pizza-Pizza
Final score:
228points
Hannah Edwards 1 year ago
I love it! MoRe pizza can only be a good thing.
74
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#8
Loooooooooooooool
Final score:
224points
Rob Woodman 1 year ago
That’s never hollandaise
65
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#9
Freaking Deconstructed Coffee
Final score:
216points
Serial pacifist 1 year ago
They forgot to complete the deconstruction and put the coffee beans separately and give you a grinder along with it. Amateurs.
284
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“An over-the-top molecular gastronomy multiphasic sensory experience served in a family-style restaurant could certainly be considered pretentious… Then again, if the chef has a sense of humor and it is being served to elicit amusement and give the diners a bit of a chuckle, suddenly it’s not pretentious anymore,” pie artist Jessica pointed out to Bored Panda that the context and the intentions are vital whether something could be called pretentious or now.
“My own pies may be considered ‘fancy’ to some, maybe even bordering on pretentious at times (can a pie be pretentious?)… But everything I create, I do so with the very humble intention of putting a smile on someone’s face—and I’m not stingy about sharing my techniques so others can replicate my work. I think if chefs create with open hearts and an honest wish to make the recipients of their food happy, their food can’t be pretentious, no matter how complex, epic, or over-the-top, it is.”
#10
Pickles Brined In Monster
Final score:
216points
Jihana 1 year ago
I wouldn’t have had to try them to know that (native speakers: was that sentence grammatically correct? I’m not sure)
130
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#11
Our Food Better
Final score:
213points
Dodo 1 year ago
She looks amazing. The food looks like carcasses
181
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#12
A Handful Of Jam Served On A Plate At An Upscale Restaurant
Final score:
205points
Vero 1 year ago
no, just no
243
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In Jessica’s opinion, joy can be just as—if not more—important than taste. “Remember, food is something we experience with all of our senses, and our brain most of all. Yes, taste is a critical component… But I personally feel that when it comes to ‘special occasion food’ (as opposed to every day, keeping-you-on-your-feet food) joy and delight are even more critical components. If the fondant-covered cake you baked in the shape of your best friend’s favorite childhood toy makes her burst into happy tears, does it matter if the sponge is a little dry? Is it a ‘bad’ cake because it looks better than it tastes? No. It’s a good cake because it made someone you love really happy. Context and intention,” she said.
I was also curious to understand how chefs and bakers should approach cooking in general, whether it’s best to stick to simplicity and clarity or have the courage to experiment with their recipes and presentation. (Even if those experiments can sometimes leave the customers flabbergasted because they’re a tad ‘too much.’) Jessica believes that it’s vital to know what your customers want and, personally, she’s all for experimentation because it can lead to something fantastic.
#13
Deconstructed Greek Salad
Final score:
204points
Samantha Lomb 1 year ago
Not that bad, just dump the onions and the other veg on the plate, add the oil and lemon and cheese and good to go
49
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#14
Spaghetti Sandwich
Final score:
198points
Sori 1 year ago
I had something like this and was shocked how yummy it was
139
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#15
Chicken Alfredo “Burrito”
Final score:
194points
JuJu 1 year ago
I would eat it
219
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“I’m sure opinions will vary on this, but I think it just comes down to knowing your customers. Do they enjoy being challenged? Do they like the adventure of trying something new and unexpected, and learning about new flavors, textures, and methodologies even if it means sometimes they won’t love what they’re putting in their face? Or are they at your establishment because they are expecting to receive something they reliably know will give them a specific, safe, and enjoyable experience every time?” Jessica listed all the considerations chefs should take.
“That’s not to say that chefs can never evolve beyond their current offering – they just may have to be prepared to go through some growing pains as they slowly build a new customer base that appreciates their new offerings more. After all, it is important for the chef to love what they are creating too!” the pie artist told Bored Panda that finding a balance between keeping one’s customer’s content and evolving as a chef is important to keep everyone happy.
#16
“King’s Hand”
Final score:
190points
Samantha Lomb 1 year ago
Well if it was filled with something sweet, not greek salad it might be a fun Halloween snack
153
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#17
Not Fried Chicken….ice Cream
Final score:
190points
Heidi Hunt 1 year ago
I’d eat it. If you read what it actually is it sounds good and it has a chocolate bone in it 
157
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#18
Apple Pie From A Restaurant And Bakery Near Me. It’s Delicious, But Near Impossible To Eat
Final score:
171points
Samantha Lomb 1 year ago
Just flip the slice on its side and drizzle on more caramel or add ice cream.
148
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Jessica revealed that she’s an “experimental pie baker” herself, so she’s a bit biased when it comes to the safety vs. experimentation debate. “I think experimenting with new techniques, new flavors, new designs, etc. is awesome! Yeah, it blows up in your face sometimes (sometimes literally), and yeah, your customers may hate your new creations sometimes… but sometimes they’ll absolutely love them. Sometimes, you’ll capture that ‘lightning in a bottle’ and start a new food art trend that puts your establishment on the map. You never know until you try!”
If you’re raring to post on r/StupidFood (we’ve all experienced food that’s been at least 50% arrogance at some point in our lives), there are a few specific rules that you should be aware of. Obviously, you have to act like a decent human being while in the community, but that’s true for every subreddit and every social sphere.
#19
Spam Turkey
Final score:
167points
Devil’s Advocate 1 year ago
This is actually pretty cool
81
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#20
American
Final score:
164points
JuJu 1 year ago
We also have this abomination in GermanyRistorante…0Pasta.png
52
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#21
Toast Water
Final score:
162points
Vero 1 year ago
well…no, if a want somethiing that taste like a toast, I just make a toast. I know I know, Im just weird like that
189
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The sub’s mods note that the essence of the group is to shame food (albeit in a gentle manner). Keep that in mind so you don’t miss the point with any of your comments. “Bear in mind that /r/StupidFood is primarily for ridicule, and does not care how creative or artful its targets are. We’re here to poke gentle fun at other people’s creativity, and we do not care whether it is just or reasonable,” the mods explain.
Dumb food challenges, however, have no place on r/StupidFood. “Anything featuring idiotic, dangerous, and pointless eating ‘challenges’, such as the Tide Pod Challenge, are pretty much always disliked, downvoted, and otherwise ignored. The mods don’t like them, the subscribers don’t like them, and now the sub doesn’t like them.” The mods added: “Begone.”
Finally, the ‘Stupid Food’ subreddit isn’t meant for sharing recipes. Unless they’re incredibly dumb and pretentious, that is!
#22
Beef Stroganoff Tacos
Final score:
162points
Serial pacifist 1 year ago
Would eat.
150
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#23
In A Post-Covid World We Will Need To Find A Use For All These Spare Hand Sanitiser Dispensers
Final score:
161points
Sue Hazlewood 1 year ago
Someone thinks there will be a post covid world. LOL
289
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#24
Words Cannot Describe What I’m Feeling Right Now
Final score:
143points
Jihana 1 year ago
Questions, so many questions. Why? How do you eat it? and most importantly: WHY?
171
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It’s not just the visual aspects of the food that chefs can mess up. The taste of the food is just as vital. That’s why it’s important to keep everything orderly in your kitchen. Pie artist Jessica previously told Bored Panda about the best ways to avoid silly mistakes while in the kitchen. “Weighing by volume rather than by weight is a big pet peeve of mine. The chemical reactions involved in baking require precise measurements of ingredients, and depending on how densely people pack flour into their measuring cups, they can be using up to 25% more or less than the recipe actually calls for!”
#25
Ordered Some Food Delivery From Oreganos Last Night. Some Funny Guy Was Bored At His Job Apparently
Final score:
140points
ThoughtsAreNotFacts 1 year ago
Rude, but also funny?! I’d laugh if I got this… But it’s very juvenile
74
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#26
Only Stuffed Crust. In A Circle
Final score:
137points
Andy Acceber 1 year ago
Yum! But lousy packaging.
62
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#27
Blue Gatorade Macaroni With Blue Gatorade Sauce
Final score:
128points
Marek Yanchurak 1 year ago
You go to hell. Go to hell and you die.
411
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Jessica suggested that we all use kitchen scales instead. They’re far more precise. That means that we end up making fewer mistakes.
“Working mis en place can eliminate most blunders amateur cooks make… Issues with timing, forgetting certain ingredients, using ingredients at the incorrect temperature, etc.—all of these mistakes can be avoided when you take the time to prep and lay out all tools and ingredients before you start cooking or baking!” the food artist said that we should get everything ready before we start cooking.
#28
Date Said Her Favorite Food Was Blue Cheese Pizza. I Guess I Misunderstood Where The Emphasis Was Supposed To Be
Final score:
127points
Caro Caro 1 year ago
Smurf pizza
69
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#29
My Boss At Pizza Hut Made This For Me…
Final score:
123points
Dina Simoné 1 year ago
Subtly passive-agressive
41
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#30
Some Restaurant Was Bragging About This Online
Final score:
121points
JuJu 1 year ago (edited)
plat du jour: garbage
143
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#31
First Time Buying At A Local Restaurant Called “Food And Love”, Ordered A Four Cheese Pizza And This Is Why They Delivered
Final score:
116points
Dina Simoné 1 year ago
This looks like covid feels
260
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#32
I .. Kind Of.. Want It
Final score:
115points
Kristal 1 year ago
How’s are the kernels sticking to the hot dog
79
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#33
My Nostrils Are Getting Wasabi Burn Just Looking At This
Final score:
115points
troufaki13 1 year ago
Only people who have lost their sense of taste and smell can eat that.
73
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#34
Frosting On A Burger For When You Want To Die Young
Final score:
107points
Hannah Edwards 1 year ago
I remember when the unhealthiest thing I’d heard of was a deep fried mars bar.
103
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#35
This “Sandwich” With An Entire Roasted Bird And Covered In Cheese Sauce
Final score:
105points
Jihana 1 year ago
Looks like a baby puked on it.
146
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#36
Wtf Texas
Final score:
103points
Chich 1 year ago
Someone has to get texas into treatment
154
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#37
What We Ordered. What We Got
Final score:
102points
Serial pacifist 1 year ago
Got a tan
46
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#38
Unreal – This Is Pinnacle Stupid Food.
Final score:
102points
Dina Simoné 1 year ago
Was it cooked alive? I only eat my ice cream when it involves pain and regret.
75
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#39
Ketchup And Mayo Ice Cream
Final score:
100points
Samantha Lomb 1 year ago
Vomit
149
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#40
I Have Nothing To Say About This
Final score:
96points
Dina Simoné 1 year ago
This is disgusting on so many levels.
175
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#41
Take It To The Vet, I Bet They Could Still Save It
Final score:
94points
Random Anon 1 year ago
This person is a moron.
144
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#42
Freaking Nutella Biryani
Final score:
93points
Joonscrab 1 year ago
Stop ruining our food too please 
67
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#43
Chefclub At It Again
Final score:
87points
Samantha Lomb 1 year ago
Yeah this doesn’t look bad
92
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#44
Banana Water
Final score:
86points
Ellen Turner 1 year ago
Banana Milk, on the other hand (it’s like strawberry Milk)
45
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#45
I Present To You, A Single Slice Of Bread Wrapped In Plastic
Final score:
86points
Joanne O’Brien 1 year ago
What a waste
9
#46
My Craving For Steak Has Never Disappeared Faster
Final score:
82points
Marek Yanchurak 1 year ago
I’m most horrified by the Kraft “cheese” slices.
149
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#47
Shrimp And Eggs!
Final score:
82points
ThoughtsAreNotFacts 1 year ago
Fail! FAIL! fAil!
88
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#48
I Am Weeping
Final score:
66points
Samantha Lomb 1 year ago
Reminds me of one of those horrific Jello and mayo abominations from the 1970s that often contained processed meats
85
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#49
Homemade Nachos
