Chapter 9: Understanding Authenticity Within Gastronomic Experiences

Selling food tourism experiences can be a successful marketing tool that creates positive gastronomic memories. To determine how gastronomic memories are created, this study conducted interviews with participants using auto-driven photo-elicitation, the process of which explored trigger points with both tangible and intangible attributes. A focus group was also held where an avant-garde meal was served to “foodies” as a means of food-elicitation technique. This chapter examines the ways authenticity was presented in the narratives of the participants, and how authenticity played a role in their creation of participants’ memorable gastronomic experiences. The chapter questions if these “foodies” are taking away the mystique from dining-out by over analyzing the product.