FoodPornDaily.com makes stomachs growl, students moan

Eating begins with the eyes. Oftentimes, just one look at pure deliciousness is enough to make stomachs moan with contentment. And thanks to FoodPornDaily, getting that one-look fix is now only a click away.

The site is essentially a gallery of “food porn”—not pictures of food on half-clothed people, but rather photographs of provocatively presented food. Viewers can look and arouse their tastebuds, but they cannot touch, thus enjoying a vicarious eating experience when good food is not readily available.

FoodPornDaily’s main page changes from day to day, depending on the most recent user-submitted picture of food. Users click the screen to cycle through pictures, although they can also scroll through the gallery to find their favorite dish of the day.

The majority of photos make use of creative angles and close-ups to give dishes a feeling that is, if not arousing, at least enough to make stomachs growl with pleasure. After all, who thought bread rolls (or, as one photo calls them, “garlic butter bread knots sprinkled with salt”) could look like art?

And though it might seem unnatural for a picture of a cookie to beckon forth long-dormant carnal passions, food porn does just that.

FoodPornDaily states its mission is to provide nothing more than “the most delicious food [picture] possible.” But for those who are tempted enough to whip up a stuffed avocado or a marinated flank steak with green papaya salad, there are a few viewer-posted recipes on the site. The real joy in food porn, though, is just staring.

Hard-core food porn addicts can also make use of email subscriptions and RSS feed updates whenever new pictures are posted. Such updates, though, often do ruin the joy that is the surprise of discovering a series of new pictures to peruse.

This is not to say that the site is without flaws. Since all content is user-submitted, it does happen that viewers stumble upon a slightly less than seductive image. Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, it turns out, do not make for good food porn. If viewers look carefully, though, they can find pictures of Moroccan New York strip kebabs with pine nut couscous and spicy carrot sauce, or perhaps salted caramel pot de créme with a dark chocolate and cocoa nib crust.

But, lovely as food porn is to stare at, there’s always the inevitable frustration: Simply looking at pretty pictures will never be as satisfying as actually getting some.

Since the site lacks a search feature, it can also be difficult to find that oh-so-enticing photograph of a s’more that was just there yesterday. The thrill of the hunt wears out pretty quickly, as viewers eventually grow weary from seeking elusive satisfaction.

The greater dangers of food porn, though, are the feelings it induces. Do not go on the site if a kitchen or pantry will not be accessible in the next 20 minutes. Do not go on after eating a huge meal (what was once tantalizing will now repulse an overstuffed stomach). And most importantly—do not go on if your mother has just announced that tonight’s dinner will consist of lentils.

Despite its drawbacks, though, FoodPornDaily is definitely worth the look. Where else might viewers be inspired to taste a porcini and pumpernickel stuffed squid? Even if the food it depicts isn’t always accessible, the site at least allows users to expand their culinary horizons and appreciate food for more than just its nutritional value (or lack thereof).

Those interested can visit www.foodporndaily.com.