Ferdinand the Foodie

Ferdinand the Foodie is a character in the British comic Viz. It was created and illustrated by John Fardell and has appeared sporadically since 2002.

The central character, Ferdinand, is similar to the characters in Fardell's other creation, "The Critics". However, instead of being a self-appointed expert and critic of art, Ferdinand's area of expertise is - so he claims - food. He thinks of himself as a sophisticated judge of fine food and wine and believes his comments on a restaurant will make or break that particular establishment.

In reality, no chefs or restaurant owners really care what he thinks. In fact, Ferdinand even finds himself having trouble getting a table at fashionable restaurants.

Ferdinand looks his part: he is obese and middle-aged with a big nose and heavy jowls, wears a dinner suit wherever he goes. He is very snobbish, refusing to shop at the humble supermarkets normal people go to, and once refused to go into a restaurant that did not require a reservation, believing that anything that is accessible to the working classes is not good enough for him.

Ferdinand is usually accompanied by his twenty-something nephew, Jamie, who does not share Ferdinand's attitude. Quite frequently, Jamie is horrified and humiliated by his Uncle's behaviour, such as the time his Uncle Ferdinand was arrested at a petting zoo for force-feeding a goose in an attempt to make foie gras.