Bobs Blogs | June 2026 - Do You Live to Eat, or Eat to Live?

I have been threatening to write this for some time, so here is my first offering.

As I write this, I realise I am twenty years older than the age when most people retire. But I write as a happy chappy, in fact life has been, overall, pretty good.

Many people have asked me to put my thoughts down over the years, and I suppose after all this time, I do have something to say. Those who know me will tell you I say too much. That's because I don't fear what I say. I believe it.

But before I go off on a tangent about how bloody useless some institutions are, let me tell you what this is really about, my love of food.

We all must eat to survive.

So let me put a question to you, do you live to eat, or do you eat to live?

These two positions are completely opposed, and I know exactly which one I prefer.

Here is another way to think about it. Since we must eat anyway, does it not make far more sense to eat well and enjoy the process?

The alternative, filling your belly with rubbish, is the same food that sends you to the doctor time and again, or sees you gone long before your time. Life is good. Enjoy it fully. You are a long time dead.

Most of you reading this have the means to buy and enjoy the best. And I want to be clear, the best does not always mean the most expensive. It means quality. It means taking a little time to understand what you are putting into your body and why it matters.

I have had my share of hard times over the years. Not once did I ask for help from the state or family. But I will confess, there were periods when I bought my Scotch on economic grounds rather than quality ones. The moment I was back on my feet, it was straight back to The Famous Grouse.

That tells you something. When you eat or drink something of genuine quality, there is a feeling of wellbeing that follows. It does something for the soul. It is not indulgence. It is self-respect.

More to follow.

Bob Coombes

Founder, Bangkok Bob's and Associates By Choice

Trusted By Thailand's Top Hotels and Restaurants. Since 1972.