The "polenta-eating" phrase did not completely spoil the piece, but that was only because the reader was willing to isolate it, push it to one side of the plate. This kind of thing is easy, and silly. I eat polenta. I eat (I make) bruschetta. So what? I am mostly on the side of the writer, and he has annoyed me with this kind of thing.

There are variants on this side of the ocean: less attention to food, more to make of car: the "Volvo-driving suburbs."

Easy, inaccurate, insulting to readers; unworthy of the writer. . (Hugh)

What about lotus eaters? Are they allowed? What about lotus drivers?

Homer and his style tribes, eh?