Less IS More
In the US, we've become accustomed to always expecting more ... usually more for our money. My family will tell you that Sam's Club is my favorite store, so I'm just as guilty of expecting this as the next guy (or gal).
But this is a concept that breaks down terribly when extended to eating.
By and large, except for special occasions, we've allowed the restaurant industry to cater to our insatiable desire for more. The majority of Americans consider portion size more important than flavor ... or ingredient quality. Thus, we've grown to be an incredibly overweight (obese?) nation. But I've already beat that topic to death. We hear that portion size control is needed to "unfatten" America. Good luck my fellow American eaters! The deck is stacked against us everywhere.
In Italy, they've managed to keep alive a self discipline around quality, taste, and portion size. These attributes all blend together into a solution that makes sense in terms of satisfaction, socialization, and weight management.
Italians are obsessed with the quality of their food and its ingredients. They will not stand for sub-par quality or taste. Eating is a national pastime ... ranking in level of interest right up there with football (aka soccer in the US). Anyone trying to sell some of the tasteless, yet inexpensive, mass-produced food products and produce we actually will buy in the US would be out of business in no time. We're even becoming tired of the lack of quality in our food choices ... thus the rapid rise of chains like Whole Foods. But, even the quality of the products they sell would be considered marginal by the standards of most Italians.
Food preparation is time consuming and carefully done in Italy. Forget the fast food, pre-fab meal, Rachel-Ray-30-minute-meal deals. Speed of food preparation is not anywhere near as important to Italians as it is to us. The amount of time spent on buying (typically at an outdoor market or small market, although superstores are growing in popularity), preparing, and eating meals is considerably longer than in the US. Considerably. We're obsessed with speed ... we eat to live (even though we'll deny this to the grave). Italians live to eat, and socialize. Meals are an event to be savored, not rushed.
Restaurants are savants at portion size in Italy. In the US, selecting from every section of the menu ... appetizer, salad, entree, dessert ... will likely get you enough calories for a day (or more) ... 2,000 ... 2,500 ... because we all-too-often associate portion size with quality and/or value. The jokes about high-end restaurants and their small portions are legion, as are the TV commercials taking advantage of same.
In Italy, you're almost expected, at a regular meal, to order from every section of the menu. And if you do so, you'll likely be perfectly satisfied without being stuffed. If you get into the swing of things, and do as Italians do every meal, you'll also find that you'll have less desire to snack between meals.
This less is more attitude carries over into the most casual of food choices. Even the sandwiches for sale at food shops and cafes are simple, high quality affairs. Often a slice or two (thin) of some awesome-flavored cured meat, a slice of cheese, and (maybe) a tomato slice with a lettuce leaf. Simple, tasty without condiments, healthy.
Just right in fact.
But this is a concept that breaks down terribly when extended to eating.
By and large, except for special occasions, we've allowed the restaurant industry to cater to our insatiable desire for more. The majority of Americans consider portion size more important than flavor ... or ingredient quality. Thus, we've grown to be an incredibly overweight (obese?) nation. But I've already beat that topic to death. We hear that portion size control is needed to "unfatten" America. Good luck my fellow American eaters! The deck is stacked against us everywhere.
In Italy, they've managed to keep alive a self discipline around quality, taste, and portion size. These attributes all blend together into a solution that makes sense in terms of satisfaction, socialization, and weight management.
Italians are obsessed with the quality of their food and its ingredients. They will not stand for sub-par quality or taste. Eating is a national pastime ... ranking in level of interest right up there with football (aka soccer in the US). Anyone trying to sell some of the tasteless, yet inexpensive, mass-produced food products and produce we actually will buy in the US would be out of business in no time. We're even becoming tired of the lack of quality in our food choices ... thus the rapid rise of chains like Whole Foods. But, even the quality of the products they sell would be considered marginal by the standards of most Italians.
Food preparation is time consuming and carefully done in Italy. Forget the fast food, pre-fab meal, Rachel-Ray-30-minute-meal deals. Speed of food preparation is not anywhere near as important to Italians as it is to us. The amount of time spent on buying (typically at an outdoor market or small market, although superstores are growing in popularity), preparing, and eating meals is considerably longer than in the US. Considerably. We're obsessed with speed ... we eat to live (even though we'll deny this to the grave). Italians live to eat, and socialize. Meals are an event to be savored, not rushed.
Restaurants are savants at portion size in Italy. In the US, selecting from every section of the menu ... appetizer, salad, entree, dessert ... will likely get you enough calories for a day (or more) ... 2,000 ... 2,500 ... because we all-too-often associate portion size with quality and/or value. The jokes about high-end restaurants and their small portions are legion, as are the TV commercials taking advantage of same.
In Italy, you're almost expected, at a regular meal, to order from every section of the menu. And if you do so, you'll likely be perfectly satisfied without being stuffed. If you get into the swing of things, and do as Italians do every meal, you'll also find that you'll have less desire to snack between meals.
This less is more attitude carries over into the most casual of food choices. Even the sandwiches for sale at food shops and cafes are simple, high quality affairs. Often a slice or two (thin) of some awesome-flavored cured meat, a slice of cheese, and (maybe) a tomato slice with a lettuce leaf. Simple, tasty without condiments, healthy.
Just right in fact.
posted by Mark Pukita | 10:33 AM
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