You have to admit, the choices we consumers have in the United States can make us the envy of the world. I am aghast at the choices in the supermarket and of course online for whatever I am looking for.
And, when what otherwise might seem like a commodity can be presented as a choice, prices reflect that. We now have organic this or that … and at times I am just a bit puzzled why I should care about whether “that” was organic or not.
Obviously low fat and no calorie must cost more … they had to remove all those ingredients to make it that way … so it should cost more … or should it? Read what they do put in the food to achieve those goals and be afraid … be very afraid.
Well, in the Wall Street Journal a restaurant that has yet to serve its first meal was declared the best in the world. So, of course I had to watch the video proclaiming why this was true. Here is the link if you have the time to watch the full five minutes: WSJ Video
If you are like most people, here is what I consider the key takeaway: Just because you can safely serve these foods, does that make it the right thing to do? Personally, I don’t think so. When you want to be the best in the world you don’t serve things people are intrinsically afraid to eat in a culture. Try serving octopus in the US and see what you find. You serve what people normally might eat but in a way that makes them appreciate why they are in the restaurant having you serve them what they could prepare at home.
I can’t wait to see what happens to the menu in this restaurant after being open for a few months. I suspect a drastic change … and the chef who had this dream will probably move on in disgust that people have no appreciation for fine dining.
It reminds me of a Christmas dinner I had when my wife Susan was invited to an officer’s party at her firm. Since I was the spouse I sat next to another spouse. In this case, she was a playwrite. So, after asking her what plays she had done and was working on, I just commented that I was amazed at the prolific success of Andrew Lloyd Webber and she scoffed at that saying: “He was just pandering to the masses!” I then asked how her plays were going and she remarked that attendance was just awful … people just don’t appreciate fine theater.
I rest my case.