Dining Preference in America

A detailed Summary of Dining Preference in America

One of the American dining practices that stands out in contrast to eastern cultures is how food is served and eaten, in a traditional restaurant setting. Each person is expected to order an entree for himself, along with any appetizer, salad, soup, or desserts he wishes to have. Over the course of the meal each dish is served sequentially, usually at a rectangular table, and everybody concentrates on his own dish with sharing kept to a minimum unless among closer friends or relatives. Napkins are used to keep off messy stains and loud eating noise is usually considered bad form.

On the other hand, a traditional Chinese meal would involve a collection of different dishes of meats and vegetables, soup, all served together with bowls of personal servings of rice to consumed with the dishes. Instead of forks and knives, each person is equipped with a pair of chopsticks and a soup spoon that he or she uses to pick up food from the communal dishes. The sharing of these different dishes is facilitated with a round table that places each person at equal distances to them. Chewing food with your mouth open, resting your elbow on the table top, and leaving your chopsticks standing in the middle of your rice bowl are all considered

In many parts of the world today, having a McDonald in your neighborhood was a sign of modernization and prosperity, but it also embodies within it the American way of life that may seem bizarre to outsiders not familiar with its customs and beliefs. The entire nation was founded upon the notion of individual rights, and this belief is so deeply entwined in its history it's no surprise that even restaurants themselves have acquired their own individualistic style.

At a fast food chain, the process of ordering a meal is streamlined into a process of choosing a "combo meal", size of fries, choice of soft drink, and your meal is served within a matter of seconds for your instant enjoyment. Even the kitchen itself has been designed with speed and efficiency in mind, with each station manned by workers specializing in a specific task much as an assembly line worker would in a Ford Model T car factory in the 40's, flipping burgers or wrapping up sandwiches. The level of services provided is limited to serving the customers their meals, after which the customers are expected to clean up by bringing their food trays to a nearby waste disposal bin. The drive-thru is another unique feature of the fast food restaurant, allowing individuals to order and pick up their meals without having to get out of their cars.

Although cultures across different geological borders seem to differ greatly in their food preferences, cooking styles, and dieting habits, these differences do not stay frozen in time but instead changes over time. In today's world, globalization and commercialism have brought a change to every culture. Each culture's distinct set of beliefs and practices

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Approximate Word count = 1130
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History