If you think about it, small plates make a lot of sense. This refreshing approach to dining provides for an exciting, valuable, and diverse experience.
Restaurateurs, menu planners, and chefs want diners to understand that this small plate thing is much more than just serving a plate of food. Small plates are an attitude.
Historically speaking, our ancestors would be surprised to see it takes us a long time to get back to the basics as far as food consumption is concerned.
For a while now, (50 plus years!), there hasn’t been a lot of concern for where food comes from or how it is processed. Food consumption for the most part centered on the desire for fast, inexpensive, and already prepared food in huge, unnatural portions. For the first time in history, access to upgrades in technology for travel, home appliances, advertising, food production, and communication allowed consumers to experience the unprecedented time-saving conveniences. Fast forward to today and consumers have come to realize that microwaves, midnight drive-thrus and a myriad of unhealthy munchies have left an alarming majority of the United States in quite a pickle. Early-onset diabetes an epidemic childhood obesity are directly linked to our “super-size” food consumption mentality.
Enter farm-to-table and the re-invention of small plates. Farm-to-table proponents have been key in involving local markets in their bountiful, nutritional and local harvest. Chefs have embraced this time-honored way of gathering and preparing food. Consumers chime in with their participation and a resounding “it’s about time!”
Small plates and the restaurants which have embraced this movement offer an experience, not just a plate of snacks. With disposable incomes being affected by the recession and diners really being quite discretionary with their money, a food establishment who will roll with the punches and keep their finger on the pulse of a nation will be the ones standing at the end of the day.
Small plates are indeed smaller portions. They are indeed offered at a reduced price. They will allow diners to taste and enjoy menu items which they would have never ordered as an entire entrée’. Small plates are meant for sharing. They are delectable morsels, delicious sauces, and delightful spoonfuls of experience. Small plates allow for true conversation, true interaction, and meaningful time spent with the people who are important in day to day living.
Small plates are here to stay providing sustenance and experiences all along the way.
