american v european food

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8623091.stm

i was suppose to start my new job on monday, but i am stuck in scotland because of volcanic ash and, as frustrating as this is, it is quite cool how nature can still control the world.

while reading about flights being cancelled and passengers stranded, i came across the article above...a slightly different perspective on american cuisine. i am not sure i completely agree with all their comments. while america certainly has more than its fair share of fast food joints and prepared meals, scotland has no shortage of chip shops and full breakfasts. and while scotland's food may taste better and be actual food (less processed food), meals are built around meat and fried foods...lots of fat and not so many fruits and vegetables, though lots of potatoes. and while the majority of americans seem to go for the cheap, prepared 'food' items and we are dealing with the huge health consequences that come with eating this way, america has many great restaurants that are dedicated to real food.

there are several things in the article i found interesting. a point the article makes is that americans don't enjoy the food they eat, they consider it a chore, something they do because they have to. this could be because the food most americans eat is not enjoyable, it is processed crap that our bodies can't digest and in turn making our bodies feel like crap afterwards. the whole process of food is seen as a chore - the shopping, the prep work, the cooking, the eating. people eat as fast as they can to be finished as fast as they can. our whole view of food and eating is distorted. why can't we enjoy searching for good food at the market? why can't we enjoy looking up recipes and trying something new? why can't we sit with friends and family and have conversations around a meal?

the term that waitstaff often use 'are you still working on that?' is a terrible phrase. when i used to wait tables, i was called out on using that phrase by a customer. she said i should say 'are you still enjoying your meal?'

i find it hard to lump scottish cuisine in with general european cuisine. while there are many great restaurants in edinburgh and a fabulous farmer's market, there are a lot of american tendencies - fast food places, large portions, fatty meals, take away sandwiches to eat on the go. i found far less of these things in france and italy. the french and italians seem to take far more time in preparing and enjoying their food.