It seems lately I'm on a roll.
This time, my subject is tables. Restaurant tables in the US in contrast to restaurant tables in France. Since my arrival in SA I've gone to eat out 3 times so far and every time I've noticed the same thing: tables in the US are wider than in France. This may seem irrelevant but I think it demonstrates an important lesson in the difference of these two cultures.
Andre and I usually eat out 1 or 2 times per week. We try to vary the places we go because we figure, heck after all we do live in the gastronomical capital of the world so we might as well take advantage of it, right?
Anyway, we've probably been to a hundred different places in the course of the past 6 years and if the quality of the food does tend to vary from one place to another, one thing stays the same: the whith of the tables. In France tables are just exactly the size for two plates to fit opposite each other and still have a little room left for two glasses in between. This means that you sit facing your dinner partner pretty close. I'm almost sure there are two reasons to this: 1st: to save space and be able to cram as many little tables as possible in all those small bistros and brasseries.... and 2nd: to give the people sitting down to eat a feeling of intimacy and closeness so that they can enjoy their meal and still be able to talk without having to raise their voice. Whatever the reason, the fact is that when you sit down to eat in France you're legs are probably going to bump underneath the table more than once, you'll barely have enough space left on the table for two plates, to sets of glasses (water and wine, hello?), the sel et poivre shakers and the bread basket and you'll quite possibly be able to see what your neighbor ordered without having to crane your neck. But you'll also be able to fight, negotiate, flirt, plot,... etc, all while eating at the same time and without having to inform the rest of the restaurant.
In the US I've noticed this is not exactly the same case. Tables here are three plates wide instead of two like in France. This is highly practical because you don't have to worry about having to place the salt & pepper shakers on the next table or be careful not to knock your glass over when reaching out for bread. But it can also be a bit unpractical when you're having lunch more for social purposes than simply to stop feeling hungry. All three times I've been out to eat so far it's been to enjoy the company of the person eating with me and each time I've found myself leaning forward in order to avoid having to...... shout is too strong of a word, let's say raise my voice..... this has led to a few unpleasant moments during the meals like when I suddenly realize I'm committing the ultimate no-no of "elbows on the table" while leaning forward to listen better or like those moments when neither speaks because we're trying to enjoy our meal and talking loudly while eating doesn't exactly agree with enjoying..... Still, it's not like it's as big as a deal as it seems I'm making out of it, it's not like that scene in Batman when Kim Basinger and Michael Keaton are eating on Bruce Wayne's 30-seat dining table and he has to get up to bring her the salt.
But still........it is often said that les arts de la table are part of the backbone of the French. Eating is not only the action of putting things in your mouth, chewing and swallowing... it goes way beyond that and it's widely known the French consider eating an experience. I used to think this was all a load of rubbish but I have begun to understand what they mean. This is going to sound so cliche but it is also so true: when a Frenchman decides on a restaurant there is so much more than just picking out what to eat. The cadre (environment) of the place must be alluring, the ardoise (slate or menu) appetizing, and the compagnie (company) enjoyable. Now, deciphering what exactly alluring, appetizing and enjoyable actually means is deciphering the French themselves and I'm not sure I've gotten there yet, but one thing is for certain: smaller tables are an important element in that equation.
So wherever you are eating and be it on a two-plate table or a three-plate table always remember the bottom line: Buen provecho, Enjoy your meal and Bon apetit!
Fned.
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