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A key food culture difference between France and the US is the American concept of “spread”. Holiday meals are usually served all at once, with all the courses “spread” on the table in a visually impressive display that doesn’t tell you much about the quality of the food itself.
This entry was edited (1 year ago)
silverwizard
silverwizard  
Huh, interesting, that is a custom I was not aware of as a Canadian, my experience was always hiding courses until needed
0x1C3B00DA
0x1C3B00DA  
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how would presenting the food in discrete courses tell you anything about the quality of the food? I didn't realize this was an American thing. I assumed courses were only still a thing at over-the-top fancy restaurants
silverwizard
silverwizard  
It's more that individual pieces speak for themselves in other cultures, are not just a tile in a mosaic
Hypolite Petovan
Hypolite Petovan  
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@0x1C3B00DA Back in France, all my family Christmas Eve dinners were organized in courses as well.

My remark about the quality of the food was poking at the fact that spreads seem to be meant to be appreciated for their aggregate property, not for the individual courses composing them.

In the US I’ve heard guests praising “the spread” before taking any bite, which for me is a strong hint the quality of the food isn’t the priority of the practice.
@0x1C3B00DA
0x1C3B00DA
0x1C3B00DA  
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I think complementing the spread comes from an appreciation of having enough for everyone. Also, a spread is more convenient because, at least in my experience, holiday meals are potluck; everybody brings a dish or two. The host may request specific dishes from certain people, but they may bring other dishes (they made too much for a different gathering so split it and brought the extra, they enjoy a specific dish and wanna make sure it’s there, etc)
Hypolite Petovan
Hypolite Petovan  
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@0x1C3B00DA I agree about the "plentiful" interpretation, but again, it doesn't say anything about the food itself, just the sheer quantity of it, which is a recurring theme in American food culture as well.

Many other cultures have this kind of meal presentation, whether in Africa or Asia where there aren't any formal course order, but the US is the only one that I know of that has this specific concept of "spread".
@0x1C3B00DA
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