Small Plates?

[KYHeirloomer]

>Well it's certainly not the norm but it is more prevelant than it was. I agree most restaurant appetizers are as big as a regular meal <

I believe their are two factors involved in this. First, many restaurants use their appetizer menu as if it were an a la carte listing. You'll notice how often the appetizers and the entrees are the same dishes, for instance, especially in the chain restaurants. So the so-called appetizer is actually the same as the entree, but without all the go-withs.

The second factor is that restaurant managers often think they have to make their appetizers large in order to justify the prices they charge.

All of which, unfortunately, spills over into many of the specifically small-plates type restaurants. I know of one, for instance, in which three mini-burgers is considered a small-plate serving. Yeah, it would be, if I had two other people to share it with!

[jfain]

[QUOTE=I know of one, for instance, in which three mini-burgers is considered a small-plate serving. Yeah, it would be, if I had two other people to share it with![/QUOTE]

I hear you. I'm not saying it's problem solved but at least now there is some small possibility of getting a healthy decent sized meal where before it was not in any way possible.

[chubbyalaskagriz]

One of my favorite ways of eating out has always been to go w/ a friend- or a group, and just sit in the bar and enjoy/share several apps. I feel I get my desire for varied tastes satisfied in this manner- and get to see more ideas on plate presentation, etc.

Another thing I like is when an entree salad menu offers a half-portion option. Many times I like to order something beyond a regular tossed salad to go w/ my steak or chicken.

I have nothing at all against large portions- in fact, there's nothing I like more than being able to take something home for breakfast or lunch the next day- or a bite of fish for the kitties to nibble on when I get home!

[cookie]

Your right..... Left overs are Good!! Cookie

[KYHeirloomer]

You're right. Leftovers are good. Unfortunately, it's hard to order just about anything in a restaurant nowadays and not have them.

Me, I'd rather have a reasonable portion, that I can comfortably finish at the table.

Fact is, I produce enough leftovers of my own without having to add more from a restuarant.

Sunday was a good example. A buddy and I did an Earthday presentation at a community college about 1 1/2 hours from here. So we'd decided that the four of us would just go out to eat when we got back to Lexington. Went to an Olive Garden (only the second time I've ever been in one of those, and can't remember anything about the first visit).

Friend Wife and I figured on sharing the calimari "appetizer." Uh, huh. All four of us ate from it. And as to the entrees: I brought home about half of mine. Friend Wife actually had more of hers in the take home box than she'd eaten in the restaurant.

There's just no sane reason for portions that size, IMO.

[cookie]

Your right portion size matters, no doubt restaurant's give way too much! Cookie

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Oh But excuse me ya' all>>>Why that's half the fun of goin' to a restaurant...having enough food to pig-out & still have left-overs to carry home for the next days lunch!!! And the prices thay charge thay'd better give this gal a VERY GENEROUS portion indeed!!!

Brook if I could in all sincerity I would cook small plates all the time, but it would be going against all my natural instincts, and what exactly are my natural instincts? Well to cook enough for the entire family and then some for lunch the next day, and enough for company that just might pop in unexspectedley.

[jfain]

I think if your cooking your self it’s different because even if you make enough for an army you can still just put the amount of food you want to eat on your plate. The problem with restaurants is they put the whole family sized platter in front of you and if you only make a small dent in it you feel like you haven’t done a proper job with your dinner. Maybe if they put the trough of food in front of me and then gave me a plate to portion it out I would feel better about it.

[KYHeirloomer]

Besides which, Cathy, at home you can put out a total volume of small bites equal to anything you'd otherwise serve.

As you know, I'm very conscious of the concept Southern hospitality. Which translates as having a sufficient plenty no matter what's being served. It isn't written anywhere, however, that I have to put that ham on the table as one hunk.

But I disagree with you about what makes up the fun of eating out. We still consider going to a restaurant as a special thing. We don't do it often, because most of the time I can make better food at home.

When we do go out, what I want is the right amount of good food, served well, and a pleasant time with the people I'm with. Piling the food up as if we were pigs in a sty is not my idea of a good time.

[chubbyalaskagriz]

I don't eat out often at all these days, 'cause it simply isn't in my newly-modest budget...doing so is a real and infrequent treat. But when I do- I lean towards enjoying being able to bring home leftovers- and I have a large appetite, so whenever I do bring home extra food, you can bet the portion was indeed large.

One thing is for sure- sometimes I go to a particular eatery knowing full-well before-hand that I'll wish to also order an appetizer- or a dessert. And I've never been able to eat anywhere and eat all three+ courses and not had leftovers to cart home in a box or doggy-bag.

I can see folks' positions about not wanting the larger portions. But in the age of super-sized everything- including super-sized prices, I can't see restaurants changing- especially if it means lowering their menu-price. They're simply not gonna offer a 10 dollar item when we're all perfectly fine opting for the 15 dollar one. It's hard to go backward... kinda like trying to get un-pregnant!