I had to laugh at the types of buffet eater identified in this article - particularly when I resembled more than one of them!
The heels are high, the tie knots Windsor, the conversation genteel and nobody has yet started to worry about the babysitter. The wedding reception is going smoothly. But there’s a beast behind the nearby sneeze guards. And, when it’s set loose, the atmosphere changes.
It’s the same at golf-club socials, corporate away-days and resort hotels – because when you put Britons and a buffet in the same room, human behaviour turns from pristine to primitive before you can say “cocktail sausage”.
We’re different from many European countries when it comes to communal feeding. Picture the aperitivo spread in a Milan bar: exquisitely made snacks – arancini, tramezzini, bruschetta – to place, one by one, beside your cocktail glass. This could never work in Britain: too many of us would sweep an armful of goodies into a carrier bag and leg it.
Here, it’s less “eat as much as you like” and more “eat as much as you can before gout kicks in”. So what do our dining habits say about us?
There's more at the link.
The article identifies seven types of buffet eater. The descriptions are often funny, but also a bit uncomfortable when one looks at oneself through their lens and realizes that at least some of their traits can be identified in our own behavior. Humbling, as well as amusing.
Peter
6 comments:
I used to resemble a couple of these. Somewhere somewhen. I changed. I dont do buffets much anymore and now get a small serving (think sample size) of each thing that looks good or interesting. Then go back for a medium plate of the best items i liked. Then i stop. Before i was a try to get my moneys worth person. Which behavior derived from growing up in poverty.
Also as to why i don't go to buffets much any more. They food at best is mediocre and on average very underwhelming. Though i shouldnt pick on buffets alone as this is my impression of most restraunts
In my experience, Brits have nothing on Russians. Twice I've been to places (once Czech Republic, once Hungary) where Russian tour groups stripped the buffet on the first pass. They ate breakfast, then took lunch with them. The Hungarian servers muttered something about "The Red Army never changes."
I tend to arrive as soon as the buffet opens, survey the foodscape, take a little of what I want, then depart as soon as I finish. But that's at breakfast. I don't usually have a buffet supper.
TXRed
Did they mention my type? I'm a No Buffet type of person. You see, humans belly up to that trough, and I have met humans. I don't want random ones touching my food.
Also, I just don't eat that much any more. Quality has replaced quantity for me.
I agree with both TXRed and Carteach... But I also remember aircrews that 'saved' per diem by scarfing the entire 'free' buffets the hotels used to have...
There used to be a seafood buffet place called Boston Sea Party.
For a set price, you got a main dish and an unlimited buffet.
People were getting sick, so they closed the place, assuming tainted seafood was to blame.
It was reopened once the culprit was found to be people gorging on the unlimited buffet items.
The kind that does not eat at a buffet if my shoes stick to the floor... So I dont eat at buffets much any more. I live at least two plane rides away from any coast so fresh fish here just does not happen and our jumbo shrimp are more shrimp than jumbo.
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