Reflective Essay
The historical and modern-day role of the American restaurant is critical in bringing different types of people together. While I valued restaurants as integral to a society’s culinary culture prior to engaging with the class’ material, I failed to properly understand just how crucial restaurants are to cultural movements. Restaurants act simultaneously as both a breeding ground for America’s progressive thoughts and a floor of debate for its citizens; a place where patrons can both comfortably discuss philosophies and debate contradicting beliefs. It’s the ability of restaurants to provide a common meeting ground for diverse personalities that permanently place it within the fabric of American society.
The main objective of restaurants is to augment the culinary culture of its surroundings. Yet, the best restaurants also augment broader culture at the same time, as demonstrated by the class’ introduction of culinary icons and the Delmonico’s. While simply a physical restaurant, the Delmonico’s is a great example of a physical restaurant transforming into an establishment that not only permanently shaped culture but became a part of the culture itself.
In addition to existing as foundational block within the country’s culture, American restaurants have also served as cultural thermometers: taking a pulse of the surrounding culture, both when its harmonious and when its discordant. While restaurants present in harmonious cultures have produced classic literature and media crucial to America’s fabric, restaurants in discordant cultures have served as weaponry to combat some of America’s ugliest times. The scenes of the iconic Greensboro lunch counter sit-in are partially responsible for the spread of the cultural wave which abolished legal segregation. The sit-ins caused the entire nation to reevaluate its beliefs, and it all started at a restaurant. Who knows, perhaps the #MeToo movement will too be augmented by sweeping changes throughout the restaurant industry?