Why the food in the bowl seems to taste better than on a plate

Previously, all of the dishes are usually eaten, but now both at home and eating in restaurants more often served in bowls. The journalists Quartzy understood the causes.

A Brief History of bowls

"In the majority of national cuisines bowls - the basic utensils for eating - says Matthew Weingarten (Matthew Weingarten), culinary director of network Dig Inn Restaurant, which specializes in such filing dishes. - I have them associated with a sense of comfort and saturation. Probably, so it seems, and many of our visitors. But this is a relatively new perspective on food. "

The publication of the Dig Inn (@diginn)July 16, 2018 at 8:14 PDT

In the XX century in America at the dinner table was dominated by plates: one for bread, salad, main course and dessert. In many middle-class families were two sets of dishes: every day and on special occasions. We eat except porridge bowls on breakfast or soup.

"The use of multiple plates, as well as highly specialized cutlery such as knives for fish reflected the desire not to mix traditional food - says food historian Helen Zoe Veit (Helen Zoe Veit). - There are bowls of most of the XX century it was considered unfashionable. "

The way we eat reflects what we eat. In popular Western culture has traditionally been some source of protein with vegetables, salad and bread. "Such a sharp distinction between the components considered a sign of fashion, education and status," - continues to Veit.

Plates with individual slides meals were a symbol of American identity and wealth, one of the benefits of capitalism and the growing middle class. Bowls associated with poverty. The change began in the '60s, when the bowl became an attribute of the bohemian lifestyle, and food in them - a symbol of the cultural revolution.

Bowls are convenient because one can eat almost anything.

Soups, noodles, dumplings eat from deep bowls because of the need. But lately, they began serving food, which are no less tasty and on the plate. There was a lot of varieties of so-called Bowl (from the English bowl - a bowl): Bowl with cereal, Buddha Bowl, burritos Bowl.

At the heart of wholegrain foods, fresh and cooked vegetables, herbs and a variety of sauces. For breakfast, they have become popular smoothie Bowl with yogurt and granola, fruit, nuts and other trendy ingredients like acai berries, hemp seeds and chia.

Bowl of cereal - a main dish of many fast-healthy diet. They are convenient in that the composition can be changed depending on seasonal vegetables. Visitors can combine the ingredients on their own. Due to this they are easy to cook at home: do not need to follow complicated instructions, you can use the remnants of other dishes, and most importantly - eat more vegetables.

The publication of the Dig Inn (@diginn)May 4, 2018 at 6:03 PDT

Not surprisingly, the bowls so everyone liked in the era of obsession with healthy eating.

Eating from the bowl causes pleasant emotions

Crockery affects how we perceive food. "When we sit down to eat, the brain formed certain expectations of what the food will taste and how it is us like, - said Charles Spence (Charles Spence), a professor of experimental psychology at Oxford University. - Lighting, Music, cutlery - all this contributes, with stronger than we think. "

Seeing a bowl, we are looking forward to an abundant, nourishing and healthy food.

"We feel the weight of the bowl in your hands and think that the food will be more nutritious. Most likely, we deem it more fragrant than the same food on a plate, "- explains Spence.

In the process of absorption of food from the bowl have intimacy that is lacking plates. This partly explains the appeal of such dishes. According to Weingarten, the food on the plate to be cut with a knife and fork, it looks very formal, strictly. And we offer a bowl closer. This gives the opportunity to really enjoy the food and immerse yourself in the process. Today many people are looking for comfort food, bowls and give a feeling.

The publication of the Dig Inn (@diginn)March 30, 2018 at 8:56 PDT

They are not only a pleasure to hold in their hands, they are still very beautiful. According to the chef, and author of books about vegetarian kitchen Volgera Lucas (Lukas Volger), their popularity is also associated with "instagramofikatsiey" food. With the growing demand for such dishes renewed interest in handmade ceramics. Bowls have become part of the visual experience of food consumption.

Furthermore, when we eat from a bowl, the world appears to us friendly. That's because we keep a bowl in hand and feel its warmth. And according to one studyExperiencing Physical Warmth Promotes Interpersonal WarmthWhen in our hands something warm, everything around seems to be better.

If in the 60s in the US steel bowl culinary symbol of the social revolution, but today they are - a positive statement about yourself. When we eat from a bowl, we seem to ourselves better.

see also

• 3 questions about the French rules of healthy eating →
• 5 simple rules of supply from the author of "Manifesto of the consumer," Michael Pollan →
• How to change your dietary habits →