Concerning changing tastes, I mean personal tastes, or preferences: specifically, food and drink that a person likes. Tastes do change as people go through life. I have certainly noticed it for myself. This has mostly been for the better, or at least broader. I can now appreciate a wider range of foods – well-prepared foods, at least – than I did when I was younger, and that appreciation continues to grow.
Changing tastes are not always for the better, though. An acquaintance relayed a vignette about this that was rather disturbing. Each year he helps drive his elderly parents back to Staten Island after they have spent the winter and early spring months in Florida. His parents are both of Italian stock and have lived their entire lives on Staten Island. He said that his mother was a good cook, especially when cooking dishes with an Italian accent. Italian foodstuffs are rather easy to find on Staten Island, as there are a few other Italian-Americans on Staten Island, to say to the least. Quite a few Italian-American restaurants, too.
Needless to say, his folks know and appreciate quality Italian food – at least the New York version – extremely well, having been eating and cooking it their entire lives. So, during the lengthy drive from Florida a few years ago, the dutiful middle-aged son was shocked to hear his parents request a stop for food….at Olive Garden. He could not believe it. His initial thought was, naturally: this is it, my parents have given up. He actually was scared.
Fortunately, it turned out to be simply a change in tastes, somewhat brought on by the lack of credible Italianate options where they winter. Still sad, though.
Tastes do change, though definitely not always for the better, and that a sudden affinity for Olive Garden should be severely scrutinized.
Changing tastes are not always for the better, though. An acquaintance relayed a vignette about this that was rather disturbing. Each year he helps drive his elderly parents back to Staten Island after they have spent the winter and early spring months in Florida. His parents are both of Italian stock and have lived their entire lives on Staten Island. He said that his mother was a good cook, especially when cooking dishes with an Italian accent. Italian foodstuffs are rather easy to find on Staten Island, as there are a few other Italian-Americans on Staten Island, to say to the least. Quite a few Italian-American restaurants, too.
Needless to say, his folks know and appreciate quality Italian food – at least the New York version – extremely well, having been eating and cooking it their entire lives. So, during the lengthy drive from Florida a few years ago, the dutiful middle-aged son was shocked to hear his parents request a stop for food….at Olive Garden. He could not believe it. His initial thought was, naturally: this is it, my parents have given up. He actually was scared.
Fortunately, it turned out to be simply a change in tastes, somewhat brought on by the lack of credible Italianate options where they winter. Still sad, though.
Tastes do change, though definitely not always for the better, and that a sudden affinity for Olive Garden should be severely scrutinized.
RSS Feed
