Blog Post 6 Regan Bradley

I was raised as a "foodie." I have a great interest in food and that sparked from my dad. He loves to cook many different types of cuisines and take us to restaurants to try all different types of foods (however nothing have beaten his cooking quite yet). Over this spring break, I traveled with a friend to Phoenix, Arizona. Throughout the trip we were "playing it by ear" and "going with the flow." We are both crazy organized type A people who were ready for a change of pace. We made no plans and wanted to take the days as they came. Each morning we would wake up and asked what we wanted to do that day. It was a great treat compared to the consistent scheduling of our college lives. I noticed something almost immediately. Our lives revolve around food.

So if we wanted to eat at this place we should go here after we eat at this place for lunch and we have to try this place or breakfast so we should go hiking here. We were always thinking about the next meal or two in order to ensure that we would be having the best food we can. It was our desired experience to go to the best restaurants we could afford and eat as much as we can. Truly I believe I gain ten pounds over this past week simply because we were constantly eating. When we finished a meal, we were sure to find a cute place for dessert in order to try as many things as possible. If we had free time, we would find some coffee or sweets to entertain us. Life seems to be all about food.

We made a list before we went. We had over thirty restaurants on the list. We were there for six days. Even with eating out each meal we would not be able to hit them all. We did get to go to one of my top picks: Culinary Dropout. My dad told me about this place in Old Town Scottsdale years ago. I have wanted to try it for many years. I finally got to go. We arrive at the restaurant and it was an hour wait. There were many other restaurants we go could to but we chose to wait the hour. We sit down after that time and are immediately bombarded with a list of specials and the newest additions to the menu and peoples' top favorites choices. We picked appetizers and drinks and entrees (yes multiple) because we wanted to try it all. We could have feed six people with the food we had but no us two girls ate it all. Following the food coma, I reflected on that experience. We ate and ate and ate because they is what was socially acceptable at this restaurant. Forget portion controls, yes they were smaller dishes but we ordered so many like the other tables around us. Food took us over.

I remember reading in Pollan's book Omnivore's Dilemma about the mindless eating that can lead to the obesity epidemic. In comparison with his ideas regarding the corn production in the US, because they is more, we consume more. Because we had more food, we continued to eat even though our brains were probably in a hidden panic mode saying that it was time to stop. Our experience with food seem to be nonstop and filling. This is the typical restaurant experience we all seem to have. Is this socially constructed to eat what is in front of you? Try it all in new restaurants? When do we know we have had enough because we reach a food coma or just need a nap after eating?