Dating Your Food Before You Marry It

The New York Times (via Marginal Revolution) reports on what I hope does become a trend: the diminution of the role of the entree in American restaurant cuisine. That is, what Americans call an entree, which is really the main course. The French, who apparently invented the concept of the main course (plat principal) (and who would think that something like that needed to be "invented"?), use the word "entree" to mean what you might guess, namely a starter. But Americans like to be different. Anyway, apparently the concept of the main course dominated by a single large item is, in advanced food circles, losing ground to the increasing popularity of smaller plates. From the consumer's point of view, it just makes perfect sense -- isn't it more fun to design your own dinner from a variety of options, than to have the kitchen make all those choices for you? ...