Enjoyment Of Food

[TASSIE2323]

We all know that a cheese sandwich tastes better when eaten outdoors. But why does the enjoyment of the same foods/wines differ depending on location? For example in many places in France we enjoy particular cheeses, baguettes and wine however when we return home our enjoyment of exactly the same cheeses and wine is much less. Similarly, when we enjoy wine at a vineyard and then purchase a bottle, we never seem to enjoy it as much away from the vineyard. When we enjoy food at restaurants or friends' homes and then we faithfully replicate the recipe for ourselves, invariably it is less enjoyable than when we originally tasted it. Obviously it is something to do with the ambiance or maybe the milieu but why should this seemingly affect the taste of the product? I really would appreciate any thoughts on this.

[janetsflower]

I have no idea but do share your view. Perhaps its something to do with the way its prepared/presented in the way that any meal always tastes better when you haven't cooked it yourself. I also find that wine etc tastes better when you drink it from a nice glass - my husband thinks I am crazy but hey try drinking your Moet & Chandon from a pot mug - somehow its just not the same

[crisgal]

i agree with you both completely.
I used to live in Italy and could make a meal of a hunk of bread, some bel paese cheese and a bottle of cheap plonk.
I have often tried to do the same here, but it's never right!
I was usually sat outside the villa where I worked, watching a fabulous sunset over the mountains. Hmmmm.. that could have something to do with it i suppose!

[Silversky]

Isn't it something to do with the senses. (e.g. If food looks good, then you feel it tastes better.) And there was a senses restaurant in london somewhere. I heard about it on Richard and Judy about a year ago....
But I do completely agree!

[shaneystar2]

I think a lot of it as well, is that when you are abroad they have such lovely fruit and veg and local produce.
Not all this imported stuff we are force fed here The Greek salad and fried aubergine which I eat in a Greek taverna does NOT taste the same here in spite of using the same ingredients that they do.
It's like tea ...it always tastes better in a bone china cup..Mr S thinks I am mad but I hate tea in a mug !

[lynlockwood]

I think it's becasue we have an emotional relationship with food that can't be ignored it's so deepseated. That's why we find diets so hard to stick to!

[crisgal]

i think you've hit the nail on the head there lynlockwood! It's that emotional connection, I suppose.
No matter if i buy my bread and cheese from an authentic deli, and i have my wine imported - I won't be the carefree, ecstatically (sp!) happy 18 year old, living the dream with friends.
Ever again.
sigh.......

[Postdog]

I'm a bit like this. Take me to the seaside, and I have got to have - and really enjoy - some whelks, but anywhere else there is something not quite right about eating them.

[filthiestfis]

the whelks are probably not half as fresh anywhere else but the seaside

[Fluff5]

I completely agree! We had organised to take family and kiddies on a picnic to the Lake District a couple of weeks ago, weather forecast looked promising, bought all the food and drink and dug out the rug and plastic stuff - and then it chucked it down on the day! So, we had it on the rug on the living room floor at my mum's - just wasn't the same, although was slightly amusing and far fewer wasps and sheep dottles. I just know that those cheese french baguette butties would have tasted SO much better outdoors. I think it might be something to do with adrenalin - it heightens the senses - you have more adrenalin running through you when you're away from your 'normal' surroundings, ie. on hols or visiting friends or experiencing something new