Any first-year at Lehigh could inform you, this year's summer assignment topic revolved around food, and what nourishes us. While I usually have an aversion to writing and reading about such randomly-assigned topics, I had very different feelings about this.

Food is a very special passion of mine. I see eating food as an extremely intimate experience; it is about creation, preparation, and perfection, and as such, I take it very seriously. It is something that, I feel, if not prepared well, should not be prepared at all. I take pleasure in the fact that others call me a "picky" eater, as I refuse to let my taste buds near anything that I do not believe is worth eating.

With that said, I think that every now and again, everyone likes to have a nice meal. However, at the same time, my view on food is certainly in the minority. With the ever-growing popularity of fast-food chains, the increasing sales of frozen meals, and rapid developments artificial flavoring technology, I cannot help but think that we, as Americans, are losing something. Food has seemingly gone from an art to an inconvenient necessity. It certainly retains some of its original value during formal occasions, but aside from that, the standard for "acceptable" food is quietly lowering.

This is not to say that I surprised that this is happening. American cuisine is, after all, very difficult to define in the first place. Food that is uniquely "American" is quite hard to find; even the classic hamburger and hot dog were culturally imported from Germany. The United States, as a melting pot or cultural mosaic of immigrants, has fewer uniquely American foods, and thus, struggles to find the same value in food that a country such as France or Italy would have. Certainly, individuals may identify with a particular cuisine, but the food tastes of the general public remain largely divided. In short, the United States does not have a "cultural investment" in any particular cuisine, and because of this, Americans feel generally less passionate about their food.

Another major factor in the lowering of American standards is the American attitude toward mealtime. In the United States, the capitalist mentality of efficiency has seeped into our views and attitudes towards food. American meals are often quick, efficient, and easy to cook. Even in restaurants, the wait staff is often bustling around, trying to clear tables for the next guests. Oftentimes, I feel that I am just getting started enjoying my meal when my family or friends and I are about to leave a restaurant.

In countries such as Italy, Belgium, or France, this is simply not the case. Instead of rushing the clientele in and out of the doors, cafés encourage people to sit down and take their time. Meals often last for hours on end, and the restaurants embrace this. The attitudes in these establishments are more relaxed than in their American counterparts; there is little pressure to finish a meal "on time."

This is why I believe that we, as Americans, can take lessons from the French. The people place an extremely high value on food, as evidenced by the century-old "Guide Michelin," a guidebook rating restaurants in France and abroad by the quality of their food. Chefs of restaurants will go to drastic lengths to protect their restaurants' ratings, as it a drop in a restaurant's rating translates to a drop in quality, further leading to a drop in clientele. To quote Madame Mallory from "The Hundred Foot Journey," "One Michelin star is good. Two is amazing. Three is only for the gods. " This is why in Ratatouille, the stars for Gusteau's restaurant were so important to him.

The difference is even evident in France's McDonalds. The multinational fast food corporation knew it stood no chance in a country whose culture was obsessed with the quality, not the quantity of food produced. Unlike American McDonalds that often just integrate the McCafé with the normal menu, France's McCafés have an entirely separate area for the Café portion of the establishment. There are a variety of pastries for sale, including macarons, and there is a much higher emphasis on the appearance of the food. McDonalds has even updated its regular menu to include uniquely French foods, such as the bleu-cheese burger.

So what is the moral of the story? Should Americans simply change their attitudes toward food altogether and adopt the French views of food? Absolutely not. The moral of the story is to be aware of what you are eating and to develop your own tastes for food. That is not to say you need to be as picky as I am, but instead, be open to exploring new types of food and finding what you enjoy eating.