Skip to content

Dinner Quote by Art Buchwald

“Americans are just beginning to regard food the way the French always have. Dinner is not what you do in the evening before something else. Dinner is the evening.” quote by Art Buchwald
Download Open image
“Americans are just beginning to regard food the way the French always have. Dinner is not what you do in the evening before something else. Dinner is the evening.”

Art Buchwald

About This Quote

Source Essay: The New York Times, 1975

Americans are starting to view dinner as a primary, cultural experience, similar to the French perspective.

In simple terms: Dinner becomes a central, not a precursor.

Key Takeaway

Treat dinner as the main event.

Themes

culture food social norms

Mood

reflective observational

Type

cultural analytical

When to use this quote

  • family meals
  • restaurant reviews
  • food journalism
  • cultural critique

Key Concepts

culinary tradition social identity

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does viewing dinner as an event change your eating habits?
  • What cultural values are reflected in a meal?
A Different Perspective

Not all Americans share this shift; some still see dinner as functional.

2.1 out of 5 (3 ratings)

More by Art Buchwald

Explore all 83 Art Buchwald quotes

More Dinner quotes

Browse all 2,901 Dinner quotes