Born Quote by Calvin Trillin
“Given the clientele, the restaurants on Capri might resemble those fancy Northern Italian places on the East Side of Manhattan where the captain has taken bilingual sneering lessons from the maitre d' at the French joint down the street and the waiter, whose father was born in Palermo, would deny under torture that tomato sauce has ever touched his lips.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Food and Culture, Calvin Trillin, 1998
The passage satirically depicts a Capri restaurant where pretentious staff and patrons masquerade as sophisticated, yet their attitudes reveal cultural snobbery and authenticity.
In simple terms: Satire on pretentious dining culture.
Key Takeaway
Question authenticity and class in food experiences.
Themes
culture
pretension
authenticity
food
class
Mood
wry
observant
amusing
Type
literary
social commentary
When to use this quote
- restaurant reviews
- cultural studies
- hospitality training
- media critique
Key Concepts
social satire
culinary elitism
identity performance
cultural appropriation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does pretension affect genuine cultural exchange?
- What can diners do to appreciate authenticity?
A Different Perspective
The humor may rely on stereotypes that could offend some readers.
