Readers discuss: eating in or dining out?

Do we lose something important when we dine out too often? Join our reader discussion and weigh in on your side of the divide.

In "Restaurants Rampant," from the July-August 2011 issue, Craig Lambert explores two trends in the food world. First, eating in a restaurant is no longer just a meal; it's an experience, in the hands of chefs like Ferran Adrià. But on the other side is a backlash in favor of eating—and cooking—at home; this movement's leaders include Moosewood Cookbook author and Harvard University Dining Services consultant Mollie Katzen.

Read the article, then tell us your opinion:

Have restaurants become too theatrical, too “precious?” Are you and your family losing something important by dining out too often? If so, what? Is home cooking becoming a lost art in your household? If it is, how might it be saved?

Scroll down to see what other readers are saying and leave your own comment. (This discussion is moderated, so your comment may not appear immediately.)

 

Related topics

You might also like

How to Cook with Wild Plants

From wild greens spanakopita to rose petal panna cotta, forager and chef Ellen Zachos makes one-of-a-kind meals.

Eating for the Holidays, the Planet, and Your Heart

“Sustainable eating,” and healthy recipes you can prepare for the holidays.

Best Bars for Seasonal Drinks and Snacks in Greater Boston

Gathering spots that warm and delight us  

Most popular

Meet Harvard’s 2026 Student Commencement Speakers

Two undergraduates and a Ph.D. candidate will address the graduating class on May 28.

Ronny Chieng Tells Harvard to ‘Destroy AI’ as Graduates Cheer

The comedian and The Daily Show host gave the keynote address for Class Day 2026.

Harvard Faculty Approve a Cap on A Grades

Reforms to reduce grade inflation will take effect in the fall of 2027.

Explore More From Current Issue

Brick archway with a sandy base, surrounded by wooden planks and boxes in a dim space.

How the American Revolution Freed a Future Abolitionist

Darby Vassall, an enslaved child freed after the Battle of Bunker Hill, dedicated his life to fighting for liberty.

Mercy Otis Warren in period attire writes at a desk by candlelight, surrounded by books.

The Woman Who Penned the Case for War

Mercy Otis Warren’s poetry and plays incited the Patriot movement.

Historical battle scene with soldiers in red and blue uniforms, flags waving, chaotic action.

The Harvard-Trained Doctor Who Urged a Revolution

Before his heroic death, General Joseph Warren was dubbed “the greatest incendiary in all of America.”