Out With the Old; In With the New : Trends: Some foods, several drinks and a few people had simply worn out their welcomes by the beginning of the ‘90s.
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Time for the ins and outs of the year. A few of 1989 glitzy favorites, such as blush wines, Martha Stewart, arugula, radicchio and mache, have dissipated from 1990’s calendar, leaving a clear sky for starkly healthful things like rice bran, risotto and kale.
Of course, nothing will keep desserts, steaks, meal portions that are larger than life, from pushing their way into the decade, so brace up for another schizophrenic year.
And remember. These are not the Ten Commandments.
OUT
Croissants, especially sandwiches.
Arugula.
Mache.
Radicchio.
Blush wines.
Coolers.
Beer commercials.
Martha Stewart.
Fussy flower arrangements.
Wilted flowers on a restaurant table.
Fajitas.
Mesquite.
Frozen yogurt.
Betty Crocker Pudding Rollups.
Salad bars.
Nancy Reagan’s persimmon pudding.
Chocolate mousse cake.
Packaged popcorn.
Frozen breakfast.
Frozen Mexican meals.
Canned food.
Perrier, Pellegrino and the rest of the NATO bunch.
Goose liver in any shape, size or form.
Chicken liver unless it comes from the Hy’s.
Carrying around mineral water bottles.
Sickly-sweet fruit teas.
Designer coffees.
Designer breads.
Electric coffee makers.
Electric knives.
Electric can openers.
Electric tea pots.
Toaster ovens.
Wolfe stoves.
Cat--or any other furry or feathered animal--kitchen art.
Euro-kitchen cabinets.
Non - dairy creamer.
Non - dairy topping.
Non - dairy anything.
Oat bran.
Designer pizzas.
Granola.
The 1,500 milligram sodium fix frozen TV dinners.
Deli trays.
$100-per-person restaurants.
Ear-blistering restaurant noise.
Residual ashes from blackened Cajun cooking.
Under-chin lighting at restaurants.
Overhead lighting at restaurants.
Pretend waiters.
Pink tablecloths.
Black-tie dinners (City of Hope affairs excepted).
Gross 16 - ounce soda bottles.
Non-alcoholic beer.
Another Italian restaurant.
Carnegie Deli.
Chevre.
Cuban cigars--anywhere.
Kissing chefs.
People who pull no-shows at restaurants.
California roll.
White pumpkins.
Diet dressings.
Artificial sweeteners.
Creamy salad dressing.
Chanterelles.
Japanese shiitake
Brie.
Eat-all-you-want restaurants.
IN
American/Continental with a California/Southwest/South East Asian/French nouvelle/Chinois/Japonaise/Italio twist.
Low Sodium/fat/cholesterol frozen microwavable dinners.
Low-cal pasta.
Choupiquet Royale caviar, if you can find it.
Filtered tap water.
French filter coffee.
More high-style, low-cost takeout.
Pilgrimage to Michael’s.
Pancakes at Langer’s and Dupar’s.
Restaurant hosts who remember your name.
Black pastrami at Langer’s.
Live jazz at St. Mark’s.
Live entertainment at restaurants.
Live music at home parties.
Rice bran.
Low-fat ice cream.
French fries at St. Mark’s.
More neighborhood restaurants like Maple Drive at half the cost.
In - N - Out Burgers.
Mixed china.
Mixed silverware.
Your private diet guru from the local California Dietetic Assn., referral service, 1 (800) 234-7348.
A free copy of the “Dine to Your Heart’s Content” restaurant list from the American Heart Assn., (800)-HEARTLA.
White truffles.
Merlot.
Short tumbler-style wine glasses.
Non-alcoholic fruit bar drinks.
Half portions rich desserts with a light look.
Lean meat.
Hearty bean, pea, lentil soups.
Carrots.
Potatoes, any way you want them.
Stir-frying.
Orzo (Rosemarina).
Lemon zest on everything.
Chinese herbalist tea for bad breath.
Working at the soup kitchen.
Taking goodies to the local orphanage.
Giving your dog a real bone.
Larger portions.
Eating less.
Going on a low- or no-fat diet.
Nostalgic visits to the Windsor, Madame Wu’s and Chasen’s this year.
A tearful goodby to Scandia.
The risotto at Celestino’s Ristorante and Laconda Veneta.
A revisit to Trump’s to see what chef Roberts is up to now.
Remembering the chopped salad at the new La Scala.
Seltzer or club soda.
Giving Arby’s second chance.
The chicken and waffles at Roscoe’s.
The steaks at Chaya Brasserie.
The prime rib at Lawry’s.
Egg white omelets.
Lean pork.
24-hour food-to-go and delivery service (a dream?).
Olive oil for cooking French fries.
Calamata olives.
Canola oil.
Hot cereal.
A foodie subscription to Western Chef, (213) 395-6575.
Hot borscht.
Kasha.
“Select” beef, the leanest and cheapest beef.
Trout and albacore tuna and salmon for their omega-3 fatty acids.
Chicken chili at Indigo’s.
Cruciferous vegetables (fresh Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower).
Fresh kale, mustard greens and broccoli rape.
Fresh beets.
Japanese curry.
Japanese noodles.
Your own chopsticks.
The dark room at Chianti.
Stick-free skillets.
More fresh fish.
Fruit salad for lunch; hold the mayonnaise.
Gulden’s mustard.
Blowing kisses.
Air-popped popcorn.
Avocados for baby’s carry-to-the-mall lunch.
Russian veal frankfurters.
White tablecloths.
Informal sit-down dinners.
Church suppers.
Jasmine 85 (a Texas version of Indian basmati rice), if you can find it.
Unpackaged cold cuts.
Parties anywhere and everywhere you want to have them.
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