I didn't realize it until I returned, but people in the U.S. think it's really freakish to take pictures of your food when you're at a restaurant. In Japan, it's practically a sport. Many people use their cell phones or cameras to catalog what they're eating and then post the picture on social media sites. It's not only considered socially acceptable by your cohorts, but also by the restaurant staff. They realize that it's actually a form of promotion of their business because a Facebook status or Tweet that shows the food might lure customers to them. Of course, food is usually pretty appealing in appearance in Japan so few have anything to fear.
In America, restaurants sometimes actually tell you that you can't take pictures of their food and will get upset if you do so. They think you're trying to mock their slop online. Other Americans simply think you're strange.
I liked taking pictures of my food in Japan and am glad to have recorded what I ate. It has not been unusual for me to look back through Facebook albums to locate a restaurant based on my pictures and descriptions so I could go there again or recommend that place to others. I miss the way it was socially acceptable to take pictures of your food in Japan.
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Through the years of having exchange students, I finally have gotten slightly more comfortable with taking pictures of food, drinks or menu items. I actually did it yesterday and the bartender gave me an odd look.... I just went on about my business. Never had anyone stop me from photographing my food yet but I am sure the day will come.
ReplyDeleteThis occurred to me recently, too. I think it is partially to do with the rise of sites like Yelp, where people will post pictures of food sometimes. I don't know why it bother restaurants - the reviews could be good, but it does seem to make them nervous anyway..
ReplyDeleteOh, that's really surprising about America. I had simply thought that this was a worldwide sport.
ReplyDeleteYou learn something new every day =)
Here in Canada (or at least the part of the country that I'm from), taking pictures of your food is actually pretty standard fare. Like you said, restaurants here see it as free promotion, much like the restaurants in Japan.
ReplyDeleteI live in the US and I have never heard of anyone doing such a thing to the extent where it could be considered a sport, exaggeration or otherwise. However IK a lot, and I mean a lot, of people do actually post pictures of the food they are about to eat (at home or in restaurants) on twitter, Pinterest, and especially Instagram. Most of them are young people (13-30), chefs, Moms who just want to stay socially relevant (in all forms of social media 24/7 and do not act their age-a lot of my friends mothers are like this) and/or food connoisseurs. So maybe the people in the area you live just are not social network savvy or simple use it for the only basic need of staying in touch with friends and family.
ReplyDeleteI live in the Bay Area, in silicon valley, actually. I'm pretty sure that they're very media savvy. ;-)
DeleteI think it's more the case that the businesses are just afraid that someone is taking the pictures to make them look bad and therefore want to discourage it.
After rereading your post, I also came to realize that perhaps it is also a manner of the owners perceiving it as a competitor trying to compare or even steal their recipes. Restaurants located in or around Places where many of the Classic American foods where born (New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago) Tend to closely guard their recipes to the extreme. I remember when I was younger my cousin had gotten a camera for Christmas and took pictures everywhere. His mother and I went to a restaurant and he brought the camera, the owners grandfather, a man I now assume was close to the age of 75, went crazy attacking his grandson saying how can you let them bring camera's what if they tried to steal the recipe. And after continuing to attack his grandson, he came over and politely told my aunt that photographs were not allowed unless a staff member/server was taking it. It could also just be a lack of exposure to that sort of thing.
DeleteThat our that it could be to avoid competitors trying to sneak in an compare food quality and recipes. You'd be sure prized how many non multinational restaurants are afraid of this sort of thing. Especially pizza restaurants in New York and Chicago many of which have borderline paranoid policies.
DeleteI had never thought of this, but it makes sense. It also might explain why many American restaurants do not display full menus in photos on their sites, despite the advantages of doing so (also, they don't want to be sued or accused of misleading people if what is served looks different than the photos).
DeleteI think it's also why some shops get uptight if you take photos of their products. They're afraid competitors are display or price-matching.
Eh, I never let silly customs get in the way of me remembering good food or reviewing especially bad food. ;) But then again I'm kind of against the grain in general.
ReplyDeleteI also go ahead and do it anyway, but I'm always looking around to see if anyone is watching. In Japan, I would just do it without concern. Here, I'm always sneaking around and feeling paranoid. ;-)
DeleteI used to take pictures of everything I ate in America. I don't recall restaurant staff ever being upset or angry about it, although once or twice I was asked why. I did use a huge camera, so perhaps they assumed I was press. I also probably looked a bit silly setting up angles and more than once requested a seat by the window for lighting. I had a small food blog, but really I just like food. Anyway, point is I never got any flack, perhaps I got very lucky?
ReplyDeleteIt could also be regional, or it could be that your big camera actually made people fear that you *were* with the press and they didn't want to upset someone who might give them a bad review. I've only been told once not to take food pictures, but I've gotten some hairy eyeballs on more than one occasion. ;-)
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