I wonder if this is why they tend to have plastic food displays at restaurant

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_model

I think the plastic food displays are due to high uncertainty avoidance, so patrons can see exactly what their meal looks like before ordering. Yes you could use real food but the hassle of periodically filling the display case with freshly cooked dishes would be silly.

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jerlam 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

We should have more picture menus where every single menu item has a actual picture of the food served, instead of the guest trying to imagine the food based on often deceptive and flowery text descriptions.

	▲	account42 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		We should also have better laws that require those pictures to match what you are actually served instead of the idealized presentations that are e.g. commonly displayed in fast food restaurants.

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LeifCarrotson 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Some American restaurants have real food displays, too. With a chilled display case and limited airflow (and choosing only meals that keep well - avoiding exhibition of garnishes or salads that wilt in hours), you can put the same dessert on display for days.

At the end, of course, you have to throw it away - it might not be safe for staff to eat by the point it's visibly decomposing from 3 feet away. I find that just knowing the food in the case is destined for the garbage to rankle, especially when I'm simultaneously looking at menu prices and wondering why the meal costs so much; it's interesting to learn that the Japanese make those meal displays out of plastic/wax for the same reason.

	▲	account42 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		How common is this? I have never seen real food used as a display only (as opposed to a buffet or other kind of display where the displayed food is actually served to eat), including in the US. Sounds like a gimmick that is way too limiting to be a general practice.