Fine dining and the accolades of Michelin stars once meant chandeliers; white tablecloths; and suited waiters with elegant accents. The stuffy attitude and often scant portions were the punchlines of sitcom jokesmdash;it was unthinkable that a gourmet chef would stoop to plate a burger or a taco in his kitchen. And yet today many of us will queue up for a seat at a loud; crowded noodle bar or eagerly seek out that farm-to-table restaurant where not only the burgers and fries are organic but the ketchup is homemademdash;but itrsquo;s not just us: the critics will be there too; ready to award distinction. Haute has blurred with homey cuisine in the last few decades; but how did this radical change happen; and what does it say about current attitudes toward taste? Here with the answers is food writer Alison Pearlman. In Smart Casual: The Transformation of Gourmet Restaurant Style in America; Pearlman investigates what she identifies as the increasing informality in the design of contemporary American restaurants.
#1477165 in eBooks 2013-04-16 2013-04-16File Name: B00BRAFG3S
Review
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful. On the MallBy Christian SchlectAn interesting book focused on the career of J. Carter Brown; the legendary leader for three decades at the National Gallery of Art. Professor Harris provides the reader with a nicely written look back on an exciting time for culture in our nations capital. (Having said this; one should not look to this book for much on the theater; music; or dance.)While the main story here is about Mr. Brown and the National Gallerys rise as a force in the rarified world of top-flight fine art museums; there are side trips to the Smithsonian Institution and the many spirited aesthetic disputes involving our capital citys urban development since the 1970s; such as the fight to build the World War II memorial on the Mall and the one to tear down the Rhodes Tavern.At times; it seems to me; the author does rely too heavily on contemporary news articles about the various special art shows that are mentioned in this book.If you are interested in Mr. Brown; the Smithsonian; the funding and management of modern art museums; how "international blockbuster art shows" are pulled off; urban planning; and/or the special diplomatic and cultural life of Washington; D.C.; this would be a very good purchase.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Growth of the National Gallery of ArtBy bookwormI found this book very interesting reading; especially the rivalry between the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian and to learn of the way blockbuster shows are prepared and the vying of the Nationals Capital with the NY museums. J. Carter Brown was a great asset to the National Gallery and did much to curry favor with private collectors. It is truly an art form to obtain works of art for all museum goers to enjoy.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A LOOK AT THE CULTURE OF DC DURING THE LAST HALF OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURYBy mtpThis biography gave me what I had hoped for; a clear picture of culture in our capita and the impact of politicians in it. It also gave me a picture of a great American family the Browns of Providence RI. Finally for the years from the late 60s to the 90s it showed me many of the battles that made Washington what it is today in appearance. Carter Brown as director of the National Gallery and Chairman of the Fine Arts commission had a large hand in all of this as did Dillon Ripley as director of the Smithsonian Institution who is also profiled in this fine book.Mark Patterson