What countries eat dessert first? Research done by Chef Marian!

Dessert
Dessert – Picture by Chef Marian

I was with a group of women yesterday, and the question came up about what countries eat dessert first. Pat was sure there were some countries that do that!

So I began my expedition this morning into that very topic. It’s not that we want to eat dessert at all, or we don’t know that it probably should be apples cooked on the stove top with cinnamon and nutmeg… and maybe a few raisins…. into a healthy pie crust! lol Or skip the cream and the butter soaked biscuit in the picture I took, and eat just fruit!

But when someone asks me a question I don’t know the answer to, I’m curious. So I go exploring. And here’s what I come up with.

First off, I like to eat dessert first, if I’m at a place and I know that’s their specialty. The reasons on the web to NOT do that is they say it fills you up.

And that’s a bad thing? lol Isn’t that why people say to drink a glass or two of water before each meal? To fill you a bit? (I personally think it’s good to get your hydration taken care of  cause it’s way easier to drink 8 glasses a day, when you do 2 before each meal)!

Wiki tells us: Since there are usually more empty calories and sugar in dessert it would be to your disadvantage to eat your dessert first. That it why there is a serving protocall. Soup or salad first and sometimes both in that order and usually the servings are small to entice your appetite for the main course and the trick is to also help to fill you up so you do not eat too much of your entree and you will be too full for dessert and you will have saved yourself from wasting empty calories and gaining weight. Don’t do it!

Ok. Wiki. Calm down! We know we shouldn’t do it. We also shouldn’t ride motorcycles or go crowd surfing.

BUT WHAT COUNTRIES DO EAT DESSERT FIRST, CHEF?

Well, I’m coming to that. What I see on the web are mostly what isn’t true. The Amish, people from Sweden…. are thought to eat dessert first. But they don’t. Even someone from indonesia says it’s a good idea but not a practice. (And I’ve been to Indonesia many times and nooooo….. they don’t eat dessert first).

Even at article called: “Japanese… eat your dessert first all the time” isn’t about that topic. It’s about learning Japanese and I think, if I am right, they’re using that as some kind of metaphor, or just to catch readers. Nooooo…. Japanese do not eat dessert first.

Remember Dr. Seuss? Calculatus elliminatus, it’s the only thing you’ve got. The way to find a missing something is to find out where it’s not.

Well, it’s sort of like like. I’m seeing mostly where it’s not!

Another researchers’ answer to this question was: I couldn’t find any countries that eat dessert first culturally. Many restaurants specialize in dessert”. Many restaurants specialize in dessert? Was that really the answer we were looking for? lol

Ah! But last year, Dharina came up with this bit of information:

In South India, before a traditional full meal (generally only on festivals and the like), people eat a tiny mouthful of some dessert first before the actual savory meal and then end with the same dessert in a larger portion. I think the reasons are twofold. One, to begin with something sweet as an auspicious thing, where life will also have some sweetness yada yada and the other, I think more important reason to follow the savory before the sweet is so that you don’t eat too much dessert and make yourself sick 🙂 –
Another person from India claims: Its pretty common in indian culture to eat sweets before eating savory stuff”. Is that like the sweet potato pie with marshmallows melted on top we all take a bite of before going for the turkey on Thanksgiving?

NOW YOU’RE REALLY STRETCHING IT CHEF!

Am I? Sorry. So there you have it. A bite before a festival in India! lol I can do that! And more!

I’ve seen articles questioning: “In retirement, should you eat dessert first”. And other comments like: “Enjoy now, Pay Later”. So I think there’s a consensus out there that culturally it’s sort of fun, but not healthy to entertain the concept of eating dessert first.

It’s interesting. And brings up another question.

Salad before the meal or after the meal?

One of the more recent things I’ve been doing and saying for years now is: “Eat like a European. Have your salad after the main meal”. And the reason I say that is we all know that disease cannot grown in an alkaline body. Salad is Alkaline. Protein is acid. So, it makes sense to turn your body back to alkaline after eating acid. But the French have their own reasons. They say that vinegar affects your palate. So if you’re drinking wine, you should have your food and wine first, your salad after. Either way, they got it right! lol

Happy Eating,

Chef Marian