using the word "mediterranean" to describe a place

In 2010, what does it mean these days?

Jack squat, to me.

Most of the places I've seen it applied to have been eastern end of the Mediterranean -- so lots of flat bread, egg plant, lamb -- kind of Ottoman Empire.

kenji wrote:In 2010, what does it mean these days?

Jack squat, to me.

The Ambrose Bierce definition: That the owners are Muslim and worried about using certain other alarming words. Like names of actual countries.

but if it actually refers to the sea's name it means, very little cause there's a TON of places on it's shores or as islands:

http://www.mediterraneandiet.com/Images ... ap-big.jpg

kenji wrote:but if it actually refers to the sea's name it means, very little cause there's a TON of places on it's shores or as islands:

http://www.mediterraneandiet.com/Images ... ap-big.jpg

Is there a specific place or use that you are referring to?

to me it means "middle eastern" type food and not Italian.

To me it usually means syrian or palestinian. sometimes assyrian. I take it as "we don't want to say where we're from because we think it will scare off potential customers."

They're probably right.

I'm hoping to buck the trend when I open my "Somaliraqistani house of fresh slaughter kabob bomb" restaurant.

Seriously though, some of our best loved restaurants that feature cuisine from "troubled" and much maligned spots accross the world proudly boast of their ethnic provenance.

Do a 7 second google using "mediterranean chicago restaurants" and you get a ton of greek places and gyros places.

The daughter brought home some leftovers from Sinbad on Belmont

Sinbad's Restaurant
921 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657-4408
(773) 477-6020 ‎

http://www.google.com/maps/place?cid=17 ... hicago,+IL

kenji wrote:Do a 7 second google using "mediterranean chicago restaurants" and you get a ton of greek places and gyros places.

The daughter brought home some leftovers from Sinbad on Belmont

Sinbad's Restaurant
921 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657-4408
(773) 477-6020 ‎

http://www.google.com/maps/place?cid=17 ... hicago,+IL

For me, it's more Greek/Turkish/Cypriot with a hint of Italian. I expect to see some sort of marinated olive appetizer, halloumi cheese, humus, and a ravioli with a non-traditional filling (e.g. kalamata/figs/something). Syrian/Palestinian/Lebanese are almost always more traditionally lumped into "Middle Eastern."

No question that "Mediterranean" is loosely applied, but most of the places I consider falling into that grouping would probably be best referenced as "Aegean." But who the hell knows where that is.

kenji wrote:Do a 7 second google using "mediterranean chicago restaurants" and you get a ton of greek places and gyros places.

The daughter brought home some leftovers from Sinbad on Belmont

Sinbad's Restaurant
921 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657-4408
(773) 477-6020 ‎

http://www.google.com/maps/place?cid=17 ... hicago,+IL

I don't understand your issue. Should a place only refer to itself as "Mediterranean" if it serves food inspired from more than some minimum number of countries? Are people being misled into thinking they are eating pan-Mediterranean when they aren't? Perhaps we are taking language policing a bit too seriously.

I'd rather a place use country of recipe origins than the region's name.

I think using the word "mediterranean" for publicity is related to the idea of the possibility of healthy eating but what's really important is what kind of cuisine it is and if you use a country's name I'd be better informed.

kenji wrote:I'd rather a place use country of recipe origins than the region's name.

I think using the word "mediterranean" for publicity is related to the idea of the possibility of healthy eating but what's really important is what kind of cuisine it is and if you use a country's name I'd be better informed.

Single-origin places can be off-putting to a lot of people. Calling your restaurant "Peruvian" may be limiting but "Latin American Fusion" allows for a broader menu.

We're going to have Hai Yen Cuisine of the Pacific and Vee Vee's Atlantic Kitchen before you know it. It's not so much the imprecision that bothers me, but the perceived (and sometimes commercially real) lack of freedom to use whatever subtitle or name would be most desired or communicative, which is a a complex issue with social, legal, and linguistic components. It's also of course branding, but then Habibi's counter-branding example has the consumer in me more excited about his place than any of the 'Mediterranean' places. Sign me up.

Perhaps more concerning than the convergence of labeling is the related convergence of menus at many places, hinted at above. You can cook what sells, or sell what cooks; these practices are not mutually exclusive even in a bad economy, and going to one extreme or the other isn't benefiting anyone.

I hate places that refer to their food as "vibrant". I realize that allows them more flexibility to serve food that both looks good and tastes good, without being pigeonholed. But I think it smacks of pandering to people who wouldn't step into a restaurant that serves food that is "bold".

This "Mediterranean" issue is the non-issue of the year, though I realize there is still a little time left for new nominations.

While others accuse them of being cunning marketeers, or, worse, running from their heritage, I'll continue to eat at one of my favorite restaurants, which describes itself as "In addition to cuisine that reflects the aromas, flavors and colors of the Mediterranean, the wine bar features a moderately priced wine list that focuses on boutique vineyards throughout southwestern Europe." Terrible description? Misleading? Who cares.

Darren72 wrote:This "Mediterranean" issue is the non-issue of the year, though I realize there is still a little time left for new nominations.

You must have missed the pizza topping upcharge thread.

I have noticed quite a few Assyrian places call themselves Mediterranean, eventhough they are a long ways from the ocean. I guess it may have to do with the stigma of being Iraqi, although lately I have noticed more places using Iraqi names. Perhaps to attract returning GIs?

I have noticed that "Mediterranean" seems to be the new word to describe what used to be called "Middle Eastern" and before that "Oriental" (as in the Oriental Institute).

For listings on Dining Chicago we are still using "Middle Eastern" to describe places that serve hummus, falafel and shawerma and reserving Mediterranean for pan-regional places that also bring in Italian/French/Greek influences.

The use of Mediterranean as a code word for Middle Eastern may be unique to Chicago or other cities which have a significant Middle Eastern population and restaurants. For example, my brother was the chef at a "Mediterranean" restaurant in Boston and the menu covered Italian, Spanish, Greek, Balkan, and Moroccan dishes. In general on the East Coast I think you will find it more broadly defined, but also including Middle Eastern.