The Food Revolution

A revolution has occurred
Almost overnight
Right under our noses
Here in this country.
It is a culinary revolution,
The likes of which
The world has never seen.
The types of food
Commonly available
Were extremely limited
In all but the major cities
Back in the fifties,
Not that I was a connoisseur
Of variety back then.
America pigged out during
The fast food revolution
That started with hamburgers
And later included
Pizza, chicken and tacos.
Fast food joints
Began to show up on
Every street corner
In almost every town
In America.
Salad joints were added
To the skirmish
For our dollar
And in answer to
Our battle of the bulge.
Wave after wave
Of ethnic restaurants
Established a toe hold,
Then stormed inner America
Capitalizing on
Our ethnic diversity
And on our insatiable
Demand for variety.
Among the earliest
Were Chinese and Italian eateries,
And these were followed by
Mexican, Japanese, Greek
Indian and Thai restaurants.
Seafood restaurants also became popular
Throughout America.
Sub shops, spaghetti houses
Barbecue and rib joints,
As well as the traditional
Steak and potatoes establishments
Joined the fray.
Breakfast and coffee houses
Became extremely popular.
The traditional fast food
Hamburger joints
Were forced to evolve
In order to keep up
With the competition.
Meanwhile our tastes
And appetites changed
As the country became
More health conscious.
It became common
For people to count calories
And cut down on
The fat content of their food.
Vegetarian fare
Became a common addition
To the menus
Of many restaurants
For the reformed carnivores
Among us.
Now it is becoming
Very common to see
Diverse restaurants
Grouped together
In a food court
Or in a single building
To cater to the varied
Whims and tastes
Of the general population.
No single restaurant
Can possibly fulfill
Everyone’s needs.
With the advent of
The food revolution,
Restaurant hopping
Has developed
Into an art form,
And I am a devotee
Of that art.