How-to's, Recipes, Behind the Scenes
PrintMario Unclogged: Clocks in Restaurants
Ever notice how rarely you see a clock in a serious restaurant? Mario Batali reveals why on this week's Mario Unclogged. —Ed
About Mario: Mario Batali has created a thriving restaurant empire and has established himself as a top restaurateur. Together with his partner, Joe Bastianich, he operates seven New York City hotspots. Mario splits his time between New York City's Greenwich Village and northern Michigan with his wife, Susan Cahn, of Coach Dairy Goat Farm, and their two sons. More Mario: mariobatali.com.
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7 Comments:
Before we taped this episode of Unclogged, I had never thought about why you never see a clock in a serious restaurant. Now whenever I go into a restaurant the first thing I do is check if there's a clock.
Ed Levine at 2:39PM on 10/30/07
I think that in our overly time obsessed world it is a near necessity to embrace the haven of a nice restaurant which allows time to become almost abstract. The first time I went to a Moroccan restaurant I found it wonderful that there are not even windows to allow you to have a sense of the movement of time. The whole experience of dining should be dining and not thinking about anything else. Few things are more distracting to a lovely meal than to have to worry about when you have to leave or do anything except indulge.
Bunnyman at 2:58PM on 10/30/07
A tavola non si invecchia.
I believe that it means "At the table, one does not grow old." Not a bad way to think of sharing a meal with loved ones!
thegreatlumpia at 3:52PM on 10/30/07
Of course, while Otto does have a clock, it can be a bit deceptive. The short hand is actually the tail end of the longer hand. So in the video, it is not 12:53--it's actually 10:35. It's very confusing near the end of the night when you have had a few glasses of wine.
greenfield at 5:08PM on 10/30/07
Even coffee houses I go in do not have clocks & I like it that way!
JEP at 5:47PM on 10/30/07
@thegreatlumpia -- "At the table, one does not grow old." I love that; time does stop when you're enjoying a great meal...
sippey at 5:59PM on 10/30/07
All that really belongs to us is time; even he who has nothing else has that.
Baltasar Gracian
Enjoy your meal with loved ones and people that love serving you.
Dine at your favorite joint tonight, without watching your clock.
Purenvy at 6:06PM on 12/17/07