One feature of the Covid-19 Era is how much the standard ways of seeing and doing things have been remixed and turned upside down. The obvious question is then whether people will decide to make these new arrangements permanent or return to the old.
For example: I used to enjoy going to nouvelle-style slightly fancy restaurants, ordering 10 appetizers (and no main courses) and sharing them with a table of four. Many of those appetizers were composed of disparate ingredients, carefully placed on the plate and explained in loving detail by a friendly, well-informed waiter.
Today those same restaurants hold no appeal for me, assuming they are still open. Many of them have pared down their menus, as social distancing within kitchens has limited what cooks can accomplish. Nor do I want a waiter talking to me at any length. And since many of these places have such striking…
