1) I believe that it is called "Mezze" - a collection of many small dishes with a variety of salads, presented at the beginning of Middle Eastern meals. For one approach, see:

http://www.cuisinenet.com/digest...ean/ mezze.shtml

2) Salads are actually a pretty healthy and appropriate approach to eating.

3) North European meals are often based on simply meat and potatoes. I am sometimes surprised that people can live at all on such meager diets. Of course, fresh vegetables weren't necessarily available (but potatoes could be preserved underground for months); hence the N. Euro diet.

Viva Verdi Salat!!!
Jake | 01.31.06 - 12:43 am | #

Salads add variety to a meal, allowing multiple tastes and flavors that can not be found in simple meat etc. meals.
Mottel | Homepage | 01.31.06 - 10:01 am | #