Rice balls aren’t fancy here, you can get them at every deli, pizzeria and Italian restaurant. Cold antipasto has been on every menu forever.Not sure if they are doing it right where you are. When I grew up it was called lunch, nothing french about it so I was stunned the first time someone putting on airs used a fancy (maybe french )name for my version of lunch or snacks with drinks. No idea how it got a french sounding name when it's all italian meats and really, there shouldn't be a Ritz anywhere near it.
Same goes for rice balls, these are peasant food, yummy street food that was in pizzarias and variations were made to feed big poor families so when I see them with a big price in a fancy place I just giggle to myself.
Not sure if they are doing it right where you are. When I grew up it was called lunch, nothing french about it so I was stunned the first time someone putting on airs used a fancy (maybe french )name for my version of lunch or snacks with drinks. No idea how it got a french sounding name when it's all italian meats and really, there shouldn't be a Ritz anywhere near it.
Yep and I love them too. Back in the day we used to call it “snick-snacking” and that’s just as dumb as the word charcuterie. We laid it all out nicely on boards or platters back then and we still do. And as to the OP’s question, the allure is mostly the little extra bits-and-pieces in addition to the meats and cheeses - the more there are, the more lavish it seems.I'm a bit surprised about people calling it a "fad". I mean, I've only been loving charcuterie boards for the last 20 years or so. Maybe having fancy-schmancy boards for your home parties is a more 2010's thing, but I mean....it's meat, cheese, and accoutremants. It's been around since, like, ancient Rome.