Why do they use giant pepper mills in Italian restaurants?

[Carrie S]

They don't do it in the rest of Europe - does anyone know where this odd tradition came from?

 

[dilettante]

It's an Italian thing! They have a deep respect for most foods being as fresh as possible, and they grind the pepper there for that very reason!

 

[Gareth O]

so if their busy they dont have to fill them up as much, and so the waiter doesnt have to lean over everyone to serve everyone

 

[silvs]

Because. Giant pepper mills are awesome, and Italians are awesome. They go hand in hand.

 

[Murzy]

it adds to the "show"

 

[rebeandphantom]

They use large ones because people love to eat pepper with their food. Also if it's bigger, then more pepper fits inside so they don't have to fill it up that much. I'm not sure though why they wouldn't do this in the rest of Europe, and I never really thought that using a pepper mill in an Italian restaurant was a tradition.