i don't think it's scarcity at all. up north they probably had bigger stockpiles to make sure it lasts the winter. i think we're just more organized and like to plan ahead. dinner parties are very common and you obviously get food at a dinner party. we just don't like it when someone spontaneously comes by and dinner plans suddenly have to be altered. we do really hate wasting food but this has a religious background (christians believe all food is provided by god so throwing it away is like throwing away a gift from god) and i don't think this has anything to do with scarcity. so we won't cook twice as much as we need and then throw away half because no guests have shown up.
Netherlands