NationStates Jolt Archive

Vote and discuss, por favor.

For me it's:

1) Italian
2) Mexican (Tex/Mex)
3) Indian

italian, no question.

following that, indian, chinese, tex-mex and/or 'american' (ribs, chilli, etc), greek, british (if you can say we have a "cusine"), and the less said about flouncy french food or german stuff (even though german wurst is the best!) the better ;)

Americanized Chinese.

Italian, thai, and cajun.

Just for the hell of it (as I look forward to lunch in 4 hours or so...), some of my favorite dishes:

- Cannelloni
- Ziti
- Pizza (lol)
- Fettucine Alfredo w/ chicken
- Spaghetti Bolognese (or any pasta with Bolognese sauce, really)
- Chicken Massala (and variants) with plenty of sauce and naan bread
- Chicken Piccata
- Mac and cheese
- Cheeseburger (fixed any number of ways)
- Chicken with scalloped potatoes, all covered in Gruyere sauce
- Meat loaf
- Fried chicken (in all sorts of things -- sandwiches, wraps, etc.)
- Chicago-style deep-dish pizza (Gino's, Malnatti's, etc.)
- Philly cheese steak
- Lasagna
- Taco
- Burrito
- Enchilada
- Quesadilla
- Bratwurst or Knackwurst w/ kraut (and cheese sauce, if available)
- Pork (or beef...) roast with vegetables, in gravy
- Chicken Mornay (assuming that's actually a dish)
- Chicken Paprikash
- Italian beef and cheese sandwich (as served at Portillo's stores)
- Szechwan beef
- Honey chicken
- Sesame chicken
- Mongolian beef
- Mashed potatoes (good mashed potatoes are the cat's @ss)
- Barbecue (ribs, brisket, pulled pork... what have you)
- Loaded nachos (beef, beans, cheese, veggies, guac, sour cream, salsa)


...and (of course) I brought a can of Chef Boyardee ABC's & 123's (with meatballs) to eat for lunch. lol

Americanized Chinese.

Do the Chinese (-American) chain restaurants in your area all offer something called General Tso's chicken?

lol

There's a place in the Nashville area called "New Famous Chinese restaurant"

...friggin' hilarious name -- new and famous!

Americanized Chinese.

As a limey, I can't stomach that shit.

My friend from Hong Kong describes it as "okay for Americans". I guess he figures y'all don't know any better.

As a limey, I can't stomach that shit.

My friend from Hong Kong describes it as "okay for Americans". I guess he figures y'all don't know any better.

Is it significantly different to Anglicised Chinese?

Is it significantly different to Anglicised Chinese?

Yes.

In Leicester, we have (well, had, in my day) a couple of 'real' Chinese places, and a few more Anglicised Chinese places. As the Anglicised stuff was to the 'real'... so the Americanised stuff is to the Anglicised.

Yes.

In Leicester, we have (well, had, in my day) a couple of 'real' Chinese places, and a few more Anglicised Chinese places. As the Anglicised stuff was to the 'real'... so the Americanised stuff is to the Anglicised.

Ah, OK. That bad, huh? Not that I've had "real" Chinese food, but some of the normal take-away stuff is pretty dire. There is one decent place near here, All You Can Eat too...

--

Oh, I forgot to say "Indian" was my vote. Obv.

Ah, OK. That bad, huh? Not that I've had "real" Chinese food, but some of the normal take-away stuff is pretty dire. There is one decent place near here, All You Can Eat too...

--

Oh, I forgot to say "Indian" was my vote. Obv.

I voted Indian, too - although it's practically impossible to get in rural Georgia. Again, the heady days of Leicester have spoiled me.

And.. yes. That bad. I'm a huge fan of Chinese cuisine, and yet I don't eat Chinese in America (except for the rare occassions when I find a really good place).

Some "Americanized" Chinese food places are run by Chinese people (including the buffet-style place a few of us attend on pay-day)... so if it isn't "real" Chinese food, then they're opting to go that route themselves.

CURRY!

Some "Americanized" Chinese food places are run by Chinese people (including the buffet-style place a few of us attend on pay-day)... so if it isn't "real" Chinese food, then they're opting to go that route themselves.

They are catering to the lowest-common-denominator tastes of an uneducated american pallet.

Centuries of isolation has rendered you people incapable of telling good from bad. One only has to look at what you guys call bacon, what you think of as 'variety' in cheeses, and what you will accept as chocolate.

Sure they opt to go that route themselves. If you can get someone to pay you for polishing a turd, why put effort into art?

Thai and Indian.

CURRY!

Indian? Chinese? Thai? Just any old curry?

What a narrow selection. I can't vote because the poll sucks.

...sorry, but i'll trust my taste buds.

i have eaten in Italy and France...

I'd take "Americanized" Szechwan beef (salt tastes good) over most of the things I ate at cafes and restaurants in France. I will say that ITalian food in ITaly was great, but it's been matched in the States (imo).

lowest common denominator... and I thought that taste was subjective.

What a narrow selection. I can't vote because the poll sucks.

10 choices...

not an infinite number. So sorry. Go for Other if your tastes are exotic... (or if you like Greek food. hehe)

For me it goes:


Greek
Italian
American
Chinese
Japanese
Everything else.

Indian? Chinese? Thai? Just any old curry?

probably Indian curry is meant.

Massala!

10 choices...

not an infinite amount. So sorry.

For instance: American.

American what?

Regional food varies across the US.

For me it goes:


Greek
Italian
American
Chinese
Japanese
Everything else.



Gyros. Yum.

There is nothing quite like standing in line to order a gyro here in the States.

You're likely to hear it pronounced "jyro" and (hard G) "gyro"... but not "year-o".

ROFL

We butcher other languages. It can be embarrassing at times.

For instance: American.

American what?

Regional food varies across the US.

It varies across India and China, too, and nowhere on these fair isles even made the poll. If you've a particular preference why not just vote for the general option and post with the specifics?

Gyros. Yum.

There is nothing quite like standing in line to order a gyro here in the States.

You're likely to hear it pronounced "jyro" and (hard G) "gyro"... but not "year-o".

ROFL

We butcher other languages. It can be embarrassing at times.

Heh and here in the UK, if you where standing in line for anything to do with your giro, it would be in a post office or bank trying to cash your dole cheque!

...sorry, but i'll trust my taste buds.

i have eaten in Italy and France...

I'd take "Americanized" Szechwan beef (salt tastes good) over most of the things I ate at cafes and restaurants in France. I will say that ITalian food in ITaly was great, but it's been matched in the States (imo).

lowest common denominator... and I thought that taste was subjective.

Different taste is subjective. You like this, I like that.

I don't see why you are comparing the quality of Italian and French cuisine... with Americanised chinese, though... or - were you saying you ate Chinese food there, and the American stuff is better?

Otherwise... I don't see the comparison.

I think it's cute you get all defensive about americanised versions of other cultural specialities. Cute, and symptomatic.

Heh and here in the UK, if you where standing in line for anything to do with your giro, it would be in a post office or bank trying to cash your dole cheque!

Yeah - we'd be getting a kebab. Man I miss that little kebab shop on Welford Road...

For instance: American.

American what?

Regional food varies across the US.


what's actually American cuisine?

I don't know that it's such a long list, actually:

- Barbecue
- Mac and cheese (?)
- Cheeseburger
- Fried chicken (though there's schnitzel in Germany, for instance, and the Chinese fry chicken too)
- Apple pie
- French Fries (but weren't they invented by the Dutch, or Belgians?)
- Meat loaf?


First we'd have to define American cuisine. Are we talking only about foods that America invented?

I suppose it means whatever you want it to mean. Whatever you think is encompassed by the phrase "American cuisine" is fine by me.

I think it's wierd the way countries change each others cuisine to suit locals tastebuds.

My local chinese does a '3 in 1' whereby they put rice, chips and curry sauce into one tub - that is as far away from real chinese food as I can imagine (and gross as well unless you are drunk)

I've also been given an attempt at a toasted sandwich in Sri Lanka, which was a nice gesture but I would have preferred a plate of local nibbles

Different taste is subjective. You like this, I like that.

I don't see why you are comparing the quality of Italian and French cuisine... with Americanised chinese, though... or - were you saying you ate Chinese food there, and the American stuff is better?

Otherwise... I don't see the comparison.

I think it's cute you get all defensive about americanised versions of other cultural specialities. Cute, and symptomatic.

I mentioned eating in France and Italy so that you'd know that I've been outside the States and would have some basis for comparing some American versions of foreign dishes to said foreign dishes prepared in their home countries (lol that's a mouthful).

I've never been to China, however, so I cannot say whether or not American Chinese is much (or anything) like actual Chinese food found in China.

But mostly I was offended by your assumption that your tastes are superior.

No big deal, I'm at work having a crappy day. hehe

italian, no question.

following that, indian, chinese, tex-mex and/or 'american' (ribs, chilli, etc), greek, british (if you can say we have a "cusine"), and the less said about flouncy french food or german stuff (even though german wurst is the best!) the better ;)

Hey, I resemble that remark. :mad:
German food can be teh yummy.

I mentioned eating in France and Italy so that you'd know that I've been outside the States and would have some basis for comparing some American versions of foreign dishes to said foreign dishes prepared in their home countries (lol that's a mouthful).

I've never been to China, however, so I cannot say whether or not American Chinese is much (or anything) like actual Chinese food found in China.

But mostly I was offended by your assumption that your tastes are superior.

No big deal, I'm at work having a crappy day. hehe

I didn't say my tastes are superior... I said that American tastes are inferior.

As someone who has eaten outside of the borders of the 'known world' (i.e. The USA), you surely know you are an exception, not the rule.

I think it's wierd the way countries change each others cuisine to suit locals tastebuds.

My local chinese does a '3 in 1' whereby they put rice, chips and curry sauce into one tub - that is as far away from real chinese food as I can imagine (and gross as well unless you are drunk)

I've also been given an attempt at a toasted sandwich in Sri Lanka, which was a nice gesture but I would have preferred a plate of local nibbles

ROFL


Grave_n_Idle

Okay, now that is messed up. hehe

Hey, I resemble that remark. :mad:
German food can be teh yummy.

What're those tiny German dumplings called?

CRAP, it's on the tip of my tongue.

What're those tiny German dumplings called?

CRAP, it's on the tip of my tongue.

If you're talking about Spätzle, I'm going to laugh my ass off. They're just simple pasta. "Tiny dumplings", heee. *giggles*

hehe

well... both are made with dough. Spaghetti, for instance, are long stringy dumplings. lol

Grave_n_Idle
I think I just overreacted. No hard feelings here. If you've got some haute-cuisine pointers/experiences, I'm all ears (well, eyes, I suppose).

hehe

well... both are made with dough. Spaghetti, for instance, are long stringy dumplings. lol

:p You know, they might even be advertised as tiny dumplings in the US or other places, so you have a point. It's cute. :p

Hey, I resemble that remark. :mad:
German food can be teh yummy.

Actually, what is German food? You don't see it much here... There are sausages, of course, and Sauerkraut (which I've never eaten, but mean to)... But there's much more to it than bangers and fermented cabbage, I presume?

Well, I have one more thing for the list already: Spätzle. Are they at all similar to those fluffy little Italian potato dumpling things?

What nationality would crab cakes be considered?

the Italian doughy things -- I think they're called "gnocchi" (might be murdering the spelling, though I hope not)

Actually, what is German food? You don't see it much here... There are sausages, of course, and Sauerkraut (which I've never eaten, but mean to)... But there's much more to it than bangers and fermented cabbage, I presume?

Well, I have one more thing for the list already: Spätzle. Are they at all similar to those fluffy little Italian potato dumpling things?
Gnocchi, you mean. No, because they're not made from potatoes but from pasta dough (i.e. flour, eggs, water, salt). They're unruly pasta, if you will. ;)

http://www.marions-kochbuch.de/rezept/0327.jpg

As for German food in general, it's kinda hard to say because of course there are big regional varieties. But of course traditionally it's a very hearty kind of food. There are "typical" things I find icky like for example Eisbein (http://www.argus.com.br/bilebovina/eisbein.jpg) which is pigs knuckles and is local to Berlin. And, yeah, looks exactly like the stereotypical German food, served with a big stein of beer.... :rolleyes:

But I'm lucky enough to be from the South, which has of course the bestest food in the country. ;P Spätzle, for one, as well as other yummy pasta and dough things, like Maultaschen (http://www.kaisers.de/Kochstudio/Rezepte/2ea0d253bb2f8ee2a667d39ec4c079d6.0.0/Maultaschen_in_Bruehe-1.jpg), a kind of giant ravioli.

Bah, I dunno. I can't say what "German food is". :/

What nationality would crab cakes be considered?


Perhaps USA -- I know they're huge (well, I have heard that they're huge) in places like New England and Maryland (or at least Baltimore).

Vietnamese and Chinese

the Italian doughy things -- I think they're called "gnocchi" (might be murdering the spelling, though I hope not)
No gnocchi were murdered in the making of this post, no.

Gnocchi, you mean. No, because they're not made from potatoes but from pasta dough (i.e. flour, eggs, water, salt). They're unruly pasta, if you will. ;)

http://www.marions-kochbuch.de/rezept/0327.jpg

As for German food in general, it's kinda hard to say because of course there are big regional varieties. But of course traditionally it's a very hearty kind of food. There are "typical" things I find icky like for example Eisbein (http://www.argus.com.br/bilebovina/eisbein.jpg) which is pigs knuckles and is local to Berlin. And, yeah, looks exactly like the stereotypical German food, served with a big stein of beer.... :rolleyes:

But I'm lucky enough to be from the South, which has of course the bestest food in the country. ;P Spätzle, for one, as well as other yummy pasta and dough things, like Maultaschen (http://www.kaisers.de/Kochstudio/Rezepte/2ea0d253bb2f8ee2a667d39ec4c079d6.0.0/Maultaschen_in_Bruehe-1.jpg), a kind of giant ravioli.

Bah, I dunno. I can't say what "German food is". :/

Is bratwurst popular in Germany?

Perhaps USA -- I know they're huge (well, I have heard that they're huge) in places like New England and Maryland (or at least Baltimore).

Oh, they are.

Are lobsters considered American cuisine?

No gnocchi were murdered in the making of this post, no.

complete luck, i tell you, that the spelling ended up being correct.

Oh, they are.

Are lobsters considered American cuisine?

I don't know if lobsters can be claimed by any one country. That said, many Americans enjoy lobster and many more would eat it if they could afford it. The waters outside of New England (particularly Maine and Massacuhsetts, I think) are traditional lobster spots.

I read in a novel an allusion to the idea that lobsters can also be found around Tasmania and South Africa.

Gnocchi, you mean. No, because they're not made from potatoes but from pasta dough (i.e. flour, eggs, water, salt). They're unruly pasta, if you will. ;)
Aha, gotcha :)
Gnocchi, yeah, them's the ones.

As for German food in general, it's kinda hard to say because of course there are big regional varieties. But of course traditionally it's a very hearty kind of food. There are "typical" things I find icky like for example Eisbein (http://www.argus.com.br/bilebovina/eisbein.jpg) which is pigs knuckles and is local to Berlin. And, yeah, looks exactly like the stereotypical German food, served with a big stein of beer.... :rolleyes:
Actually I think I could cope with that; it looks like a ham hock, and they're great. Not dissimilar to some of the things you might get in traditional (but not modern, alas) British food, too.

But I'm lucky enough to be from the South, which has of course the bestest food in the country. ;P Spätzle, for one, as well as other yummy pasta and dough things, like Maultaschen (http://www.kaisers.de/Kochstudio/Rezepte/2ea0d253bb2f8ee2a667d39ec4c079d6.0.0/Maultaschen_in_Bruehe-1.jpg), a kind of giant ravioli.

Bah, I dunno. I can't say what "German food is". :/
So many more types of food to try! They look good too... Only two countries to the right, too, I'll have to get around to it one day (just as soon as I learn more German than "achtung, minen" :rolleyes:)...
Thank you :)

Oh, and we have the best breads and cakes in the world. And when I say cake I don't mean that wimpy stuff Americans consider "cake" ;), but actual real cake like this (http://www.langnese-iglo.de/wu_dta/mediabase_00313_media_896.jpg) and this (http://www.cafe-lieb.de/assets/images/db_images/db_Erdbeere3.jpg) and this (http://www.wdr.de/studio/dortmund/wdrpunkt/service/rezepte/05juli/urlaub1/img/rdt160705-g.jpg) and this (http://www.teatime-blog.com/wp-content/bilder/erikli1_1.jpg).

I don't know if lobsters can be claimed by any one country. That said, many Americans enjoy lobster and many more would eat it if they could afford it. The waters outside of New England (particularly Maine and Massacuhsetts, I think) are traditional lobster spots.

I read in a novel an allusion to the idea that lobsters can also be found around Tasmania and South Africa.

Shit we find lobster in the cold waters around Britain,I'd guess they get everywhere

Oh, and we have the best breads and cakes in the world. And when I say cake I don't mean that wimpy stuff Americans consider "cake" ;), but actual real cake like this (http://www.langnese-iglo.de/wu_dta/mediabase_00313_media_896.jpg) and this (http://www.cafe-lieb.de/assets/images/db_images/db_Erdbeere3.jpg) and this (http://www.wdr.de/studio/dortmund/wdrpunkt/service/rezepte/05juli/urlaub1/img/rdt160705-g.jpg) and this (http://www.teatime-blog.com/wp-content/bilder/erikli1_1.jpg).

Those are pies.

Oh, and we have the best breads and cakes in the world. And when I say cake I don't mean that wimpy stuff Americans consider "cake" ;), but actual real cake like this (http://www.langnese-iglo.de/wu_dta/mediabase_00313_media_896.jpg) and this (http://www.cafe-lieb.de/assets/images/db_images/db_Erdbeere3.jpg) and this (http://www.wdr.de/studio/dortmund/wdrpunkt/service/rezepte/05juli/urlaub1/img/rdt160705-g.jpg) and this (http://www.teatime-blog.com/wp-content/bilder/erikli1_1.jpg).

*Covets* (Especially the leftmost one that looks like Apple-Crumble cake)

So... How come Americans are the fattest nation on Earth, and not the Germans?

Perhaps USA -- I know they're huge (well, I have heard that they're huge) in places like New England and Maryland (or at least Baltimore).

They are the best damn things in the world!

Is bratwurst popular in Germany?
Yes. Although I'm not sure exactly what kind of sausage it is that is called "bratwurst" in English, so I don't know if it's the same kind. Actually, Bratwürste (plural) come in many different shapes and sizes and they're probably most often eaten either in the summer at barbecues (http://www.grillsportverein.com/blog/images/bratwurst.jpg)and as fast food from food stalls, stuffed in a hard roll (http://www.geolinde.musin.de/bild/deutschlandost/weimar/Bilder/Weimar%20Marktplatz%20mit%20Bratwurst_JPG.jpg).

Actually I think I could cope with that; it looks like a ham hock, and they're great. Not dissimilar to some of the things you might get in traditional (but not modern, alas) British food, too.
Yeah, I actually wanted to write that I'd guess it must be somewhat similar (except better, of course ;P, and not so much with the lamb and the mint sauce...) but I don't know enough about British food, really.

(just as soon as I learn more German than "achtung, minen" :rolleyes:)...
Well, at least that way you'll always be safe, no? :p

Shit we find lobster in the cold waters around Britain,I'd guess they get everywhere

There is some great seafood in our cold dirty waters

Dublin Bay prawns
Morecombe Bay shrimp
Scottish Langoustines

They must be hardy creatures:)

What are "Langoustines"?

What are "Langoustines"?

Crayfish.

What are "Langoustines"?

Big ugly shrimp things which are lovely in garlic butter:)

Those are pies.
Just because you give weird names to your food and have an entire breed of tasteless dry doughy things hog the term "cake" doesn't mean you're not wrong. ;)

*Covets* (Especially the leftmost one that looks like Apple-Crumble cake)

So... How come Americans are the fattest nation on Earth, and not the Germans?
I think we're pretty close...

Yeah, I actually wanted to write that I'd guess it must be somewhat similar (except better, of course ;P, and not so much with the lamb and the mint sauce...) but I don't know enough about British food, really.
BETTER? http://209.85.12.231/11055/49/emo/mob.gif NEVAR!

;) I expect quite a lot of places where they have the same basic ingredients (cows, pigs, wheat etc.) you'll get similarities. And don't be put off by British food's "bland" reputation; it's great. Even the bland things (eg. fish and chips) are great.

You don't get whole boiled sheep's head here any more, though... Which is probably not such a bad thing, I think that's going too far even for me. I'm not joking, either.

Well, at least that way you'll always be safe, no? :p
Safe from one of the many threats lurking in modern Germany...

I think we're pretty close...

If you get to eat those regularly you have no excuse!

Mine is Italian although Dutch-Indonesian, Chinese-Indonesian and Dutch-Surinamese are also very good :) The dutch mixtures combine the potatoes with spices, making for a healthy and varied dish :)

[QUOTE=Pure Metal;12864524]british (if you can say we have a "cusine"),

Isn't that what Great British Menu was trying to prove?

Some American cakes can be pretty good.

I once baked a chocolate cake using mayonnaise as an ingredient. It was extremely dense and moist -- very good, I thought. You don't taste the mayonnaise.

Just because you give weird names to your food and have an entire breed of tasteless dry doughy things hog the term "cake" doesn't mean you're not wrong. ;)

You can't compare our cakes to your "cakes". They're not the same thing.

This is a picture/recipe of an American-style chocolate layer cake. The cake is pretty dark and (given the lighting) is a bit difficult to see.

This cake appears to have two layers. There is icing between the layers, on top of the cake, and completely around the sides of the cake.

The cake looks like it's probably dense/moist -- a good cake.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/photo/101275

I like having variety, so I am lucky to live in a somewhat multicultural city. For the sake of overall-ness, I picked Italian in the vote. The Koreans make stellar soup, though, and there is nothing like a good Ukrainian perogie, or German bread and pastry (The smell of Kamps is tied for first-place in my list of favourite scents). I grew up in Halifax, NS, Ca, so naturally I love Turkish donair/döner, too. Some North Americanised Chinese food is also nice once every few months. Whoever it was invented salad had a brilliant though.

greek food!

A thoroughly underated cuisine, which features greats such as: galaktoboreko, souvlaki, baklava, mousaka, pastitsio, kalamari, dolmades, feta and all the rest!

greek food!

A thoroughly underated cuisine, which features greats such as: galaktoboreko, souvlaki, baklava, mousaka, pastitsio, kalamari, dolmades, feta and all the rest!

The cucumber sauce -- tzatziki? -- is awesome.

gyro piled high with lamb/beef and that sauce... love it

You can't compare our cakes to your "cakes". They're not the same thing.

Our pies are German cakes. Weird.


I for one love the texture and flavor of American cakes. They're really rich and silky smooth when made properly... My favorite would have to be a three layer chocolate fudge cake. Cream frosting, of course.

Even so, my favorite dessert is still New York style Cheesecake. That just can't be topped by anything.

...except maybe cherries or strawberries.

hehe

How are you, Potarius? I don't know if you remember me, I used to be Frangland.

Americanized Chinese.
As a limey, I can't stomach that shit.

My friend from Hong Kong describes it as "okay for Americans". I guess he figures y'all don't know any better.

Quiet, you foreign devil! Due to the Opium War, there is not a single Chinese food expert in Hong Kong (or Singapore), and that includes your friend. I'm Chinese, and I've eaten more genuine Chinese food in one meal of Sichuan hot-pot than your Hong Kong friend has in his entire life eating microwaveable dim sums and sushi. Tell your Hong Kong friend to go back to England! (Oh wait, he already is back, that's predictable)

I've never been to China, however, so I cannot say whether or not American Chinese is much (or anything) like actual Chinese food found in China.

They are totally different.


Some "Americanized" Chinese food places are run by Chinese people (including the buffet-style place a few of us attend on pay-day)... so if it isn't "real" Chinese food, then they're opting to go that route themselves.

They are catering to the lowest-common-denominator tastes of an uneducated american pallet.

Centuries of isolation has rendered you people incapable of telling good from bad. One only has to look at what you guys call bacon, what you think of as 'variety' in cheeses, and what you will accept as chocolate.

Sure they opt to go that route themselves. If you can get someone to pay you for polishing a turd, why put effort into art?
Don't worry Prezbucky. Grave_n_idle is just spazzing out, don't pay attention to him. He knows nothing about Chinese food.

What nationality would crab cakes be considered?Crab cakes are American (specifically New England and/or Mid Atlantic or Northeastern

Oh, they are.

Are lobsters considered American cuisine?
Lobster is New England most definatly. It also shows up in other countries (spain), but in different forms.

I don't get why having similar dishes means it isn't "American"...Sure, the Chinese fry chicken too...but they are entirely different meals...just taste both samples.

My favorite is definatly New England...dairy and seafood.
others are Thai, Indian, Ethiopian, Afghani, Italian, French, Japanese

Thai, North African, Cypriot, Portuguese. and i do like British food too, haggis is yummerz and roast beef or roast pork with crackling and all the trimmings is awesome.

America is okay at cheese. Most of our cheese is pasteurized.

If anyone wants some great cheese, go here:

The eight-year cheddar is very good.

http://www4.mailordercentral.com/carrvalleycheeseco/default.asp

...gotta love how they misspell "chipotle" (they spell it "chipolte").

They are catering to the lowest-common-denominator tastes of an uneducated american pallet.

Centuries of isolation has rendered you people incapable of telling good from bad. One only has to look at what you guys call bacon, what you think of as 'variety' in cheeses, and what you will accept as chocolate.

Sure they opt to go that route themselves. If you can get someone to pay you for polishing a turd, why put effort into art?

What a pompous ass you are! Sheeesh... all the person asked was "name your favorite quisine" and suddenly you designate yourself the GUARDIAN OF TASTE.

Idiot.

I didn't say my tastes are superior... I said that American tastes are inferior.

As someone who has eaten outside of the borders of the 'known world' (i.e. The USA), you surely know you are an exception, not the rule.
I'd disagree. What most non-Americans know of Americanized Chinese food is General Gaos/Tsos Chicken and the like...yet, if I mention PF Changs, you've probably never heard of it. Cities like Boston, New York, Miami, Chicago, LA, and Las Vegas all have incredible dining scenes. Not all Americans, or even a majority of Americans, are unaware of high cuisine.

Different taste is subjective. You like this, I like that.

I don't see why you are comparing the quality of Italian and French cuisine... with Americanised chinese, though... or - were you saying you ate Chinese food there, and the American stuff is better?

Otherwise... I don't see the comparison.

I think it's cute you get all defensive about americanised versions of other cultural specialities. Cute, and symptomatic.
No different than Brits being defensive of tea, French being defensive over sauces, Italians being defensive of pasta, Russians being defensive about Vodka, etc.

What a pompous ass you are! Sheeesh... all the person asked was "name your favorite quisine" and suddenly you designate yourself the GUARDIAN OF TASTE.

Idiot.
bad idea to flame.

This is a picture/recipe of an American-style chocolate layer cake. The cake is pretty dark and (given the lighting) is a bit difficult to see.

This cake appears to have two layers. There is icing between the layers, on top of the cake, and completely around the sides of the cake.

The cake looks like it's probably dense/moist -- a good cake.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/photo/101275
Oh, of course, you have divine cakes, actually. I was only taking the piss a bit because American cake always makes me think of those boring dry square supermarket cakes buried under mounds of painfully sweet and brightly coloured sugar frosting. >.<

Yes. Although I'm not sure exactly what kind of sausage it is that is called "bratwurst" in English, so I don't know if it's the same kind. Actually, Bratwürste (plural) come in many different shapes and sizes and they're probably most often eaten either in the summer at barbecues (http://www.grillsportverein.com/blog/images/bratwurst.jpg)and as fast food from food stalls, stuffed in a hard roll (http://www.geolinde.musin.de/bild/deutschlandost/weimar/Bilder/Weimar%20Marktplatz%20mit%20Bratwurst_JPG.jpg).


Yeah, I actually wanted to write that I'd guess it must be somewhat similar (except better, of course ;P, and not so much with the lamb and the mint sauce...) but I don't know enough about British food, really.


Well, at least that way you'll always be safe, no? :p The british are really good at cooking shit things. That is, they make bland tastless shit, satisfying and yummy.

A funny thing about chinese food is that the chinese food in China isn't really the 'real thing'. Well, it often isn't. The best places to get 'real' scotsm- uh chinese food are in south-east asia, prior to the communist culture-scrubbing and poverty inducing. Try Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.

A funny quote from my not-very chinese girlfriend from Malaysia "Chinese from china are fucked up. I mean, they eat dog, for christs sake. You know 'lap cheung', they have 'lap gow'- dog sausage." Hee hee. She is so bad. Seriously though, you can can damn fine food in China provided you have a local to discern between 'lap gow', 'lap cheung', and 'charlies tourist inn'.

This, I suppose is true for most places.

A funny thing about chinese food is that the chinese food in China isn't really the 'real thing'. Well, it often isn't. The best places to get 'real' scotsm- uh chinese food are in south-east asia, prior to the communist culture-scrubbing and poverty inducing. Try Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.

A funny quote from my not-very chinese girlfriend from Malaysia "Chinese from china are fucked up. I mean, they eat dog, for christs sake. You know 'lap cheung', they have 'lap gow'- dog sausage." Hee hee. She is so bad. Seriously though, you can can damn fine food in China provided you have a local to discern between 'lap gow', 'lap cheung', and 'charlies tourist inn'.

This, I suppose is true for most places.

totally agreeing with you

GREEK FOOD ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is so much better than Italian...

What a pompous ass you are! Sheeesh... all the person asked was "name your favorite quisine" and suddenly you designate yourself the GUARDIAN OF TASTE.

Idiot.

It's Graves' job to be like that.

India food is good but then again this maybe because I'm Indian and have grown up in such a household. But I have to say you are missing out on some of the best stuff that you can't get in most restaurants. That's closely be followed by Chinese and Italian.

Venezuelan, American, Thai, Indian, Italian, Mexican in that order.

French, Italian.

I'm going to have to start a love affair with Chinese though - I'll be spending the better part of the next year, starting in September, in Guangzhou China.

Real Mexican ( No tex-mex stuff)
French
Italian
South East Asia
Spanish

Oh, of course, you have divine cakes, actually. I was only taking the piss a bit because American cake always makes me think of those boring dry square supermarket cakes buried under mounds of painfully sweet and brightly coloured sugar frosting. >.<

This is why you go to a bakery. ;)

Quiet, you foreign devil! Due to the Opium War, there is not a single Chinese food expert in Hong Kong (or Singapore), and that includes your friend. I'm Chinese, and I've eaten more genuine Chinese food in one meal of Sichuan hot-pot than your Hong Kong friend has in his entire life eating microwaveable dim sums and sushi. Tell your Hong Kong friend to go back to England! (Oh wait, he already is back, that's predictable)


Errr. huh? I believe he is back in Hong Kong at the moment... but when he isn't, he's in Georgia. To my knowledge he's never been to England. He has lived in China, though.

So... choose between the opinion of a faceless nobody making himself expert... or the opinion of a Chinese friend from Hong Kong...

Forgive me if I ignore you, politely.


Don't worry Prezbucky. Grave_n_idle is just spazzing out, don't pay attention to him. He knows nothing about Chinese food.

I'm not sure there was much 'spazzing' involved. And, while I don't claim to be the world's greatest authority on Chinese food... I do know enough to know that a lot of what gets served 'round here', is crap even in proportion to what i got back home.

And really, that's all that matters.

I'm not sure there was much 'spazzing' involved. And, while I don't claim to be the world's greatest authority on Chinese food... I do know enough to know that a lot of what gets served 'round here', is crap even in proportion to what i got back home.



Yes, but you live in georgia. So it doesn't count.

The chinese food in NYC is better than in the UK.

What a pompous ass you are! Sheeesh... all the person asked was "name your favorite quisine" and suddenly you designate yourself the GUARDIAN OF TASTE.

Idiot.

Meh. Whatever.

I've lived both sides of the pond. Americans (collectively) are willing to patronise 'food' establishments that wouldn't last a week 'over there'. I'm not a guardian of taste... merely a harbinger.

I'd disagree. What most non-Americans know of Americanized Chinese food is General Gaos/Tsos Chicken and the like...yet, if I mention PF Changs, you've probably never heard of it. Cities like Boston, New York, Miami, Chicago, LA, and Las Vegas all have incredible dining scenes. Not all Americans, or even a majority of Americans, are unaware of high cuisine.


I've had good Chinese in New York, admitted.


No different than Brits being defensive of tea, French being defensive over sauces, Italians being defensive of pasta, Russians being defensive about Vodka, etc.

I could care less about tea. Tea is bad enough... drinking it cold is just sick.

It's Graves' job to be like that.

Why, mr Myrm.. did you really just follow me from one thread to another to make ad hominem attacks?

Yes, but you live in georgia. So it doesn't count.

The chinese food in NYC is better than in the UK.

I'm inclined to believe that there are pockets of superior chinese in various places in the US. As you point out, Georgia isn't necessarily going to be doing very well on that list.

I had good Chinese in New York... but i'm not sure it was better... or even 'as good' as some of the places I went in the UK. But then - I lived in Leicester, which is like mecca for international 'ethnic' food.

Oh, of course, you have divine cakes, actually. I was only taking the piss a bit because American cake always makes me think of those boring dry square supermarket cakes buried under mounds of painfully sweet and brightly coloured sugar frosting. >.<

OH, right, gotcha -- the $4.99 ($8.99 in New York probably) birthday sheet cakes that are sold in droves at Grocery Store USA.

I said other because I like British food, and according to my Canadian who was fed the 'food there is rubbish' myth it is mostly excellent and some of the best he has ever eaten.

The worst food I ever ate as a whole was during my time in the US, it was not great, but that said, I did have one or two very good meals. I had one great Italian meal in the states, but it gave me food poisoning and I felt like crap after for days. :(

Grave n Idle et al.

There is a PF Chang's about four blocks from where I live -- I'm all over that, and soon!

I've got to find out what the hubbub is about. hehe

I said other because I like British food, and according to my Canadian who was fed the 'food there is rubbish' myth it is mostly excellent and some of the best he has ever eaten.

The worst food I ever ate as a whole was during my time in the US, it was not great, but that said, I did have one or two very good meals. I had one great Italian meal in the states, but it gave me food poisoning and I felt like crap after for days. :(

You're not supposed to eat the fake flowers.

;)

American. It's all here. You want it? There's some restaurant or hole in the wall SOMEwhere who'll serve it to you.

There are very few nations whose entire cuisine is so unified. Italy runs the gamut from lighter, olive-oil-and-tomato Mediterranean styles to heartier, almost Germanic potato-sausage-and-cream Alpine (Tuscan) styles. To call one kind of cuisine "Italian" is to lay too big a generalization on food. In short, screw the nationalism and LET'S EAT!

My preference of styles is Cajun, which is itself a manifold hybrid.

For the purpose of clarity, when I included "Italian" I had in mind the traditional (or what some would think of as traditional) Italian menu:

Pasta
Pizza (very, very thin as well as Sicilian)
Bolognese
Alfredo
Marinara
Antipasto/a
Gelato

etc.

Fish is popular in places like Cinqueterra too, but as I'm not much of a fan of fish -- THOUGH I can eat it if it's heavily battered and served with a gallon of tartar sauce, so I suppose I might do okay in England. hehe -- it was hardly on my mind at the inclusion of "Italian".

That does not mean, of course, that other Italian cuisine is disallowed. hehe

OH, right, gotcha -- the $4.99 ($8.99 in New York probably) birthday sheet cakes that are sold in droves at Grocery Store USA.

Well that's the problem, isn't it? If I went to a crappy outlet for food in France, England, Spain, Mexico, Texas, Ethiopia, India, China, Japan, Thailand, Britain or anywhere, I'd have a crappy meal. Blaming that on an entire nation is kinda short-sighted. I've had some incredible cakes here in the USA. I've had horrible stuff in Canada, Japan and Germany. It all depends on where you go -- one more incentive to befriend some locals!

Grave n Idle et al.

There is a PF Chang's about four blocks from where I live -- I'm all over that, and soon!

I've got to find out what the hubbub is about. hehe

Nashville, huh... that's not that far from 'down our way'... I wonder if it's worth the drive.

Word

When the sis and I spent two weeks in Italy, we stayed with friends. The mother of our host family cooked dinner every night we were there (well, when we were at their pink domicile, anyway).

I kid you not, I gained 10 pounds. I ate like a mofo. She just kept bringing out the food.

Of course there were some of the things I was used to eating... but in addition to those things was (as Bill Cosby might say) the eating of the bread on which had taken place the pouring of the oil/vinegar (neat double-spouted decanter) and/or the laying of the cheese (mozzarella or parmigiana) and/or tomatoes.

I don't know if it was bruschetta (with a K -- bru-SKEH-tah) or just regular bread (I think it was toasted or grilled, come to think of it) but aside from Food Networkish hype, that bread-with-toppings was delicious.

Some "Americanized" Chinese food places are run by Chinese people (including the buffet-style place a few of us attend on pay-day)... so if it isn't "real" Chinese food, then they're opting to go that route themselves.

Yes, because giving the customer what they want is bad business. :rolleyes:

Word

When the sis and I spent two weeks in Italy, we stayed with friends. The mother of our host family cooked dinner every night we were there (well, when we were at their pink domicile, anyway).

I kid you not, I gained 10 pounds. I ate like a mofo. She just kept bringing out the food.

Of course there were some of the things I was used to eating... but in addition to those things was (as Bill Cosby might say) the eating of the bread on which had taken place the pouring of the oil/vinegar (neat double-spouted decanter) and/or the laying of the cheese (mozzarella or parmigiana) and/or tomatoes.

I don't know if it was bruschetta (with a K -- bru-SKEH-tah) or just regular bread (I think it was toasted or grilled, come to think of it) but aside from Food Networkish hype, that bread-with-toppings was delicious.

Bruschetta is was. So simple, and yet so delicious!

Nashville, huh... that's not that far from 'down our way'... I wonder if it's worth the drive.

I'll cook if you bring the beer and/or wine.

hehe

Wait.. maybe I shouldn't cook.

lol

That's what restaurants are for. You don't want to drive hundreds of miles to try (even if it is Super Wisconsin Cheesehead...) mac and cheese.

I'm inclined to believe that there are pockets of superior chinese in various places in the US. As you point out, Georgia isn't necessarily going to be doing very well on that list.

I had good Chinese in New York... but i'm not sure it was better... or even 'as good' as some of the places I went in the UK. But then - I lived in Leicester, which is like mecca for international 'ethnic' food.

You have to find the right places in NY - like any big city. My experience compared to the UK chinese food - extensive and london and newcastle, which are both really large china towns - is that New York's definitely has the edge. As long as you know where you are going.

It's not very tourist friendly though, so quite often people end up in sub par tourist traps, which might have happened to you.

I'll cook if you bring the beer and/or wine.

hehe

Wait.. maybe I shouldn't cook.

lol

That's what restaurants are for. You don't want to drive hundreds of miles to try (even if it is Super Wisconsin Cheesehead...) mac and cheese.

It'd have to be some impressive mac and cheese. :)

I've driven a fair distance for an acceptably decent Indian curry... I wonder how far I'd be willing to go for good Chinese.

Oh - it probably wouldn't be beer. The only beer I like is Guinness, and it doesn't go that well with Chinese. I do have quite a fondness for blackberry kosher wine, though.

They are catering to the lowest-common-denominator tastes of an uneducated american pallet.

Centuries of isolation has rendered you people incapable of telling good from bad. One only has to look at what you guys call bacon, what you think of as 'variety' in cheeses, and what you will accept as chocolate.

Sure they opt to go that route themselves. If you can get someone to pay you for polishing a turd, why put effort into art?

These generalizations annoy me, but I was spoiled by growing up in Seattle, and parents who understood that life was too damned short to tolerate mass-produced food (save for the occasional need for "comfort" food -- Dick's Drive In, FTW). I now live in Bismarck, North Dakota, and believe me, I understand COMPLETELY why the stereotype of the US as culinarily LAME exists. The salsa at the local "Mexican" restaurants is sweetened, and has no garlic or cilantro in it at all. Nobody knows what MOLÉ is, fer cryin' out loud. And don't get me started on the abhorrent "Chinese" places here.

I gain weight whenever I visit my friends and family in Seattle because there's just so much good stuff to eat here. To be fair, Bismarck has good food available, but it's in the equivalent of five-star restaurants that cater to the bigwigs, politicians and CEOs doing business in the capital. As such, I get to eat there (where a Thai dish that would be standard fare for about $7 in a Seattle hole-in-the-wall costs $19) maybe once or twice a year, and one of those times is on the University where I teach as a yearly thank-you (and for which I am very grateful).

So rave on about the abuse suffered at the hands of US fare. Just remember, seek ye out the diamond in the rough.

Bruschetta is was. So simple, and yet so delicious!

It was great. So, you know, three or four slices of that, then two (or so) pounds of entree -- and I didn't feel too badly about overindulging. They had a 13-year-old at the time.

It was just so good. I could not stop. At some point sis would give me The Stare and I'd make that my last plate. hehe

Seriously, the mother kept pushing food on me. I'd never eat so much unless vigorously invited/forced.

It'd have to be some impressive mac and cheese. :)

I've driven a fair distance for an acceptably decent Indian curry... I wonder how far I'd be willing to go for good Chinese.

Oh - it probably wouldn't be beer. The only beer I like is Guinness, and it doesn't go that well with Chinese. I do have quite a fondness for blackberry kosher wine, though.

Ohhhhh... that wine sounds good.

I'll try PF Chang's... see if it's decent. If it's different from our Japanese Restaurant (that has Chinese staff and a Chinese buffet -- ROFL -- the only Japanese thing is the sushi) buffet-style place, I will assume that that means that it's better.

And the road will be paved for a hopefully acceptable Chinese dining experience. hehe

Mac and cheese or frozen pizza could be the post-drinking/bar-hopping snack.

greek food!

A thoroughly underated cuisine, which features greats such as: galaktoboreko, souvlaki, baklava, mousaka, pastitsio, kalamari, dolmades, feta and all the rest!

Spanakopita, tiropitakia, avgolemono...THERE ARE NO GREEK RESTAURANTS IN BISMARCK! I dated a Greek woman for three years and was at her family's place for all teh major holidays. The food was unbefuckinglievably good. Hellas fayi ita ne phantastiko!

These generalizations annoy me, but I was spoiled by growing up in Seattle, and parents who understood that life was too damned short to tolerate mass-produced food (save for the occasional need for "comfort" food -- Dick's Drive In, FTW). I now live in Bismarck, North Dakota, and believe me, I understand COMPLETELY why the stereotype of the US as culinarily LAME exists. The salsa at the local "Mexican" restaurants is sweetened, and has no garlic or cilantro in it at all. Nobody knows what MOLÉ is, fer cryin' out loud. And don't get me started on the abhorrent "Chinese" places here.

I gain weight whenever I visit my friends and family in Seattle because there's just so much good stuff to eat here. To be fair, Bismarck has good food available, but it's in the equivalent of five-star restaurants that cater to the bigwigs, politicians and CEOs doing business in the capital. As such, I get to eat there (where a Thai dish that would be standard fare for about $7 in a Seattle hole-in-the-wall costs $19) maybe once or twice a year, and one of those times is on the University where I teach as a yearly thank-you (and for which I am very grateful).

So rave on about the abuse suffered at the hands of US fare. Just remember, seek ye out the diamond in the rough.


You live in Bismarck? When I was 4/5 years old we lived in Grand Forks.

This is weird as hell, but you know, I can still taste the pizza from Happy Joe's. We went there for my fifth birthday.

At any rate, I feel your pain in terms of winter weather. I grew up in Northern Wisc.

Spanakopita, tiropitakia, avgolemono...THERE ARE NO GREEK RESTAURANTS IN BISMARCK! I dated a Greek woman for three years and was at her family's place for all teh major holidays. The food was unbefuckinglievably good. Hellas fayi ita ne phantastiko!

Can you get Ouzo there?

I've had good Chinese in New York, admitted.
there are some great ones around here...PF Changs is decent, but the only one I could think of that someone else might have known


I could care less about tea. Tea is bad enough... drinking it cold is just sick.touche

These generalizations annoy me, but I was spoiled by growing up in Seattle, and parents who understood that life was too damned short to tolerate mass-produced food (save for the occasional need for "comfort" food -- Dick's Drive In, FTW). I now live in Bismarck, North Dakota, and believe me, I understand COMPLETELY why the stereotype of the US as culinarily LAME exists. The salsa at the local "Mexican" restaurants is sweetened, and has no garlic or cilantro in it at all. Nobody knows what MOLÉ is, fer cryin' out loud. And don't get me started on the abhorrent "Chinese" places here.

I gain weight whenever I visit my friends and family in Seattle because there's just so much good stuff to eat here. To be fair, Bismarck has good food available, but it's in the equivalent of five-star restaurants that cater to the bigwigs, politicians and CEOs doing business in the capital. As such, I get to eat there (where a Thai dish that would be standard fare for about $7 in a Seattle hole-in-the-wall costs $19) maybe once or twice a year, and one of those times is on the University where I teach as a yearly thank-you (and for which I am very grateful).

So rave on about the abuse suffered at the hands of US fare. Just remember, seek ye out the diamond in the rough.

I've backed off a little. I appreciate that there is some functional discernment at work... but there is certainly a good appearance of lowest-common-denominator as exemplar.

I've talked with friends over here that have told me about good places to eat. I've been to one or two, but I've still visited less than half the available states. :) So - maybe it's skewed by my living in the South, but there certainly seems to be a willingness to accept a substandard alternative, and the willingness seems to stem from ignorance. Again - maybe less so in more cosmopolitan areas, but fully half the people I work with have never even crossed a state line.. and I'm half an hour from the carolinas.

Can you get Ouzo there?

One of the local Captain Jack's liquor barns (since ND doesn't allow beer and wine to be sold in supermarkets due to some old religious stricture about Sundays...what's a day of rest without a lovely beverage?) probably has A bottle of ouzo or retsina. That's an acquired taste, that is.

You live in Bismarck? When I was 4/5 years old we lived in Grand Forks.

This is weird as hell, but you know, I can still taste the pizza from Happy Joe's. We went there for my fifth birthday.

At any rate, I feel your pain in terms of winter weather. I grew up in Northern Wisc.

Grand Forks gets all the snow. Bismarck just gets the coffee-bouncing-on-the-sidewalk cold.

I've backed off a little. I appreciate that there is some functional discernment at work... but there is certainly a good appearance of lowest-common-denominator as exemplar.

I've talked with friends over here that have told me about good places to eat. I've been to one or two, but I've still visited less than half the available states. :) So - maybe it's skewed by my living in the South, but there certainly seems to be a willingness to accept a substandard alternative, and the willingness seems to stem from ignorance. Again - maybe less so in more cosmopolitan areas, but fully half the people I work with have never even crossed a state line.. and I'm half an hour from the carolinas.

You are, sadly, entirely correct. Willful ignorance is a plague in my country. Come to Seattle, Portland, Vancouver/Victoria BC -- you'll find as good a selection and quality of food as anywhere in the world. Pike Place Market alone will slake your gourmand cravings.

Ohhhhh... that wine sounds good.

I'll try PF Chang's... see if it's decent. If it's different from our Japanese Restaurant (that has Chinese staff and a Chinese buffet -- ROFL -- the only Japanese thing is the sushi) buffet-style place, I will assume that that means that it's better.

And the road will be paved for a hopefully acceptable Chinese dining experience. hehe

Mac and cheese or frozen pizza could be the post-drinking/bar-hopping snack.

How odd. We have a japanese restaurant like that, here...

I'll be waiting on a glowing (or otherwise) report on PF Changs. :) You are the designated spy. :D

(*thinks about current poll results*)

It appears more people prefer Italian cuisine than any other, with "Other" running second.

Personally, I like "Other", that is, some personal dishes of my own.

Now I don't call myself a "master chef" like, say, Emeril Lagasse or Julia Child, but I like to fix my own "entrees".

For example: hot dog slices covered in cheese (in fact I just finished one of those a few minutes ago).

Another dish I like is an oat...(*ten-second pause while I try to think of the best word to use here*) "concoction" that includes some special ingredients to make it zesty, flavorful, and spicy, because, let's face it, plain oatmeal is just that - plain. And bland.

You are, sadly, entirely correct. Willful ignorance is a plague in my country. Come to Seattle, Portland, Vancouver/Victoria BC -- you'll find as good a selection and quality of food as anywhere in the world. Pike Place Market alone will slake your gourmand cravings.

I think it's only a matter of time before I relocate, to be honest. I've stayed in Georgia as long as I have, largely because immigration is enough of a pain in the arse without changing residency details.

I'm certainly fed up with the racism, sexism, homophobia and religious intolerance I encounter every single day. But - only just behind "I live in redneck asshole country" on my list, is the fact that I haven't had a REAL curry in more than half a decade.

I think it's only a matter of time before I relocate, to be honest. I've stayed in Georgia as long as I have, largely because immigration is enough of a pain in the arse without changing residency details.

I'm certainly fed up with the racism, sexism, homophobia and religious intolerance I encounter every single day. But - only just behind "I live in redneck asshole country" on my list, is the fact that I haven't had a REAL curry in more than half a decade.

I promise you, if you ever find yourself in Seattle, convey thyself to Cedars on Brooklyn for some excellent Indian and Middle Eastern food. AMAZING curry.

I promise you, if you ever find yourself in Seattle, convey thyself to Cedars on Brooklyn for some excellent Indian and Middle Eastern food. AMAZING curry.

Rest assured, if I ever even suspect I'm likely to be en route to Seattle, I'll be spamming your tg box. So to speak...

I promise you, if you ever find yourself in Seattle, convey thyself to Cedars on Brooklyn for some excellent Indian and Middle Eastern food. AMAZING curry.

Jersey has it better.

We've got two Little India in Jersey City, and Oak Tree Road in Edison.

Edit: Over 50 Indian restaurants between the two of them.

Jersey has it better.

We've got two Little India in Jersey City, and Oak Tree Road in Edison.

Edit: Over 50 Indian restaurants between the two of them.

Quiet, you... you've already teased and tortured me enough, last time the topic came up. :(


:D

French and Italian; Greek is rather good too, as is Swedish and Japanese (I like fish :) )

French and Italian; Greek is rather good too, as is Swedish and Japanese (I like fish :) )

Freak:p

I love French and Italian food, Greek, insofar as I have tasted a limited range of it, is alright, but Swedish and Japanese? Not my cup of tea.

I bloody love traditional British food as well; mashed potato is frankly awesome, as are "chip shop chips".:)

I bloody love traditional British food as well; mashed potato is frankly awesome, as are "chip shop chips".:)

What I wouldn't give for pukka pie and mash with liquor....

Freak:p

I bloody love traditional British food as well; mashed potato is frankly awesome, as are "chip shop chips".:)
Pot. Kettle. Black.

;)

Though I shall admit to a liking of the abovementioned meals.

What I wouldn't give for pukka pie and mash with liquor....

I've never tried them with liquor, but yes, pukka pies are awesome. About as unhealthy as a fry-up, but bloody nice.

New England cuisine. You know, clams, lobster, and stuff like that.

Oh, and Italian. That sublime mixture of tomatoes, carbs, and cheese is practically orgasmic.

Pot. Kettle. Black.

;)

Though I shall admit to a liking of the abovementioned meals.

Of course. Shephards pie, being a meal based on mash-potato, is especially awesome. If only I could actually cook:p

New England cuisine. You know, clams, lobster, and stuff like that.

seafood and cheese. what more could you ask for?

I think the poll should add something like mediterranean food in general.

Speciallly because they got a lot of cooking methods and even most of them has the same ingerdients they change them in a very delicious way.
So all of us can delight ourselves with a never ending food tasting.

And after that you can follow the trail to the American Continent.
Argentinean, Chilenean, Mexican, Brazilian, they make a richer variatey mixing all that european flavor with the native and delocious food for each country.

Don't forget that European food enriched itself with the introduction of new ingredients

I like doing culinary trips, I like to wander at least one day looking for local places to eat, in all the cities I've had visited in all my trips.
And when I return to that country I already know where and what to eat for sure, and then look for another place

Of course. Shephards pie, being a meal based on mash-potato, is especially awesome. If only I could actually cook:p
Hire someone to do so for you. Problem solved.

Hire someone to do so for you. Problem solved.

With what? My parents don't get home for another two days, and I spent £180 getting deported from Poland for losing my passport on the bloody plane:(

Well, I love and cook Italian because I am half Italian.... and I love and cook Puerto Rican dishes because I'm half that too -- but I also like Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, German, Turkish...

I guess I'm a fan of international cuisine!

With what? My parents don't get home for another two days, and I spent £180 getting deported from Poland for losing my passport on the bloody plane:(
Poor child. :p Alas, the same (or something similar, rather) occured to me when leaving England for vacations; I was 10 minutes late for boarding my flight and ended up spending £100 to get another! Don't you just love airports? :)

Gaúcho.

Southern Brazil, Northern Argentina. Parts of Uruguay.

Meat, flame grilled, more meat, then some meat, add some beer and/or wine, some meat, and maybe some bread.

(Actually it is much more varied that that but the meat is good.)

East Asian

Vietnamese, followed closely by Ethiopian.

Mexican food is my favorite, followed closely by Vietnamese.

1. Indian
2. Japanese
3. Cajun

As a limey, I can't stomach that shit.

By "Americanized Chinese," do we mean "fast food that arrives in a styrofoam container?" If so, then of course it's junk. But fast "food" is fast "food," American or otherwise.

My favorite cuisine: anything involving generous incorporation of the fruit of genus capsicum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsicum). God bless Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica.

...and (of course) I brought a can of Chef Boyardee ABC's & 123's (with meatballs) to eat for lunch. lol

SACRILEGE!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Please tell me you do NOT consider that Italian, or my uncle Vito will have to have a little "talk" with you!

I didn't say my tastes are superior... I said that American tastes are inferior.

As someone who has eaten outside of the borders of the 'known world' (i.e. The USA), you surely know you are an exception, not the rule.

Lots of generalizations you seem to be making there, pard.

Grave n Idle et al.

There is a PF Chang's about four blocks from where I live -- I'm all over that, and soon!

I've got to find out what the hubbub is about. hehe

Try the chicken lettuce wraps. The food is decent, for a chain.

I'd disagree. What most non-Americans know of Americanized Chinese food is General Gaos/Tsos Chicken and the like...yet, if I mention PF

Changs, you've probably never heard of it. Cities like Boston, New York, Miami, Chicago, LA, and Las Vegas all have incredible dining scenes. Not all Americans,

or even a majority of Americans, are unaware of high cuisine.
Though I agree with you in principle, I disagree with your particular example of PF Chang's. PF Changs is a somewhat high-brow place indeed, but it is Americanized Chinese food, not traditional Chinese food. That said PF Chang's has some pretty good food imo. PF Chang serves up the sweet-sour taste that Americans love, but most Chinese people avoid. The presence of sweet-sour type dishes distinguishes Americanized Chinese menus and and traditional Chinese menus. Nothing at all wrong with sweet-sour; it is all a matter of personal preference.

Traditional Chinese restaurants follows the simple rule - the filthier the dining room is, the more broken-down the restroom is, the smokier the air inside, the better the food and service. The best Chinese restaurants are mom-and-pop establishments with their kids washing dishes. The best noodlery I've eaten at is a run down shack, in Beijing, located right next to a Cultural Revolution-era bike shop that looked like hell. Don't trust expensive Chinese food. Chinese food is designed to be cheap and superb.

If you're true aim isn't to simply eat the best food, but eat only the most expensive "high cuisine", go eat at a Japanese restaurant and then rob their cash register. There's no need to feel guilty about robbing a Japanese place, because the goddamn Japanese are running a racket anyways, with their sashimi, which, though delicious, is always ridiculously overpriced.

Also, General Tso's chicken cannot be belittled. Good General's Tsos chicken is hard to pull off, and should not be priced more than four bucks for a pint.

Errr. huh? I believe he is back in Hong Kong at the moment... but when he isn't, he's in Georgia. To my knowledge he's never been to England.

He has lived in China, though.

So... choose between the opinion of a faceless nobody making himself expert... or the opinion of a Chinese friend from Hong Kong...

Forgive me if I ignore you, politely.
Let the faceless expert school you on food in China and Hong Kong. Your snide faith in your own tastebuds is backed only by your profound ignorance of food and people's eating habits. Hong Kong people are not much better at judging food than anyone else (Americans or whoever) If Americanized Chinese is bad for you, then try Chinese-style Western food, there are plenty of such restaurants in Hong Kong serving popular dishes like an entree of hot dogs and (sauceless) spaghetti... does that sound appetizing to you? As you can see, everything is a matter of personal taste, and who is to say that you smug limey eating "exotic" and therefore "high-brow" curry is a better man than the Shanghaier munching on KFC?

Meh. Whatever.

I've lived both sides of the pond. Americans (collectively) are willing to patronise 'food' establishments that wouldn't last a week 'over there'. I'm not a guardian of

taste... merely a harbinger.
No you're not a harbinger, you're just ignorant. And being blindly anti-American. I'm pretty anti-Bush, anti-Blair, anti-Zionist, anti-Neocon myself but I congratulate you for bringing your mindless anti-Americanism to a new level. Pizza Hut and KFC are booming in China... McDonalds last for a lot more than a week "over there." Does that mean something is defective with the Chinese collectively? No, it means people love calories, and that is the only hard and fast rule when it comes to taste.

Oh, and if we have any Minnesotans here (specifically, in the Twin Cities), I highly recommend this place (http://www.fasika.com/welcome.html).

I think it's only a matter of time before I relocate, to be honest. I've stayed in Georgia as long as I have, largely because immigration is enough of a pain in the arse without changing residency details.

I'm certainly fed up with the racism, sexism, homophobia and religious intolerance I encounter every single day. But - only just behind "I live in redneck asshole country" on my list, is the fact that I haven't had a REAL curry in more than half a decade.

Come up north. I've had quite good Indian in Washington DC area and well, in New York (all its boroughs, not just Manhattan) you can't swing a cat without finding a good restaurant of any cuisine.

(Psst, try the Zagat's website to find the gems....)

Gaúcho.

Southern Brazil, Northern Argentina. Parts of Uruguay.

Meat, flame grilled, more meat, then some meat, add some beer and/or wine, some meat, and maybe some bread.

(Actually it is much more varied that that but the meat is good.)

Do they burn the meat to a crisp? I can't get a medium steak out of a South-American chef - it's just a fact of life, it seems. :(

There's no need to feel guilty about robbing a Japanese place, because the goddamn Japanese are running a racket anyways, with their sashimi, which, though delicious, is always ridiculously overpriced.


I've generally assumed that the expense has to do with the general expense of seafood in general, plus the desirability of acquiring exceptionally fresh product as well as a staff with the necessary skills to prepare it without killing customers. As we seem to be having a difficult enough time with food borne illness as it is (E. Coli infected spinach for jebus' sake... (http://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2006/september/)), the extra expense is probably worth it. :D

I've generally assumed that the expense has to do with the general expense of seafood in general, plus the desirability of acquiring exceptionally fresh product as well as a staff with the necessary skills to prepare it without killing customers. As we seem to be having a difficult enough time with food borne illness as it is (E. Coli infected spinach for jebus' sake... (http://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2006/september/)), the extra expense is probably worth it. :D

When I want sashimi I go to the grocery store, buy a chunk of salmon, and devour it whole as if I were a narwhal... saves money and it is just as good as the dish of prettily cut fish slices sold by swindling Japanese ;)

I didn't say my tastes are superior... I said that American tastes are inferior.

As someone who has eaten outside of the borders of the 'known world' (i.e. The USA), you surely know you are an exception, not the rule.

Grave_n_idle, you believe you can make yourself appear sophisticated by showing off how interested you are in various exotic cuisines devised by non-white peoples from faraway lands you read about in books. No. In fact your air of condescending faux-sophistication is laughable and rendered transparent by your appalling ignorance of taste in food. I suggest you get off your high horse and go eat some fried chicken and cornbread. (which happens to be the delicious ethnic food of Afro-Americans, just in case you are looking for some fancy background story to your plate of food)

Grave_n_idle, you believe you can make yourself appear sophisticated by showing off how interested you are in various exotic cuisines devised by non-white peoples from faraway lands you read about in books. No. In fact your air of condescending faux-sophistication is laughable and rendered transparent by your appalling ignorance of taste in food. I suggest you get off your high horse and go eat some fried chicken and cornbread. (which happens to be the delicious ethnic food of Afro-Americans, just in case you are looking for some fancy background story to your plate of food)

Hehe. I have no idea what the context was, but this really cracked me up. I know *so* many people that have this attitude about food. :p

When I want sashimi I go to the grocery store, buy a chunk of salmon, and devour it whole as if I were a narwhal... saves money and it is just as good as the dish of prettily cut fish slices sold by swindling Japanese ;)


That's actually another good reason for high price. At least in theory, it indicates that the fish came from somewhere other than some pile of stale ice in a grocery store. Some things should be expensive.

That's actually another good reason for high price. At least in theory, it indicates that the fish came from somewhere other than some pile of stale ice in a grocery store. Some things should be expensive.

In theory. Or it could be that the restaurant is just making a huge profit. Fish shipped to restaurants come from piles of stale ice in the back of tractor trailers too, you know. Many things in our wonderfully bizarre consumer economy are overpriced to create the "illusion" but not reality of luxury.

It's like the Campbell's Select brand of soups (mentioned in Max Barry's book "Syrup" I think)... people did not pay for Campbell's Select when it was priced cheaply, yet when Campbell tripled the price, the brand started flying off the shelves even though the contents remained unchanged. Just because the price was increased, people believed they were getting something of higher quality, when in fact they weren't.

Hehe. I have no idea what the context was, but this really cracked me up. I know *so* many people that have this attitude about food. :p

We've been taking shots at each other throughout the thread. I'm a Chinese person who eats a lot of Chinese food, including both traditional and Americanized Chinese types of food. I simply mention that I do in fact enjoy Americanized Chinese food, and Grave n idle immediately calls that "shit" and starts pontificating about how Americans supposedly don't know anything about food from other countries.

We've been taking shots at each other throughout the thread. I'm a Chinese person who eats a lot of Chinese food, including both traditional and Americanized Chinese types of food. I simply mention that I do in fact enjoy Americanized Chinese food, and Grave n idle immediately calls that "shit" and starts pontificating about how Americans supposedly don't know anything about food from other countries.

Ah. Well, growing up around a good number of Chinese, it always seemed to me that there's a pretty big difference between traditional and Americanized Chinese food. I kinda like both. :) Although I'll probably never be a fan of crispy seaweed snacks. :p

Ah. Well, growing up around a good number of Chinese, it always seemed to me that there's a pretty big difference between traditional and Americanized Chinese food. I kinda like both. :) Although I'll probably never be a fan of crispy seaweed snacks. :p

Yeah, there is a pretty big difference, but I love em both. As much as I hate to admit it, Korean crispy seaweed snacks tastes soooooo much better than Chinese ones. You should try a pack of Korean seaweed! :p

I can't believe more people don't like Thai. A new Thai restaurant opened in my town lately, it's delicious. Some friends of mine have been to Thailand and they say the food is the real deal. Go try some Thai!!!

I can't believe more people don't like Thai. A new Thai restaurant opened in my town lately, it's delicious. Some friends of mine have been to Thailand and they say the food is the real deal. Go try some Thai!!!

Thai rocks! It's all over Seattle -- but there's virtually none in Bismarck, unless you want to shell out at least $19 for it. That makes me a sad panda. :(

Or it could be that the restaurant is just making a huge profit.


The place I usually frequent is small and quite humble. And the rent around here for retail space is absolutely insane. If the restaurant owner is trying to simply rake in huge profit (which I doubt anyway) most of it is going to the landlord, not the restaurant owner.

Prices are a little high, in comparison to the actual amount of food that constitutes sushi/sashimi, but its still not that bad. I'll agree that higher prices would constitute simply paying money for the sake of appearances, and that this is certainly the case at other restaurants.


Fish shipped to restaurants come from piles of stale ice in the back of tractor trailers too, you know.


I'll thank you to not destroy my illusions. :D

I visited a real fish market south of the border (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=ensenada+mexico&ie=UTF8&ll=31.861075,-116.627072&spn=0.006278,0.010257&t=h&z=17&om=1) once, where the produce just left the ocean and is still flopping around. I've never looked at a super"market" the same way since.

I can't believe more people don't like Thai. A new Thai restaurant opened in my town lately, it's delicious. Some friends of mine have been to Thailand and they say the food is the real deal. Go try some Thai!!!

Thai is indeed extremely delicious, but IMO, it's not as good as Vietnamese or Ethiopian. :)

Thai is indeed extremely delicious, but IMO, it's not as good as Vietnamese or Ethiopian. :)

I never heard of any typical Ethiopian dish, but Vietnamese is delicious.

Thai... well, it is very spicy from what I know and often people do not like that.

Hey, I resemble that remark. :mad:
German food can be teh yummy.

i bet some can, its just that in my experience, when visiting family in germany, i haven't enjoyed the food much. maybe they're just bad cooks :p

i do absolutely hate sauerkraut though ;)

Hey, I resemble that remark. :mad:
German food can be teh yummy.

Was resemble the word you meant to use there?

I never heard of any typical Ethiopian dish, but Vietnamese is delicious.

Thai... well, it is very spicy from what I know and often people do not like that.

Here you go (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuisine_of_Ethiopia). :)

They are catering to the lowest-common-denominator tastes of an uneducated american pallet.

Centuries of isolation has rendered you people incapable of telling good from bad. One only has to look at what you guys call bacon, what you think of as 'variety' in cheeses, and what you will accept as chocolate.

Sure they opt to go that route themselves. If you can get someone to pay you for polishing a turd, why put effort into art?

"pallet" ??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pallet

For the rest I'm with you.
Except that I didn't eat too badly in the States, really, but you have to be a bit picky. Simple stuff, honest preparation: it exists.

Lots of generalizations you seem to be making there, pard.


Nothing wrong with a generalisation if it's true. :)

Elsewhere, I've commented that I've found good food too, and that I'm largely using my own experience as a measure.

Let the faceless expert school you on food in China and Hong Kong.


Let me think.... errr no.


Your snide faith in your own tastebuds is backed only by your profound ignorance of food and people's eating habits.


You think I should NOT trust my own tastebuds to tell me what tastes good?

Interesting argument.


Hong Kong people are not much better at judging food than anyone else (Americans or whoever) If Americanized Chinese is bad for you, then try Chinese-style Western food, there are plenty of such restaurants in Hong Kong serving popular dishes like an entree of hot dogs and (sauceless) spaghetti... does that sound appetizing to you? As you can see, everything is a matter of personal taste, and who is to say that you smug limey eating "exotic" and therefore "high-brow" curry is a better man than the Shanghaier munching on KFC?


So - other people trying to make 'localised' versions of each other's foods do a pretty poor job?

I'm shocked!

No... wait... I'm not, am I. Because that's basically what I was talking about.

Except, you seem to think it's only 'bad' if it's someone else doing it to american 'cultural' food.


No you're not a harbinger, you're just ignorant.


I don't think so. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.


And being blindly anti-American. I'm pretty anti-Bush, anti-Blair, anti-Zionist, anti-Neocon myself


Wow. You are anti-everything. I'm SO going to take your advice!


but I congratulate you for bringing your mindless anti-Americanism to a new level.


I'm not anti-American. I do think that 'americanised' foods are meager shadows. I don't think that's the same thing.

I love italian and chinese and indian

but i also adore British food too - although its really regionally different.

London - jellied eels - no way that's disgusting

Scotland - i live less than 30 miles from the birthplace of the "deep fried mars bar" - but this wasn't as big a thing as the media made out to be - it was more of a laugh. people tried them and vowed never to have another.

But what i consider as British cuisine is more the meat and two veg. I've grown up on Aberdeen Angus Beef, scottish salmon, lobster, prawns, venison with fresh veg, homemade soups heaped with veg, local fruit, strawberrys, blackberrys, apples - nice puddings too. But Scottish cuisine has quiet a link with french, although we're more down to earth.

I'm not denying that many people eat and make rubbish food in Britain, but most of the historic stodge was in times when people were poor and worked in mines and factories during the industrial revolution, so they needed the stodge. Now we're lazy with inactive lifesytles we need to go to the more refine and healthy version.

wee rant but i hate it when people make assumptions.

Come up north. I've had quite good Indian in Washington DC area and well, in New York (all its boroughs, not just Manhattan) you can't swing a cat without finding a good restaurant of any cuisine.

(Psst, try the Zagat's website to find the gems....)

"Up North" does seem to be the answer.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=532658

Grave_n_idle, you believe you can make yourself appear sophisticated by showing off how interested you are in various exotic cuisines devised by non-white peoples from faraway lands you read about in books.


Errrr. No.


No.


Excellent. We agree.


In fact your air of condescending faux-sophistication is laughable and rendered transparent by your appalling ignorance of taste in food.


How amusing. My personal subjective 'taste' in food is what is wrong. I don't like Americanised Chinese food because I'm broken.

A good argument. If it were written on paper, I could probably sell it for almost the value of the paper.


I suggest you get off your high horse and go eat some fried chicken and cornbread.


I have lived in Georgia for the best part of half a decade. Do you seriously think I've managed to NOT get some 'fried chicken and cornbread'.


(which happens to be the delicious ethnic food of Afro-Americans, just in case you are looking for some fancy background story to your plate of food)

Oh - so it tastes better if it has a fancy slave story attached?

I think it's wierd the way countries change each others cuisine to suit locals tastebuds.

My local chinese does a '3 in 1' whereby they put rice, chips and curry sauce into one tub - that is as far away from real chinese food as I can imagine (and gross as well unless you are drunk)

that sounds positively revolting :p

that said, there was a kebab shop by is at uni that did curried chips... but their donners were to die for (especially with liberal helpings of their garlic sauce, mmmm :))

i bet some can, its just that in my experience, when visiting family in germany, i haven't enjoyed the food much. maybe they're just bad cooks :p
That must be it. :D

i do absolutely hate sauerkraut though ;)
Heresy!

Was resemble the word you meant to use there?
Yes. It's a malapropism attributed to everbody from the Three Stooges to Groucho Marx to the Looney Toons and Foghorn Leghorn in "Space Jam". *nods*

I can't believe more people don't like Thai. A new Thai restaurant opened in my town lately, it's delicious. Some friends of mine have been to Thailand and they say the food is the real deal. Go try some Thai!!!

Pad Kra Prow ftw.

Was resemble the word you meant to use there?

Yup, a famous quote from Bugs Bunny, among others.

SACRILEGE!!!!!

Please tell me you do NOT consider that Italian, or my uncle Vito will have to have a little "talk" with you.

--
Try the chicken lettuce wraps. The food is decent, for a chain.

---------

Katganistan,

Of course Chef Bo ain't Italian. It's filler. "Get in my belly!"

As for the PF Chang's tip, will do. Do the chicken lettuce wraps come with a choice of dipping sauces?

How odd. We have a japanese restaurant like that, here...

I'll be waiting on a glowing (or otherwise) report on PF Changs. :) You are the designated spy. :D

I'm on it like white on rice. (okay, bleached rice)

Code name "MSG Man" (MSG is not in reference to Madison Square Garden...)

hehe

SACRILEGE!!!!!

Please tell me you do NOT consider that Italian, or my uncle Vito will have to have a little "talk" with you.

--
Try the chicken lettuce wraps. The food is decent, for a chain.

---------

Katganistan,

Of course Chef Bo ain't Italian. It's filler. "Get in my belly!"

As for the PF Chang's tip, will do. Do the chicken lettuce wraps come with a choice of dipping sauces?

Sort of. They bring a tray of sauces to your table (three if I remember correctly) ask how hot you like it, and mix together one that's quite nice on the wraps. They also leave the other three on the table so you can adjust to your taste (if it's not hot enough, for example).

I also like the duck and steamed buns. Oh and don't freak about the bowl of soup being almost 8 bucks -- it feeds four (they bring enough individual bowls for everyone, and put a big soup bowl out. We ended up bringing half home.)

CURRY!
Indeed. followed by italian meatballs.

Of course. Shephards pie, being a meal based on mash-potato, is especially awesome. If only I could actually cook:p

Tomorrow night, I am going to my friends house and we are having sausages and mash with onion and mushroom gravy and peas (I think), followed by that chocolate oozy pudding from M&S and real Devon clotted cream. Yummy scrummy in my tummy...

*Drools

So - other people trying to make 'localised' versions of each other's foods do a pretty poor job?

I'm shocked!

No... wait... I'm not, am I. Because that's basically what I was talking about.

Except, you seem to think it's only 'bad' if it's someone else doing it to american 'cultural' food.

Nothing at all is wrong with localized versions of food. If a country would like to experiment with American food - more power to them! Just because you do not understand, or are not used to, a localized version of food does not make it, in your words, "shit." Hot dogs and spaghetti may seem strange to you (it doesn't to me - its the sort of stuff my dad would like) but to many people in China that's a pretty good dish. It's not like I would go out for hotdogs+spaghetti all the time but I'll enjoy it if I have to. And Americanized Chinese is the same way - simply because you don't understand it doesn't give you the authority to proclaim that whole groups of people have "inferior taste" for liking it. You are the one who doesn't like localized versions of food, not me. Personally I find it interesting how one particular nation or culture will redo foods from different cultures. You on the other hand, make it the topic for your forum trolling, by dismissing entire countries as ignorant and without taste when they adapt foreign foods. When in fact people everywhere are arguably on the same level of "sophistication" when it comes to picking out what is delicious and what isn't - calories = good, flavor = yum - with a dash of regional and personal variation.

It's the strength of Chinese cuisine that it can be adapted and localized for all customs. Unlike the snobbish Japanese who want to feed us all with same generic, overpriced tempura and soba noodles cooked on some mythical Tokyo standard. I've had Americanized Chinese cuisine, Mexicanized Chinese, Islamicized Chinese cuisine (no pork, no eels allowed ), and Indonesian Chinese. It's all interesting and, like anything, can be quite delicious if the chef is skillful.


Wow. You are anti-everything. I'm SO going to take your advice!


Wait that doesnt make any sense...


You think I should NOT trust my own tastebuds to tell me what tastes good?

Interesting argument.

How amusing. My personal subjective 'taste' in food is what is wrong. I don't like Americanised Chinese food because I'm broken.

A good argument. If it were written on paper, I could probably sell it for almost the value of the paper.

Nah, you are broken not because of your subjective 'taste' in food, but rather because you proclaim entire groups of people to have inferior taste, as if you are the authority to judge for everyone. I've been arguing the whole time that taste in food is subjective. I never belittled your right to your own tastebuds.... you can personally dislike this or that cuisine all you want, but since you are accusing entire countries of having inferior taste, you're just trolling around with inane generalizations.

I have lived in Georgia for the best part of half a decade. Do you seriously think I've managed to NOT get some 'fried chicken and cornbread'.
Good on you, now take the other half of my advice and fall off your high horse!

Oh - so it tastes better if it has a fancy slave story attached?
Why yes, my dear conoisseur! [i]Obviously!

I'll thank you to not destroy my illusions. :D

I visited a real fish market south of the border (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=ensenada+mexico&ie=UTF8&ll=31.861075,-116.627072&spn=0.006278,0.010257&t=h&z=17&om=1) once, where the produce just left the ocean and is still flopping around. I've never looked at a super"market" the same way since.
Well that is very true. Food on the coastline is always heavenly. Japanese restaurants in California serve food that is fresh, cheap AND plentiful, because the catch is only 2 miles away, instead of having been shipped in a cargo truck to the middle of the United States. I have been knocking on the Japanese in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way. Mostly. :D

I'd have to go with Mexican. Oaxacan Specifically, I luvz me those moles (pronounced mo-lays). Though Vera Cruz has some really good ceviches too ;)

I'd have to go with Mexican. Oaxacan Specifically, I luvz me those moles (pronounced mo-lays). Though Vera Cruz has some really good ceviches too ;)

Are you a fan of Rick Bayless (or Bayliss.. crap)?

Apparently he's one of the USian authorities on true Mexican cuisine.

Indeed. followed by italian meatballs.

damn it, man, that's just not fair.

curry (slobber)

and

meatballs (...splat-splat-splattering on the floor beside my chair)

------------------

Katganistan

Thanks for the tips.

Nothing at all is wrong with localized versions of food. If a country would like to experiment with American food - more power to them! Just because you do not understand, or are not used to, a localized version of food does not make it, in your words, "shit." Hot dogs and spaghetti may seem strange to you (it doesn't to me - its the sort of stuff my dad would like) but to many people in China that's a pretty good dish. It's not like I would go out for hotdogs+spaghetti all the time but I'll enjoy it if I have to. And Americanized Chinese is the same way - simply because you don't understand it doesn't give you the authority to proclaim that whole groups of people have "inferior taste" for liking it. You are the one who doesn't like localized versions of food, not me. Personally I find it interesting how one particular nation or culture will redo foods from different cultures. You on the other hand, make it the topic for your forum trolling, by dismissing entire countries as ignorant and without taste when they adapt foreign foods. When in fact people everywhere are arguably on the same level of "sophistication" when it comes to picking out what is delicious and what isn't - calories = good, flavor = yum - with a dash of regional and personal variation.

It's the strength of Chinese cuisine that it can be adapted and localized for all customs. Unlike the snobbish Japanese who want to feed us all with same generic, overpriced tempura and soba noodles cooked on some mythical Tokyo standard. I've had Americanized Chinese cuisine, Mexicanized Chinese, Islamicized Chinese cuisine (no pork, no eels allowed ), and Indonesian Chinese. It's all interesting and, like anything, can be quite delicious if the chef is skillful.



Wait that doesnt make any sense...


Nah, you are broken not because of your subjective 'taste' in food, but rather because you proclaim entire groups of people to have inferior taste, as if you are the authority to judge for everyone. I've been arguing the whole time that taste in food is subjective. I never belittled your right to your own tastebuds.... you can personally dislike this or that cuisine all you want, but since you are accusing entire countries of having inferior taste, you're just trolling around with inane generalizations.


Good on you, now take the other half of my advice and fall off your high horse!


Why yes, my dear conoisseur! [i]Obviously!


Well that is very true. Food on the coastline is always heavenly. Japanese restaurants in California serve food that is fresh, cheap AND plentiful, because the catch is only 2 miles away, instead of having been shipped in a cargo truck to the middle of the United States. I have been knocking on the Japanese in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way. Mostly. :D

Blah blah ad hominem masturbation blah blah all cultural food is equal blah blah except the for'n devil Japs blah blah.

I don't think I missed amy points in my attempt to summarise your post.

Oh - and I giggled at the 'troll' comments.

Are you a fan of Rick Bayless (or Bayliss.. crap)?

Apparently he's one of the USian authorities on true Mexican cuisine.

I heard about him after I moved back to the NW from the San Diego area. Started watching his show, and saw a bunch of the places I used to hang out at when I was doing low-budget movie and TV shoots. I can't watch him right now because his show isn't broadcast on the satellite version of PBS anymore :(

I heard about him after I moved back to the NW from the San Diego area. Started watching his show, and saw a bunch of the places I used to hang out at when I was doing low-budget movie and TV shoots. I can't watch him right now because his show isn't broadcast on the satellite version of PBS anymore :(

He was in an Iron Chef America episode maybe a year or two ago. He made some funky stuff!

He got up to the judges to present his dishes and spent a good deal of time trying to "educate" them... he may have thought (probably correctly) that they'd be expecting a more Tex-Mex approach to the theme ingredient.

--

Grave n Idle/others

What's your opinion on Brits putting an egg (or eggs) on their hamburgers?

An abomination or tastefully innovative?

Do they burn the meat to a crisp? I can't get a medium steak out of a South-American chef - it's just a fact of life, it seems. :(

I am surprised. Here we can get steak so rare that it tries to run away (if you want it that is). It would be very difficult to find anything more than medium.

I didn't say my tastes are superior... I said that American tastes are inferior.
Inferior to what? If they're inferior to your tastes by definition yours are superior.

Inferior to what? If they're inferior to your tastes by definition yours are superior.

Europa Maxima

What's your favorite cuisine?

Did you vote "Other"?

Europa Maxima

What's your favorite cuisine?

Did you vote "Other"?
This (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12866301&postcount=126) is EM's favourite cuisine. And no, EM voted "French".

Greek. Hell yes.

This (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12866301&postcount=126) is EM's favourite cuisine. And no, EM voted "French".

ahhhh

cool

So let's concoct something (French, Italian, Greek):

Lasagna with lamb (gyro-style), burre blanc (sp?) and sauteed onions.

hehe

He was in an Iron Chef America episode maybe a year or two ago. He made some funky stuff!

He got up to the judges to present his dishes and spent a good deal of time trying to "educate" them... he may have thought (probably correctly) that they'd be expecting a more Tex-Mex approach to the theme ingredient.

--

Grave n Idle/others

What's your opinion on Brits putting an egg (or eggs) on their hamburgers?

An abomination or tastefully innovative?

We do that here in the states, too.
http://www.redrobin.com/home/menu.aspx <-- check out the Royal Red Robin Burger.

We do that here in the states, too.
http://www.redrobin.com/home/menu.aspx <-- check out the Royal Red Robin Burger.

not to rip on it, but that's the first reference I've ever heard of an American (a burget joint, at that)putting (an) egg on a burger.

who knew?!

hehe