On America's Lack of Food Identity
Because it's a generally good way to keep our grocery bill down, every weekday I eat lunch at my desk in my office with the door closed. Sometimes I read with a book, but more often than not I pick something from my Netflix instant queue to keep me company. It's usually Anthony Bourdain's No Reservation, which is always an interesting take on food/travel documentary-style programming that's short enough to watch in my hour break.
But the more I watch this show, the sadder I become. It's gradually dawned on me how woefully lacking we Americans are in what I would dub "food identity" or "food culture." I think in many fundamental ways, we have traded tradition for trend, and quality for cost.
For example, in nearly every other culture in the world, there is some kind of "street food" - from takoyaki stands in Osaka to tacos el pastor in Mexico City, it seems the other big cities in the world understand people want good food fast while they are out partying. But what's the American answer to this? McDonald's.
I'm envious that Tony always finds himself at the end of an episode in someone's backyard, eating traditional foods made with patience and care by someone's grandma. The ingredients are local, delicious, and wholesome. Good cheese and good bread abound, great wine flows freely. No one would think to buy any ingredients premade or processed. And they spend hours enjoying it. The closest I've ever come to this is probably either a family barbeque in the summer or Thanksgiving, but from what I've seen, this is a poor substitute.
As I reflect on this vast difference in food culture between our country and others, I think the crux of the matter is that in America, food is an industry--or sometimes a hobby--whereas in other countries, it's part of the lifestyle. In America we just don't spend 2 hours at the lunch table, or bake our own bread. We'd prefer to get our sustenance as cheap as we can, and preferably sweet or fried, so we can rush off to do something else.
Perhaps this is the reason that, as far as I can tell, we have very few "traditional American" dishes. In fact, all I can think of are barbeque and deep South comfort food. Nearly all the recipes in my cookbooks are "fusions" or American takes on other cultures. Why don't we have any of our own? Or why can't I recognize them? I'm not saying I don't love American-style Asian food as much as the next girl, but isn't it a little disturbing to anyone else that we don't really have many "American" style dishes the way we have "French" or "Chinese" ones?
Now I'm not saying ALL Americans are guilty of this. I know at least two friends who are committed to feeding her family good, wholesome things, and another who cares about it even if she can't always buy the best of the best. I find myself leaning more that direction, and giving greater preference to quality than price (much to Nick's dismay I'm sure). And of course, let's not forget that both coasts of the country seem dedicated to local ingredients prepared fresh. I just wonder why this hasn't taken off across our country, and why so many of us settle for second-best, processed crap.
But you know what the worst part is? This lack of food heritage is fundamental to our current culture...the culture that is slowly taking over the world! Egads!
(by the way, I am completely ready to admit I could be wrong about this, so please feel free to comment if you think I am!)
But the more I watch this show, the sadder I become. It's gradually dawned on me how woefully lacking we Americans are in what I would dub "food identity" or "food culture." I think in many fundamental ways, we have traded tradition for trend, and quality for cost.
For example, in nearly every other culture in the world, there is some kind of "street food" - from takoyaki stands in Osaka to tacos el pastor in Mexico City, it seems the other big cities in the world understand people want good food fast while they are out partying. But what's the American answer to this? McDonald's.
I'm envious that Tony always finds himself at the end of an episode in someone's backyard, eating traditional foods made with patience and care by someone's grandma. The ingredients are local, delicious, and wholesome. Good cheese and good bread abound, great wine flows freely. No one would think to buy any ingredients premade or processed. And they spend hours enjoying it. The closest I've ever come to this is probably either a family barbeque in the summer or Thanksgiving, but from what I've seen, this is a poor substitute.
As I reflect on this vast difference in food culture between our country and others, I think the crux of the matter is that in America, food is an industry--or sometimes a hobby--whereas in other countries, it's part of the lifestyle. In America we just don't spend 2 hours at the lunch table, or bake our own bread. We'd prefer to get our sustenance as cheap as we can, and preferably sweet or fried, so we can rush off to do something else.
Perhaps this is the reason that, as far as I can tell, we have very few "traditional American" dishes. In fact, all I can think of are barbeque and deep South comfort food. Nearly all the recipes in my cookbooks are "fusions" or American takes on other cultures. Why don't we have any of our own? Or why can't I recognize them? I'm not saying I don't love American-style Asian food as much as the next girl, but isn't it a little disturbing to anyone else that we don't really have many "American" style dishes the way we have "French" or "Chinese" ones?
Now I'm not saying ALL Americans are guilty of this. I know at least two friends who are committed to feeding her family good, wholesome things, and another who cares about it even if she can't always buy the best of the best. I find myself leaning more that direction, and giving greater preference to quality than price (much to Nick's dismay I'm sure). And of course, let's not forget that both coasts of the country seem dedicated to local ingredients prepared fresh. I just wonder why this hasn't taken off across our country, and why so many of us settle for second-best, processed crap.
But you know what the worst part is? This lack of food heritage is fundamental to our current culture...the culture that is slowly taking over the world! Egads!
(by the way, I am completely ready to admit I could be wrong about this, so please feel free to comment if you think I am!)