May I pick your brains about American & Japanese eating styles?

[aka_anonymous]

I'm looking for some ideas for cooking. More specifically, foods that highlight American eating styles in comparison to Japanese or other cultures

Comments

[lil_1337]

How about different kinds of finger foods/dipping sauces and how they are eaten?

[aka_anonymous]

That has potential. It'd probably be easy to do and a good example of appetizers. What exactly do you think represents American or Japanese finger foods?

[lil_1337]

Japanese I don't know too well, but American I would think french fries or chicken nuggets. Thinks that are quick and easy to make/cook.

What about fruits/veggies and/or desserts?

[lil_1337]

American/western pizza vs okonomiyaki?

[darthanne]

Just the way in which cutlery is used is different between cultures. Some cut the food up then eat it with a fork in your right hand, others use knife and fork together and cut as you go.

You guys dip chips (you call them fries) in mayonaise etc too. Here it's tomato sauce. Often it's the little things that highlight more.

[aka_anonymous]

Right! I forgot the American vs. Continental style of eating. At least I think that's what it's called, where you hold your fork with your left hand and your knife with your right to cut your food. Many people in the US then switch the fork to the right hand to eat.

I know that fries and mayonaise is popular in some places in the US, but I think it's actually more in Canada. We traditionally use ketchup, the sweet tomato sauce.

[lil_1337]

I know some people who use ranch dressing too.

[aka_anonymous]

Yup, we liked that here, too. I think more than mayonaise, but not as much as ketchup.

My brother likes ranch on his pizzas, too. *Shudders* The fat content, uuuugh!

[just_ruth]

One of our pharamcists is Korean and she "deconstructs" her sandwich, then cuts up the meat and veggies with a knife and eats it with a fork every day. She can't seem to make herself pick up what we consider finger foods - quirk or culture, I'm not sure which.

I'd suggest Rice and the many uses of it (do the Japanese have rice chips? a rice pudding?) that would cross both cultures.

[aka_anonymous]

I think that maybe just a quirk. (Does she make the sandwich herself, or buy from a deli?) But it is interesting!

I had friend on my FB suggest rice in a different way--sushi. >_< I think she forgot I can't stand fish, but it did give me some inspiration. Americans have rice pudding, rice dishes such as jambalya, and so on, but we don't eat rice with our hands. So I think having them make some onigiri (no fish!!) and compare it to a popular American rice dish (not sure what yet) will work out great. I've never made rice pudding before, is it difficult or take a long time?

[just_ruth]

Difficult no, long time, yes - my recipe uses two cups raw rice, four cups milk, half a cup of sugar and a cup of raisins. Assemble all ingredients in a buttered baking dish. Place large pan on middle rack of stove and fill with water. place baking dish in water bath and bake at 300 degrees F for two to three hours until all the liquid is absorbed.

[ashkitty]

Eating pizza with a fork isn't really strange, I thought it's what everybody outside north America does? Like eating chips (fries) with a fork.

[aka_anonymous]

Ah-ha! See, I haven't eaten pizza with too many people outside of North America, so I thought eating it with your hands was pretty universal. My narrow world experience becomes obvious in my naivete, huh?

[uminohikari]

...I eat pizza with a fork and knife if I can ._.

[aka_anonymous]

Apparently, it's just my narrow corner of the world that is barbaric and shuns modern eating utensils. ^____^