So often I hear "Oh that isn't authentic XXXian food." Or, "That was really authentic YYYian food."

Sometimes I wonder if I care, as long as the food is good. If the area has one or a few exemplars of "Authentic XXXian food" I might recall that when I was in XXXia, that there was plenty of ok food, but nothing was great, even though I liked the style of food.

Yes, there are times I want an "authentic empanada from Chile" or "authentic British boiled fat pie" (well, not really the 2d one) but sometimes it seems people are more obsessed with the authentic than with the best food. If a place makes XXXian style food that isn't quite authentic, but is excellent, I'll pass on the authentic.

Discuss (or not)