Originally Posted by
invisible
Have a feeling that American execs where either from NY, but most likely - from Midwest. Those a people who have to have 'american' environment from lodging and catering around them to feel comfortable. I know it from my work experience with them.
Southerns and especially Californians are way more adventurous.
They were from all over, and all had travelled extensively globally, but mostly Europe and South America. Asia was somewhat new to them. That's why I was there, as Asia has been in my wheelhouse for a long time.
They shied away from Chinese & hawker food because "they didn't know what was in it." Like you can tell any better with Indian, especially as most Indian dishes (to me at least) tend to taste very similar.
And don't be so quick to disparage the Midwest - the Japanese have a strong industrial footprint in the rustbelt and have changed tastes. One of the best sushi restaurants I've been to outside of Japan is in a small semi-rural town in Ohio, near Honda America Manufacturing.