Does the U.S. have the best food in the world?
Jan 29, 2010 | 11:51 am
#31
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It also seems like "authentic" ethnic food in the US is prepared differently depending on which state you live in.
Jan 29, 2010 | 12:17 pm
#32
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I'm guessing that anybody who believes Olive Garden offers better Italian food then what is available even at a highway rest stop in Italy (which totally blows away 95% of the Italian food available in the US for example) is coming in on the low end of the taste bud scale 
Other than that, however, I agree that food in Italy is great.
Jan 29, 2010 | 12:28 pm
#33
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Not sure about McD's, but in most of the US, Coke uses high fructose corn syrup rather than sugar. There have been threads about that here, but the summary is that a lot of people seek out the sugar version. For example, some Costco stores import Mexican coke and sell it at a premium. Coke marked Kosher for Passover also uses sugar. Just do an advanced search here on "Coke sugar", all dates.
Jan 29, 2010 | 12:31 pm
#34
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I don't think it follows when you say the foods are not great, thus they are not globalized. In the US there are not a lot of native Spanish, Arabs, or Poles, certain concentrated areas not withstanding.
I am not Spanish, but there are few or any cuisines I consider to be superior to that of Spain.
Jan 29, 2010 | 1:33 pm
#35
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I agree that the US is able to provide a tremendous variety of cuisines adapted to the North American palate in one country. Is there some really awesome food to be had: most definitely. Is it the best? Does it really matter?
I have had some really good french food in NYC. But nothing in NYC can match a place like Taillevent and the French service. Perhaps service-wise, La Cote Basque came close..... probably the Japanese do haute french cuisine better than the Americans. That being said, there still is some excellent french food to be had in the US.
For sushi, and I will draw a distinction between Japanese food and sushi, I have found only 3 places in the US where the establishment has gotten the rice right. Megu and Sushi Yasuda in NYC and Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills -- but even then, the rice is seasoned sweeter than it would be in Japan as the North American palate when it comes to sushi rice leans more to sweet than the tart in Japan. There was a place in Singapore which got the rice a la Japanese style and that sushi experience was almost as good as in Japan and blew, so far, anything we've had in the US out of the water.
London has some really great Indian and Lebanese food. Vancouver has some great Northern Indian cuisine -- in fact, I think the standard of South, Southeast, and East Asian cuisines in Vancouver are amongst the highest outside of their respective countries.
But to a foodie like me, awesome food is awesome food -- it really doesn't matter where I eat it, as long as I get the opportunity to do so and have a great meal. Going to the US to escape the Olympics in a couple weeks and am looking forward to the food!!
I have had some really good french food in NYC. But nothing in NYC can match a place like Taillevent and the French service. Perhaps service-wise, La Cote Basque came close..... probably the Japanese do haute french cuisine better than the Americans. That being said, there still is some excellent french food to be had in the US.
For sushi, and I will draw a distinction between Japanese food and sushi, I have found only 3 places in the US where the establishment has gotten the rice right. Megu and Sushi Yasuda in NYC and Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills -- but even then, the rice is seasoned sweeter than it would be in Japan as the North American palate when it comes to sushi rice leans more to sweet than the tart in Japan. There was a place in Singapore which got the rice a la Japanese style and that sushi experience was almost as good as in Japan and blew, so far, anything we've had in the US out of the water.
London has some really great Indian and Lebanese food. Vancouver has some great Northern Indian cuisine -- in fact, I think the standard of South, Southeast, and East Asian cuisines in Vancouver are amongst the highest outside of their respective countries.
But to a foodie like me, awesome food is awesome food -- it really doesn't matter where I eat it, as long as I get the opportunity to do so and have a great meal. Going to the US to escape the Olympics in a couple weeks and am looking forward to the food!!
Jan 29, 2010 | 1:46 pm
#36
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Just curious if I'm the only one who thinks so. I do realize people from other countries frequent this board, so try not to be too offended!
Example: I swear I feel that anyone who longs for "authentic" Mexican food hasn't been to Mexico. The average hole-in-the-wall Mexican place in the U.S. is miles better to me than anything I know of there. Fresher food, better quality meat and veggies, more flavorful dishes.
How about Italian food? I will be hanged in effigy and laughed off the stage by many for this, but everything on this list was better to me than almost anything I had in Italy, in this order (again, just my opinion):
Corner pizza places in New York City, Chicago pizzerias, hell, even Papa John's & Pizza Hut were more pleasing to my palate than any I've had in Italy. And believe me I've tried plenty both here and there.
How about Mediterranean food? In the U.S. restaurants focus on things like hummus, falafel, gyros, shawarma, grape leaves, kibbeh, rice, olives and olive oil, salads with crumbles of feta -- the best part of the cuisine. We're spared the fried liver, cabbage rolls, rancid cheese, etc. in U.S. restaurants.
We like to think American food is watered down and other food "exotic". I was expecting this when I traveled new places. But repeatedly, I found myself thinking the Americanized stuff was better.
I suppose I like to think that when it comes to food, we adopt the best the world brings to us, and try to make it a little bit better. I think it's because we're free to mess with tradition a bit to make something actually taste a little better than the original.
Or maybe it's just because I'm used to American food!
(BTW, very thankful here that I've had the opportunity to travel to other places to try foreign cuisine in the first place.)
Example: I swear I feel that anyone who longs for "authentic" Mexican food hasn't been to Mexico. The average hole-in-the-wall Mexican place in the U.S. is miles better to me than anything I know of there. Fresher food, better quality meat and veggies, more flavorful dishes.
How about Italian food? I will be hanged in effigy and laughed off the stage by many for this, but everything on this list was better to me than almost anything I had in Italy, in this order (again, just my opinion):
- Mom-and-Pop Italian
- Carrabba's
- Olive Garden
- Fazoli's $3.99 spaghetti with meat sauce (try finding something edible for that price in Rome)
- a box of Mueller's and a jar of Prego
Corner pizza places in New York City, Chicago pizzerias, hell, even Papa John's & Pizza Hut were more pleasing to my palate than any I've had in Italy. And believe me I've tried plenty both here and there.
How about Mediterranean food? In the U.S. restaurants focus on things like hummus, falafel, gyros, shawarma, grape leaves, kibbeh, rice, olives and olive oil, salads with crumbles of feta -- the best part of the cuisine. We're spared the fried liver, cabbage rolls, rancid cheese, etc. in U.S. restaurants.
We like to think American food is watered down and other food "exotic". I was expecting this when I traveled new places. But repeatedly, I found myself thinking the Americanized stuff was better.
I suppose I like to think that when it comes to food, we adopt the best the world brings to us, and try to make it a little bit better. I think it's because we're free to mess with tradition a bit to make something actually taste a little better than the original.
Or maybe it's just because I'm used to American food!
(BTW, very thankful here that I've had the opportunity to travel to other places to try foreign cuisine in the first place.)
With all due respect, (really), you're either a) insane or b) have poorly calibrated tastebuds and smell. Or a combo of the two.
More than anything, I feel bad for you that you don't get the pleasure out of truly good food like many of the rest of us. Your loss, I guess.
Jan 29, 2010 | 2:31 pm
#37
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Not sure about McD's, but in most of the US, Coke uses high fructose corn syrup rather than sugar. There have been threads about that here, but the summary is that a lot of people seek out the sugar version. For example, some Costco stores import Mexican coke and sell it at a premium. Coke marked Kosher for Passover also uses sugar. Just do an advanced search here on "Coke sugar", all dates.
Now, if you want sriracha chili sauce all over your sashimi platter, or cilantro on your Spanish paella, then yes, the U.S. is the place to go. After all, everybody knows that pizza is much improved with pineapple on it and that drinks made with green tea powder are unpalatable without melon syrup.
What a shame that restaurants outside the U.S. can't get their own cuisines to taste just right...
(I just got a great laugh from this authentically American recipe for 'Valencian' paella)
Last edited by LapLap; Jan 29, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Jan 29, 2010 | 2:59 pm
#38
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I've had very good meals at many restaurants here in the US. But the overall quality of the food in many other countries is, I believe, far better. Lots of local restaurants in many small Spanish, French and Italian towns, for example, turn out food that is a quantum leap above the quality of small town restaurants in the US.
And if you thought Olive Garden, etc. were better than the food you were eating while in Italy, you were clearly eating in the wrong places over there. In many trips to Italy (and other than highway rest stops!), I can't remember any bad meals, and few that were mediocre.
There's this wood-fired brick oven pizza place right outside the entrance to Pompeii, for example, where I had the best pizza I have ever had in my life. we got to Pompeii at about 11:20, learned there was no food inside the ruins, and no in-and-out privilege allowed with a ticket, so decided we should eat first. I was not even that hungry. Yet this pizza was some magical concoction of dough, oil, sauce, cheese that I can remember well to this day.
And if you thought Olive Garden, etc. were better than the food you were eating while in Italy, you were clearly eating in the wrong places over there. In many trips to Italy (and other than highway rest stops!), I can't remember any bad meals, and few that were mediocre.
There's this wood-fired brick oven pizza place right outside the entrance to Pompeii, for example, where I had the best pizza I have ever had in my life. we got to Pompeii at about 11:20, learned there was no food inside the ruins, and no in-and-out privilege allowed with a ticket, so decided we should eat first. I was not even that hungry. Yet this pizza was some magical concoction of dough, oil, sauce, cheese that I can remember well to this day.
Jan 29, 2010 | 3:04 pm
#39
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Jan 29, 2010 | 3:27 pm
#40
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Example: I swear I feel that anyone who longs for "authentic" Mexican food hasn't been to Mexico. The average hole-in-the-wall Mexican place in the U.S. is miles better to me than anything I know of there. Fresher food, better quality meat and veggies, more flavorful dishes.
Growing up, I never liked "Mexican" food. But I discovered that when I went to Mexico, I loved the food! What I later realized is that I do like Mexican food, but what I don't like is Americanized Mexican food. So I'll enjoy a burrito at the corner taqueria, but I won't set foot in a Taco Bell.
In fact, I grew up a picky eater. On the typical menu in an American-food restaurant, only about 30% of the items appeal to me. But when I go to a place like Malaysia, about 90% of the selections look good, and I want to try everything on the menu!
So I have come to the conclusion that I am not a picky eater, I just don't like American food that much! This goes for popular American foods such as ketchup, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter sandwiches, and almost every topping on a Big Mac except for the meat itself.
I suppose there is some guy in Malaysia who is a picky eater there, but who thinks American food is just great!
Jan 29, 2010 | 3:43 pm
#41
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We have the best chain restaurants. It's easy to diss them as such, but there is something to be said for knowing that the Outback or Chili's or Waffle House near your hotel will be the same as the one back home.
We have the best ethnic restaurants. As recently as 1980 you could not get a decent Chinese meal in a town smaller than Albuquerque. Now every burg has not only Chinese food, but an all-you-can-eat Asian-fusion buffet, and also Teppan. Every interstate exit has a phỏ or a Mongolian barbecue.
Other things we Americans take for granted: 24-hour coffee shops. All-you-can-eat salad bars. Free refills. Drive-thrus. Pizza delivered nearly anywhere in 30 minutes.
I tend to take it for granted when traveling overseas that there will be the same kind of restaurant availability and value that there is here. Ain't necessarily so, for example Paris, France. Ever tried to get dinner for two for 50?
We have the best ethnic restaurants. As recently as 1980 you could not get a decent Chinese meal in a town smaller than Albuquerque. Now every burg has not only Chinese food, but an all-you-can-eat Asian-fusion buffet, and also Teppan. Every interstate exit has a phỏ or a Mongolian barbecue.
Other things we Americans take for granted: 24-hour coffee shops. All-you-can-eat salad bars. Free refills. Drive-thrus. Pizza delivered nearly anywhere in 30 minutes.
I tend to take it for granted when traveling overseas that there will be the same kind of restaurant availability and value that there is here. Ain't necessarily so, for example Paris, France. Ever tried to get dinner for two for 50?
Jan 29, 2010 | 4:11 pm
#42
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As soon as I read the words Olive Garden in the OP--I knew I had nothing in common with this person and we were never going to see eye to eye.
and IMHO Moroccan food in Morocco is worlds apart from what you find in the states.
and IMHO Moroccan food in Morocco is worlds apart from what you find in the states.
Jan 29, 2010 | 4:19 pm
#43
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I'm sure you do.
Classy
Mongolian food apparently consists of meat and milk - not much else. Mongolian restaurants have nothing to do with Mongolian food at all. Have just come back from Việt Nam and phở is just ordinary breakfast fare served instantly at every street stand you come across. I wouldn't make a case for the greatness of US cuisine based on phở.
Now every burg has not only Chinese food, but an all-you-can-eat Asian-fusion buffet
Every interstate exit has a phỏ or a Mongolian barbecue.
Jan 29, 2010 | 5:17 pm
#45
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There's this wood-fired brick oven pizza place right outside the entrance to Pompeii, for example, where I had the best pizza I have ever had in my life. we got to Pompeii at about 11:20, learned there was no food inside the ruins, and no in-and-out privilege allowed with a ticket, so decided we should eat first. I was not even that hungry. Yet this pizza was some magical concoction of dough, oil, sauce, cheese that I can remember well to this day.
