Writer's Block: Dinner's on me
Apr. 24th, 2010 04:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Frankly I have way more fun breaking stereotypes about my culture and its cuisine than trying to create or reinforce them by attempting to choose representative samples. I'm actually in the daily position not of serving ambassadors American cuisine, but showing Japanese schoolchildren What Americans Eat by bringing a bento to school every day-- and I've never showed up with a hamburger or pizza or otherwise stereotypical food item. (I mean, part of that is that my lunch is always cold-- but still!). Sometimes I bring something like a sandwich or bacon or potato salads that are pretty *American* I guess, but I also love to bring things like rice and grilled fish and listening for the students' (and teachers'!) cries of awe when I prove completely adept at chopsticks. (Plus I honestly just like grilled fish more than sandwiches-- and they should know that there are Americans for whom this is the case, even if they have trouble believing it).
It's a great opportunity to explain that Asian cooking has a place in American culture, and that most Americans-- not just Asian-Americans-- can use chopsticks these days as Asian cuisines become increasingly popular. Sometimes we get on the subject how our countries adopt and change borrowed foods, such as Americanized Chinese food and the ever-popular American California and Philly Rolls-- the idea of which makes most Japanese gag-- and how hambaagu and omuraisu may sound like something borrowed but are in fact indigenous Japanese adaptations of Western dishes.
I find this way more productive (and correct!) than the divisive and overly-simplistic "You eat sushi; we eat hamburgers." I mean, how many days I have brought leftover sukiyaki to eat while the kids chow down on borrowed croquettes and a baguette? Modern nations are not so exclusive with their cuisine as we like to believe; we're all learning to share.
So chances are I'd say to the ambassador, "Well, surely you know McDonald's is popular here . . . " before taking them out to a high-class fusion restaurant. American culture is, at its heart, the coming together of diverse cultures which, when combined, create an entirely different culture all its own. I think experimental fusion cuisine represents this best, and perhaps a gourmet restaurant in, say, New Orleans (which could also infuse totally indigenous elements like Creole into the other ethnic tastes) would be the best metaphor-- and also be likely to appeal to his palate, since there is inherently more possible variety when it comes to fusion cuisine.
Plus he's an ambassador for Chrissakes. Do you really think I'm going to buy him fast food?
Edit (4:56 pm): In regards to my song choice, I must note that you are wrong, Tom Chapin, when you say "Did you know sushi is a piece of raw fish?" Kappamaki, tamagoyaki nigiri, and other vegetable and even some fish makizushi do not necessarily contain raw fish. Even at the age I listened to his tape (mid-elementary school?) I knew that and it always bothered me.
Frankly I have way more fun breaking stereotypes about my culture and its cuisine than trying to create or reinforce them by attempting to choose representative samples. I'm actually in the daily position not of serving ambassadors American cuisine, but showing Japanese schoolchildren What Americans Eat by bringing a bento to school every day-- and I've never showed up with a hamburger or pizza or otherwise stereotypical food item. (I mean, part of that is that my lunch is always cold-- but still!). Sometimes I bring something like a sandwich or bacon or potato salads that are pretty *American* I guess, but I also love to bring things like rice and grilled fish and listening for the students' (and teachers'!) cries of awe when I prove completely adept at chopsticks. (Plus I honestly just like grilled fish more than sandwiches-- and they should know that there are Americans for whom this is the case, even if they have trouble believing it).
It's a great opportunity to explain that Asian cooking has a place in American culture, and that most Americans-- not just Asian-Americans-- can use chopsticks these days as Asian cuisines become increasingly popular. Sometimes we get on the subject how our countries adopt and change borrowed foods, such as Americanized Chinese food and the ever-popular American California and Philly Rolls-- the idea of which makes most Japanese gag-- and how hambaagu and omuraisu may sound like something borrowed but are in fact indigenous Japanese adaptations of Western dishes.
I find this way more productive (and correct!) than the divisive and overly-simplistic "You eat sushi; we eat hamburgers." I mean, how many days I have brought leftover sukiyaki to eat while the kids chow down on borrowed croquettes and a baguette? Modern nations are not so exclusive with their cuisine as we like to believe; we're all learning to share.
So chances are I'd say to the ambassador, "Well, surely you know McDonald's is popular here . . . " before taking them out to a high-class fusion restaurant. American culture is, at its heart, the coming together of diverse cultures which, when combined, create an entirely different culture all its own. I think experimental fusion cuisine represents this best, and perhaps a gourmet restaurant in, say, New Orleans (which could also infuse totally indigenous elements like Creole into the other ethnic tastes) would be the best metaphor-- and also be likely to appeal to his palate, since there is inherently more possible variety when it comes to fusion cuisine.
Plus he's an ambassador for Chrissakes. Do you really think I'm going to buy him fast food?
Edit (4:56 pm): In regards to my song choice, I must note that you are wrong, Tom Chapin, when you say "Did you know sushi is a piece of raw fish?" Kappamaki, tamagoyaki nigiri, and other vegetable and even some fish makizushi do not necessarily contain raw fish. Even at the age I listened to his tape (mid-elementary school?) I knew that and it always bothered me.
