Posted on 04/11/2016 11:15:10 AM PDT by TigerClaws
Recently, we started a conversation about food and race. Specifically, we wondered out loud, who gets to cook — and become the face of — a culture's cuisine?
Our question was prompted by a recent Sporkful interview with Rick Bayless, who has faced criticism over his long career. Although he is an Oklahoman with no Mexican ancestry, he has become one of the most prominent ambassadors for Mexican cuisine in America. Rick Bayless is a master of Mexican cuisine. He's also a white guy from Oklahoma. Over the years, that has made him the target of criticism. Who gets to be the ambassador of a cuisine? The Salt When Chefs Become Famous Cooking Other Cultures' Food
To be clear, this isn't about Bayless. (Though the acclaimed chef did hop into the comments section to weigh in.) The question of who gets credit for a cuisine — and how they are compensated and feted — is one that comes up again and again in the food world. We asked readers to weigh in with their feelings about this squishy topic.
As with many things involving race and class in America, there are no easy answers — and we're not expecting to find any clear-cut ones. We're more interested in starting a conversation.
Here's some of what we heard from you.
On one hand, many of you pointed out that cooking the cuisine of other cultures is a tangible way to connect. That's part of what makes America a literal as well as figurative melting pot.
Irish immigrants to the U.S. got corned beef from Jewish immigrants. European Jews adopted food from European neighbors. Etc. etc.
You got poned!
How does a culture “own” it’s own cuisine. Should whites take back the hamburger or cry racist when someone eats a sandwich?
“But would ou eat pasta in an Italian restaurant if there were a bunch of Swedes in the kitchen.”
My younger brother’s advice: “Never order a South Louisiana seafood dish in an Italian restaurant because everything tastes like spaghettis sauce!” LOL
whatever sort of excruciating minutia the left can banter about when it comes to race and gender.
We’re all Gods children, unless you try to cook food not originally from your background, then there’s a problem.
So g0ddam f@cking stupid it makes Seinfeld look like ‘normal behavior’.
When Is It OK To Profit From Cooking Other Cultures’ Food?
Simple: In America, anytime one wishes...Open a restaurant, cook any cuisine you like, people will eat there or not, as they wish...They will vote for or against you and your food with their feet and dollars...Be prepared to go “tits up” as do most new restaurant ventures...Hey, it’s your/your investors’ money...
We used to call that a “Free Enterprise/Free Market” for all you progressive dolts at NPR...
Liberals tell us cultures are racist. Saying, “Chinese food” is racist.
Don't you love trick questions? It's OK the exact moment you figure out how to sell it to enough customers to turn a profit.
Always. Pussies.
I do not use crisco either, but have found Spectrum’s palm oil shortening (non-hydrogenated) to be a great substitute for recipes that require shortening rather than butter. For me, it’s really just one recipe:my mom made the best molasses cookies and butter doesn’t work.
Now that will depend on if it’s battered and deep fat fried or covered in an eggy bearnaise sauce.
The PC thugs would have Julia Child horsewhipped posthumously, if they could.
By the way, who invented political correctness? Is it OK to invoke political correctness if you're of a different race, gender, or nationality of the inventor? What if you're a fan of a different baseball team?
> If your wife wants to freepmail me her recipe for the broth, this male caucasian would be ecstatic.
My daughter has been trying to get my wife to write down her pho recipe for the last 20+ years. I do know she simmers the broth with the beef bones and some spices overnight in a big 8 or 10 quart pot. The rice noodles come from the local Asian store. The sliced shallots and other greens go in just before it is served.
By leftists’ criteria, races must have equal outcomes. You can’t socially engineer that result by being color blind.
[It figures this would be idiots from NPR]
They are a special group of idiots. I can’t believe there are people that listen to NPR.
But then, I can’t believe there are people that follow the Kartrashians, either.....
What a load of horse crap.
Any time you can get someone to pay you sufficient to cover your costs plus the value of your time and effort.
Yes, if they could cook like an Italian.
Anytime
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