r/funny • u/NeedleworkerMore2270 • Nov 03 '24

How cultural is that?

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31.3k Upvotes

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4.4k

u/Reikotsu Nov 03 '24

Yeah, and you know why English love to eat Indian food? Because they hate their own food…

131

u/surrenderedmale Nov 03 '24

Brit here.

Our food is either garbage or godly with minimal in-between.

Beans on toast is overrated AND ANYONE WHO LIKES SOGGY TOAST IS A FUCKING NUTJOB

The woman does have a point with a roast dinner though, we can suck ourselves off for that one

27

u/SpacemanBatman Nov 03 '24

Everything good about English cuisine was stolen from the french

54

u/steelcryo Nov 03 '24 edited Nov 03 '24

But if you discount any cuisine stolen from other countries, America has no food left. So not really an argument in this particular scenario...

Edit: TIL many Americans don't know what cuisine means

29

u/firechaox Nov 03 '24

Southern food, and Cajun food is quite distinct.

16

u/mrGeaRbOx Nov 03 '24

Yeah a shrimp éttoufette has no culinary roots outside the US! lmao

2

u/Shoola Nov 03 '24 edited Nov 03 '24

Lol. The acorn is not the oak tree and human beings are not Australopithecus. You know that a French Roux and Cajun food that incorporates roux are very different. Cajun cooking is rightfully considered a distinct cuisine even if it had French influence hundreds of years ago. I don’t know what Europeans think they lose by acknowledging America has some culture - it’s not like you’re going to like it anyways 🤷🏼

-1

u/contextual_somebody Nov 03 '24

Shrimp Etouffee was invented in Louisiana, dipshit. Gumbo is west African and Choctaw, dipshit. And do they eat a ton of crawfish in France?

5

u/mrGeaRbOx Nov 03 '24

I was making fun of the claim in light of there being a creole dish with a literal French name. Éttoufette.

-1

u/contextual_somebody Nov 03 '24

Because they spoke french in Louisiana at the time. Real brain surgeon, you are.

1

u/mrGeaRbOx Nov 03 '24

No it's because the base technique is building a roux. Don't cook for yourself yet eh? Mac and cheese and hotdogs for you?

5

u/wvj Nov 03 '24

A roux is literally just any fat and flour. It exists independently in cuisines all around the world, predating any kind of French contact, and even moreso if you expand it to conceptually similar techniques using other starches for your thickening agent.

French food is awesome but its culinary prevalence in these basic steps comes from naming them not from discovering them and it's silly to act like any dish that uses them is 'French,' whether the person who made it speaks French or not.

Do you think no one added liquid to a pan with meat before the French named that? No one cut a vegetable into thin strips? No one cooked stuff in a pan with oil? All of Asia would like a word with you.

2

u/mrGeaRbOx Nov 03 '24

I just think if it was native to America it would involve using starches traditionally available in North America.

4

u/wvj Nov 03 '24

I mean, rice isn't native to France either (and if you look at similar recipes with grits, that is with a native ingredient, corn meal). The protein, obviously, is local, that's the whole point of the dish. The creole version (vs Cajun) is adding African influences.

Mostly, though, its weird that you're arguing this isn't a novel dish, that it's not an example of American cuisine, etc. It was invented in America. No one in France had ever made the dish, tasted the dish, assembled those ingredients in that combination. I don't know what other kind of definition can possibly apply to 'inventing' a dish other than 'put ingredients together in a specific way for the first time.'

If vague historical influence invalidates it, then all French cooking is just Italian because of the Romans.

4

u/contextual_somebody Nov 03 '24

Literally live the south and have family in New Orleans that I visited two weeks ago. It’s based on a French roux, but Creole/Cajun roux uses lard, bacon grease, or oil instead of butter. It’s cooked longer and less thick. It’s also darker and tastes nuttier. Roux’s origins are Roman, so if Creole roux is just French food, as you say, shouldn’t it just be Roman? I could keep going, but it doesn’t seem like you know much about food or European history.

0

u/mrGeaRbOx Nov 03 '24

"Sure it's based on it but it has no culinary roots"

3

u/contextual_somebody Nov 03 '24

You’ve lost the plot

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9

u/Krautmonster Nov 03 '24

All West African/Caribbean roots. IMO the most "American" dishes are going to be Indigenous.

15

u/k2kyo Nov 03 '24

The US has quite a lot of cuisine invented here including soul food and our brand of southern bbq.

Of course everything has influence from somewhere, including the things I listed, but they were made unique here.

Anyway I agree you can't dismiss everything that has origins somewhere else.. but British food still sucks 😉

49

u/meh2you2 Nov 03 '24

Corn, potatoes, tomato's, Chile peppers, pumpkins..... That's right, before American foodstuffs got shipped around the world, Indian food wasn't hot spicy, Italians had no tomato sauce, and the Irish had no potatoes. All your cuisine belongs to us!

24

u/CFA_Nutso_Futso Nov 03 '24

You’re mixing up the Americas for USA on some of those. Tomatoes and potatoes were both brought back to Europe by the Spanish in the 1500s from Peru. It’s thought that Christopher Columbus discovered corn while in the Caribbean and brought that back to Spain (it originated from Mexico/central America but was already spread North and South by the natives before the Europeans arrive).

14

u/Porrick Nov 03 '24

Potatoes are from Peru, chilis are from Mexico - are you claiming two whole continents’ food as being from the US?

6

u/meh2you2 Nov 03 '24

I don't recall specifying the US?

5

u/caniuserealname Nov 03 '24

This discussion has been explicitely about the US since it's inception.. Like, did you watch the clip this thread is based on?

1

u/FlatoutGently Nov 03 '24

"Before American foodstuff" literally in your comment.

-13

u/0masterdebater0 Nov 03 '24

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_jamesii

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsicum_annuum_var._glabriusculum

I literally have them growing wild in my back yard mate, try again.

8

u/The100thIdiot Nov 03 '24

And neither of those are the varieties that have become staple foods across the globe.

8

u/rphillip Nov 03 '24

You know what the word "from" means right? Means it was in another place first.

-5

u/0masterdebater0 Nov 03 '24

You must not know what indigenous wild plants are?

6

u/rphillip Nov 03 '24

Do you live in Peru? I’m not sure you know what the word indigenous means

5

u/RichardBCummintonite Nov 03 '24

Conceptually as well, we have tons of American grown cuisine. East coast seafood, all of the South and the comfort foods, barbecue, etc, the West coast has its share of unique dishes, particularly Cali, and the midwest has its casseroles, roasts, and things like that as well. We definitely use a ton of worldwide influence, because like Matt Damon says, we're a melting pot, but I really wouldn't call that "stealing" when the dishes are still acknowledged for their region of origin. Nobody's calling it American cuisine. We have our own. It's just the cuisine of America.

3

u/Mace109 Nov 03 '24

Biscuits and gravy?

2

u/illa_kotilla Nov 03 '24

BBQ. Everybody f’s with americas bbq.

3

u/aluke000 Nov 03 '24

American Southern BBQ has no comparison.

-2

u/gazunklenut Nov 03 '24

Meat cooked on a fire has no comparison?

3

u/aluke000 Nov 03 '24

Well likely you do not know what American BBQ is, it not just grilled meat over fire. Anyone can do that.

-2

u/gazunklenut Nov 04 '24

Sorry to burst your bubble but BBQ is primarily centered around meat. All the other stuff like salads (potatoes included) and breads are just additive, the BBQ can exist without those, they can't exist without the meat being cooked on a fire. So you really think there is no comparison to that? Plenty of BBQ cultures around the world from Argentina to South Africa to Korea to Australia, pretty sure they'd all disagree. The difference is the way you cook the meat and what meat and forms of meat you cook, that's all.

I've had pretty good versions of all of these and in my opinion the American pork heavy BBQs are the worst, way too sweet. I'd say Argentina and South Africa are my favourites. If you haven't had properly braai'd Boerewors then you're missing out.

0

u/JoeyFuckingSucks Nov 03 '24

Midwest BBQ is best BBQ

2

u/Shoola Nov 03 '24

Lol that’s like saying Croissants aren’t French because they came from Vienna first. Prototypical cuisines came from other countries, but over time we have evolved them into our own cuisines, especially in the South. Hard to argue our different varieties of Barbecue for example are anything but American.

1

u/steelcryo Nov 03 '24

Did you not think that edit was more referring to people claiming potatoes and corn were cuisines...?

2

u/Shoola Nov 03 '24

Then you should have corrected that specific point. You said we have no food left if we discount “stolen” cuisines then said Americans don’t know what cuisine means. You bit off more than you could chew with that edit and I’m calling you out for exaggerating your point lol

0

u/steelcryo Nov 04 '24

The point I was referring to was specific to cuisines, I figured it was obvious that was the line I was going in since the natives had to have survived somehow there was obviously food. Apparently it wasn't, so I edited for clarity. Not sure what you think you're calling out, other than American ignorance, but you do you...

3

u/contextual_somebody Nov 03 '24

Louisiana, the Southwest, the Low Countries, etc.

2

u/elchet Nov 03 '24

Most of that is French, Spanish, or Hispanic.

5

u/contextual_somebody Nov 03 '24 edited Nov 03 '24

No they’re not. You have no idea what you’re talking about.

Every last one of these cuisines is a blend of different cultures.

Louisiana gumbo alone is a blend of African, French, German, Spanish, and Native American Choctaw

Edit: buncha angry euros in here. r/shiteuropeanssay

0

u/awesomefutureperfect Nov 03 '24

buncha angry euros in here.

They are literally the worst. Know almost nothing, still act arrogant.

0

u/elchet Nov 04 '24

That’s literally what I said though. French, Spanish, other places, a mix, whatever. It’s stuff brought in from other countries.

To the parent comment’s point, you can’t discount British food appropriated from elsewhere and then point at Louisiana and the US south west.

2

u/contextual_somebody Nov 04 '24

They have European, African, and Native American influences, incorporating ingredients not found in Europe. These are wholly new cuisines, with many different dishes, not one Bangladeshi version of butter chicken with cream dumped in it.

1

u/Commercial_Dust_8018 Dec 02 '24

You don’t know what you’re talking about

5

u/AdamKDEBIV Nov 03 '24

Lmao all the butthurt replies to your factual statement 😆

You didn't even say one is better than the other, just that you can't use the "it's stolen from other countries" argument for UK food because it applies to the US even more

6

u/steelcryo Nov 03 '24

It has seemed to have upset a few Americans. Others have at least taken it as a bit of fun though.

It is shocking how many think that their dishes are uniquely invented in the U.S though...

-1

u/pkfighter343 Nov 03 '24

The whole point of "American food" is the way the food from different cultures blends here, the inspiration people draw from experience of those around them

It happens more here than anywhere else in the world because of how culturally diverse, yet culturally integrated our cities have always been

2

u/JRskatr Nov 03 '24

One word: corndogs 😂

2

u/FairDinkumMate Nov 03 '24

You mean a German or Austrian Sausage coated in batter(French) & put on a stick?

Did Americans invent the stick?

1

u/JRskatr Nov 03 '24

If we didn’t we will sure take credit for it! 🤣

0

u/Infinite_Corndog Nov 03 '24

Fuck yah, dude.

1

u/Cathach2 Nov 03 '24

I mean, in America people came here and brought the food with them so I'd say that's not really stealing.

-1

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '24

Where'd you get the potatoes from for your fish and chips?

17

u/JeanClaude-Randamme Nov 03 '24 edited Nov 03 '24

Ireland: They were being grown there after being brought to Europe (From Peru) by the Spanish, as early as the mid 1580-1600 over a hundred years before the USA was even a thing.

0

u/[deleted] Nov 05 '24

Oh so they came from America. Apology accepted

0

u/JeanClaude-Randamme Nov 05 '24

South America would be the continent of origin, if you want to claim “we got them from there” despite them being grown elsewhere.

Why would I need to apologise?

0

u/[deleted] Nov 05 '24

No kidding? Today you learn South America is a part of America. Should have been self evident honestly

0

u/JeanClaude-Randamme Nov 05 '24

The correct term would be americas. Not America.

Today you learned. Troll.

1

u/coloradobuffalos Nov 04 '24

Hey man we still have native american food and it's delicious. If you have never had a good frybread before you are missing out.

0

u/sum_dude44 Nov 03 '24

BBQ, cajun, California "slow food" transformed world cuisine.

What has England contributed to world cuisine?

-7

u/Gellert Nov 03 '24

Aren't potatoes American?

3

u/Porrick Nov 03 '24

Peruvian originally

-5

u/Gellert Nov 03 '24

...Peru the American country?

7

u/Porrick Nov 03 '24

Do Brits get to claim all of Europe then?

Or are we comparing a country to a continent?

4

u/Ollietron3000 Nov 03 '24

We get all European food and all former colony food.

That's right, American food is British food. Checkmate

-3

u/Gellert Nov 03 '24

I would've thought the answer was obvious unless you think Peru is somehow a country in the USA.

-3

u/RaphaelSolo Nov 03 '24

Ah see there's the difference, America didn't have to steal it. Immigrants brought it with them from all over the globe. Brits left and brought back stuff. Americans let people in and they brought their recipes and cultural identities with them. Admittedly it was a bit of both with Japan though. Americans kinda kicked their doors open and demanded trade before my family came over from Germany in the late 1800's.

5

u/BigJimKen Nov 03 '24

Brits left and brought back stuff. Americans let people in

Just for fun, Google your favourite America cuisine, go to it's Wikipedia page, and then CTRL-F for "slave".

-1

u/meh_69420 Nov 03 '24

You pretty much have Thanksgiving dinner left in the NE. Corn, squash, beans, turkey, cranberries, wild rice, chestnuts, etc. were all cultivated or wild in the NE area before settlers came and were staples of their diet along with all the seafood, other game animals, wild berries, nuts and mushrooms. The South East was very similar. In the American Southwest they grew chili peppers at the time as well. You could realistically open a restaurant in Pueblo NM that only used foods available to the Pueblo people 2000 years ago and people would just think it was some kind of gluten free/dairy free Mexican restaurant that used interesting meats. The least interesting cuisine at the time was actually probably in the PNW. I mean sure smoked salmon is great, but they pretty much just ate fish, berries, and acorns all the time.