Italian/ Mexican in America/ Germany

Culture, Media, General Culture, Chains, General Discussions
81

Thanks for your personal recs. That’s important info.

In terms of the dumping…. I want to know what people love and what they don’t. I for one do not want them to hold back. Be passionate, yes, that’s what makes any food discussion worthwhile,

The only exclusion I make is that I do not participate on a food discussion board to talk about McDonald’s, etc. It’s cheap and ubiquitous enough that I can judge for myself. But if I am going out of my way, then yes I want vigorous input of the many knowledgeable folks on this board.

82

And right there, you described personal preference for foods in a nut shell.

I don’t care for FF. That is neither snobbery, nor being judgmental — it is but my personal preference about the food I put in my mouf.

I neither feel superior for not liking it, nor do I “look down on” people for doing so. If anyone feels judged or inferior by other people’s likes or dislikes of food, well… that’s pretty much on them.

The end.

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83

Very well said. It is not a judgement on other people. Don’t like my favorite movie or book, fine. Have your say all you want. But without an alternative viewpoint, I probably won’t learn much.

Some of the distinctions being made are a case of nomenclature. Chinese-American food vs Chinese food for example. That would clear up a lot of arguments.

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84

But I only love Taco Bell and Olive Garden or at least in your opined view dupes of those two

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85

To be clear do you mean New York American Taco Ball or California American Taco Bell?

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86

Other than the Doritos locos taco supreme at Taco Bell, I prefer Del Taco. The Rocky Mountain variety.

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87

Both I am a Taco Bell non discriminator!

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88

(post deleted by author)

89

We have two “new” threads now with almost identical discussions?

90

I remember you mentioning it before. We’ll be situated in Xberg this summer, with lots of regional Italian places to check out. But we also spend a lot of timing dining at our old stomping ground, Prenzlauer Berg, so maybe we’ll finally check it out :slight_smile:

I’m just bummed both Centro markets are an absolute haul from our pad :frowning:

91

seems a bit of the discussion revolves around “chain” eateries . . .
which, depending on country, , , is really a not possible discussion.

living in Germany, late 80’s, there were no chain names except McDonalds.
NordSee was a basic kiosk type street-food eatery.
WienerWald was, as I recall, the only ‘sit down’ but go fetch your own tray . . .type eatery. WienerWald dates back into the 60’s . . . been there then, done that . . .

in the US, places like Olive Garden are not really “Italian” food - they specialize in only the stuff Sysco/et al supplies. just as you’re exceedingly unlikely to encounter a home made style pancake or waffle at iHop. or anything original at (now defunct) Howard Johnson’s.

the ‘chain mentality’ has not penetrated Europe (as a generality) like the US, imho.
Germany/France/Austria/Italy/Denmark/Netherlands/Sweden . . . in my limited experience still thrive with independent / family owned restos - and they make stuff ala them - which is sometimes absolutely outstanding . . . . and sometimes quite mediocre. and wearing an “Italian” / et.al. ‘label’ is really quite unrelated.

we have a few locally owned/operated/kitchened places.
one ‘specializes’ in Italian dishes. good but ‘limited’ stufff
one is a farm-to-table / organic focus - best beef tartar with many many miles . . .
some independent “American classic” focus abounds - breaded/deep fried (anything fish) + burgers + steaks . . . those places generally don’t serve up ‘microwaved Sysco entrees’ - but cook ‘from scratch’ as is reasonable possible.

any home cook that has immersed themself in sauces/gravies . . . clearly understands the effort skill and experience to make those ‘things’ be outstanding.
not of (all that) late . . . I’ve gone to serious efforts at “eggs Benedict” - and that is not something one ‘nails’ on the first attempt. but, I have gotten much better at making the sauce and ‘the timing thang’ - to the point DW says mine are better than xxxx places.

the bottom line, methinks: chains/Sysco restos will never ever approach the delect-abilty
of owner/operated, do-it-right-from-scratch, eateries.
sigh . . . some excel, some muddle thru.
there are local (higher end/scratch) places we tried, , , just not going back…

92

Not sure which part of Germany you lived in the 80’s but up north we had McD, Burger King, Nordsee (which were mainly sit down places), Pizza Hut, Cafe Moe and Tchibo (mainly coffee focused but also with some food) - obviously chain restaurants weren’t (and still aren’t) as prevalent as in the US but they started to be more recognizable in the cities, especially compared to the 70’s

93

This thread … reminds of what my dissertation advisor used to say.

Generalizations promise clarity, but usually deliver distortion.

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94

I’m late to this, but yeah. the adjustment to tastebuds argument is weird when it comes to foodways that have been familiar for decades if not longer (and really, in Europe the ability of travel between nations is just easier for so many reasons-- this means familiarity might be greater, even if that doesn’t affect tastebuds in particular). I hope I’m making sense but I think that Italian food in Germany v the US discussion made me feel like reason didn’t exist. I didn’t understand how what was coming at you was a legitimate argument.

Meanwhile, in my experience:
I’ve had some excellent Italian food here in Edinburgh. I am lucky enough to stay near a constellation of a restaurant, pizza restaurant (Neapolitan both) and a grocers that gives the good stuff. There are also places that are mediocre.

The amount of options (which also include gelaterias/ice cream shops) is courtesy of some major immigration waves (that gave us Peter Capaldi and Armando Iannucci amongst others).

I’ve had excellent and ok Italian food in the US (with enormous variation of region or what is considered Italian) and in Italy. I probably have elsewhere as well, but for the most part I don’t eat that much Italian food in restaurants (although have things from the shops) so I don’t even know why I’m weighing in, except that I started writing and now think I’ll just hit reply.

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95

as they say . . . in Bayern things go differently . . . (g)

96

Looks like we’ll never get to the bottom of how German tastebuds differ from Italian tastebuds :wink:

That’s quite alright, since the whole convo went in a circle, and then a lemniscate.

97

I’ve had good, authentic Mexican food in Corinth, Mississippi (pop. 14,000). I’ve absolutely superb Mexican food in many places in the US outside of California, such as Chicago, Houston, Brownsville, Santa Fe, St. Louis, Nashville, Tucson, and Phoenix (just off the top of my head).

The spread of excellent Mexican food throughout America is really a remarkable story of the diversification of America’s cuisine. I was on my honeymoon in 1973 in Memphis when I first ate in a Mexican restaurant, they barely existed in the Deep South. Today, only the tiniest town will not have a Mexican restaurant, usually run by immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, or Salvador.

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98

Ive only been in Athens once since I was a teen (when I was seeing Jefferson Airplane in Cols) - its a beautiful town and we found a chill place to have a burger and a craft beer for my husband - I am sure some diversity has crept in there as it has all through the region, but we did not explore it.

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99

I believe, though cannot prove, if you ask an average American what their favorite Mexican food is, they will name an item that is also listed on a Chi Chi’s menu.

100

Tacos? Almost 5 billion are eaten every year in The United States.

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