Underrepresented national cuisines in the SFBA

I take no pleasure of seeing Syrian families uprooted and lose everything, and feel somewhat guilty as a food-loving person that we are benefiting indirectly from their misery. But if they are going to start over, I’d hope they find Bay Area a good place to do so. Toronto started seeing Syrian food in the last year or so since the upheaval in Syria started, and there is a fairly large number of refugees settling there. Bay Area, on the other hand, sees a very small number. I wish them luck.

4 Likes

Augie’s Montreal Deli in Berkeley

UK food is definitely underrepresented

Back A Yard, with locations in San Jose and Menlo Park

1 Like

That reminds me of @geo12the’s report of:
St. Lucia: Ruthie’s Caribbean Kitchen

Some of the other Caribbean restaurants I wasn’t even sure which islands they are from. Like Cariblue in Redwood City.

2 Likes

Cross-posted this article in the Food Media thread about Syrian food and the emotions of refugees that was posted in The Atlantic a few days ago:

2 Likes

At one time were UK foods better represented in the Bay Area, and do any restaurants here serve more contemporary UK foods (whatever that may be—- the Guardian has one of the best food sections I can think of, definitely so for vegetarian friendly food)

There are strains of UK foods available—- some tea rooms might be noteworthy. Other than that, it’s pub foods, mostly common stuff—— shepherds pie, fish and chips, pot pie, bangers and mash, or foods integrated into American cuisine. Are there any UK restaurants or bakeries that expats are fond of? (If we’re talking British Isles, I think there are enough Irish bakeries and pubs to exceed the 6 location maximum for inclusion in this list).

Considering how many British descendants and British influence of this country, British Isle foods are simply “underrepresented” compared to Italian, French, Japanese, Chinese…etc. :grin:

It may be because British food isn’t as good as those other cuisines. Just a guess. :wink:

1 Like

Most of our Brit ancestors arrived here in the 17th Century. I for one do not long for the cuisine of 1640.

image

:sob:

Somehow modern British food didn’t make it across the pond. I will gladly eat those.

Unlike burgers, Californian cuisine never makes it to Europe either.

1 Like

37Canada - smokes poutinerie , Beauty bagels

If this is Canadian, fuggedaboudit…

Greetings from a New Yorker! Love this post, don’t mind me adding. Several more up my sleeve (esp. regarding regional Indian cuisine), so hmu if anyone’s down to grab dinner sometime.

Armenia - La Mediteranee
Argentina - el Porteño
Australia - Australian products Co
Bhutan - Himalayan Flavors (berkeley, has Ema Datsi)
Bolivia - Pena pachamama (raw/live food, vegan)
Cambodia - Braised + Bread has num pang
Fiji - Fiji Sweets (Hayward)
Hungary - paprika, crixa cakes, 20th century cafe
Iceland - Katy’s Kreek
Saudi - Dish-dash, San Jose
Moldova - New World Market has Vertuta
Uk - crown & crumpet, you say tomato
Uruguay - lolinda has chivito

4 Likes

Welcome to HO! An epic first post! Do you live here for good now?

I had thought Dish Dash (at least the one in Sunnyvale) was run by Lebanese. Are they actually Saudis?

Oh, We should talk about regional Indian. At some point I was thinking about pulling a @Hyperbowler and do a Regional Indian discussion

But never got around to it. But I must say there is a wealth of regional Indian, especially in the South Bay. So please feel free to start such a discussion! Separately I still need to get around to posting about Annachikadai, the thali on banana leaf place in Mountain View.

1 Like

Well @Yimster reported here that CWD is no longer Fijian:

Nice contribution, but with one quibble: I wonder if making fish and chips with Icelandic haddock makes a restaurant Icelandic.

These are great, thank you! Have you found anything here that you haven’t found in New York?

I will try to check out Fiji sweets soon.

How is the food at Paprika?

How did I miss Armenia? I believe Royal Market is Armenian owned too. Considering our proximity to Fresno, it’s surprising to have so few Armenian restaurants.

I was surprised to find more than six Argentina and Cambodia restaurants, which is why I hadn’t included those in the original post.

HForgive me if I mess up with the interface… new to this!

But yeah, I’ll be living in SF for the next 4-5 months :slight_smile:

That’s right re: Dish-Dash; that said they have dishes that tend to transcend boundaries, like Mansaf. If you want strictly Saudi fare, here’s a feastly event you may want to check out: https://eatfeastly.com/meals/d/191385328/the-real-middle-eastsaudi/?rf=fwebbrowpopu

2 Likes

I’m definitely grabbing for straws here, but they also have Icelandic pancakes and ale I believe. You may have better luck with Icelandic groceries at Nordic House in Berkeley perhaps.

1 Like