It’s funny how we think of the stuff we eat. The way we classify many foods in the U.S. is by its supposed ethnic background, it’s even ingrained in the way we dine. Think about it, what are you in the mood for? French, Italian, Greek, Indian… we see a dish, we catalog its ingredients, and we assign a country of origin to it. What is funniest about this to me is that the foods we often associate with foreign countries are really more about America than anywhere else.
Still, the most ordered Indian dish at restaurants is chicken tikka masala, a British dish in actuality, more inspired by Londoners missing a bit of spice while at home, away from their Indian occupation. Walk into any restaurant in China, you’ll not find a drop of General Tso’s Chicken. And pepperoni pizza, it’s about as American to most Italians as cheeseburgers and apple pie.
Why should deli be any different?
The question begs to be answered, “Can Pastrami Conquer the Palate in the Land of Hummus and Falafel?” But, the question really is, can the American version of a culture’s cuisine actually be accepted by the culture itself? A recent restaurant review attempts to answer the question. The review of Ruben, dubbed as Israel’s first authentic Jewish deli, shows that reverse stereotypes may sometimes be applicable. While it might be surprising that it took over 60 years for the county to boast its first deli, most customers at Ruben are still completely unaware of their supposed ethnic roots in the food they’re eating… Like giving a Japanese man a California Roll for the first time. It’s like opening Mexico’s first Taco Bell..
“This was inspired by me?”
“Yeah, enjoy your $.99 chalupa”
-bryan
Crazy foodie world we live in.
Leave A Comment