Chinese food...

[chas]

Being a geek, I've been out with a lot of Chinese folks to restaurants they like, and on a few occasions, someone's ordered from the "real Chinese" menu. The dishes from the authentic menu weren't that different from what one gets at the "better" Chinese restaurants. They're heavier on the vegetables and are more boldly spiced -- the hot dishes are hotter; there's more ginger and garlic; and more soy sauce and less sugar and cornstarch in the dark sauces.

Interestingly, I was out with someone from southern China to a Thai place, and she said it was just like Chinese food. This wasn't a place heavy on coconut milk and lemongrass, though.

[mutepointe]

Oh, this makes me wonder what is passing for American fare in other countries. Wonder what they're doing with apple pie?

[dwest]

Oh, this makes me wonder what is passing for American fare in other countries. Wonder what they're doing with apple pie?

We should ask the English and Dutch if they like what Americans have done to their apple pi.

[fearfaoin]

As an engineer, I've had many coworkers who
hailed from various Asian locals. In the days
when Chinese engineers were more common
than those from India, our breakroom microwave
was redolent of fish everyday by 1pm (so much
so that there was a movement for a fish-free
microwave).

Also, a friend fresh from a trip to Hong Kong
reports that miniature octopus was a popular
topping on a pizza. He brought back a Pizza Hut
ad that looked like this:


So, my takeaway is that seafood is popular
among the Chinese (at least those in the eastern
part near the ocean).

...and a side of fries with gravy.

That's one thing I never got about Maryland.
"Why is there gravy on these fries?
Did I suddenly teleport to Canada?"

[mutepointe]

Gravy on fries is good. Have you ever heard of mashed potatoes and gravy? Whenever I ordere fries with gravy here in Southern WV, the waitress always comes back to ask me what kind of gravy I want, sausage, chicken, or beef. Sausage gravy is big down here.

[Nanohedron]

Also, a friend fresh from a trip to Hong Kong
reports that miniature octopus was a popular
topping on a pizza. He brought back a Pizza Hut
ad that looked like this:


So, my takeaway is that seafood is popular
among the Chinese (at least those in the eastern
part near the ocean).

I first encountered octopizza in Japan - the word "kawaii" in the above pic is Japanese for "cute", BTW (no doubt in reference to itty bitty teensy widdle octopuses), so if it's the same Pizza Hut ad, it makes me wonder if in Hong Kong it's something that caught on and is thought of as "Japanese" food, much as the Japanese typically think of their ubiquitous ramen as "Chinese" food. Yet in Japan, pizza is of course thought of as "Western" food no matter how unrecognisable it might be to us. Uninformed Americans would get a rude shock when they'd order "tako piza" only to find out it was anything but Mexicanoid.

Let me amend by saying that I encountered the concept, but never actually ate any, myself. There was plenty enough octopus to eat already without having it on a pizza, too.

[Innocent Bystander]

Szechuan. (Peking if they're Wimps.)

[I.D.10-t]

(no doubt in reference to itty bitty teensy widdle octopuses)

Have to wonder why they need to find little creatures when you could just use hotdogs...

Szechuan. (Peking if they're Wimps.)

Should have looked up regional styles, a quick search under Szechuan brings up some places I have never heard of in the area.

Oh, this makes me wonder what is passing for American fare in other countries.

Remember seeing "American Fried Rice" on a menu once. It involved ketchup, processed meat like spam or hotdogs, and a fried egg on top of it all.

[emmline]

Tiny octopi cease being kawaii and become kowai (scary) once you put them on a pizza.

[fearfaoin]

Gravy on fries is good. Have you ever heard of mashed potatoes and gravy? ...Sausage gravy is big down here.

Sausage gravy goes on biscuits.

Once you fry the potato, I don't want
anything on it but ketchup (with the
possible exception of catsup if I'm
feeling frisky).

[Nanohedron]

Tiny octopi cease being kawaii and become kowai (scary) once you put them on a pizza.

I think they're just kowai, period. I was served a heaping plateful of 'em once and it made me feel like I was eating a pile of cooked babies. Yick.

[dwest]

Tiny octopi cease being kawaii and become kowai (scary) once you put them on a pizza.

I think they're just kowai, period. I was served a heaping plateful of 'em once and it made me feel like I was eating a pile of cooked babies. Yick.

Well....

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/c ... Report.pdf

[Nanohedron]

Tiny octopi cease being kawaii and become kowai (scary) once you put them on a pizza.

I think they're just kowai, period. I was served a heaping plateful of 'em once and it made me feel like I was eating a pile of cooked babies. Yick.

Well....

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/c ... Report.pdf

Tell you what, dwest: how about making a direct point instead of linking me to some huge-ass scholarly article with a whole bunch of different stuff to waste my time slogging thru, all on my own, but which at a cursory glance-over looks like it will never tell me what your point is? Do you actually have one?

[Denny]

bit cranky....again, eh

[Nanohedron]

bit cranky....again, eh

Yeah, imagine that.