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It happened again tonight. (Actually, since it's now just past midnight here, it was technically last night.) I went to one of my favorite local Chinese restaurants, one of the ones that is emphatically not dumbed down to cater to non-Chinese. After exchanging hellos and nods of recognition from the staff, I perused the menu and selected a dish I had tried and loved before--somewhat deceptively labeled "steamed pork with preserved mustard greens" in English, the pork is actually pork belly, very tender and yummy, covered in a brown sauce full of finely minced preserved mustard greens.

And that's when it started happening again: first the fellow who waited on me, and then seemingly all the rest of the waitstaff on duty, became fascinated with this Anglo lady who knew what pork belly was and liked it. I swear, all of the waitstaff dropped by my table sooner or later to see how I was making out. They all seemed pleased as well as surprised, making a point of telling me how this was one of the most popular dishes among their Chinese customers but that the few Americans who came by didn't usually care for it. One even pointed out another dish I might want to try next time, seeing as how I was so open to non-Americanized dishes. It was really a whole lot of fun!

Nor is this phenomenon unique to Chinese restaurants in my experience. I've also had some very enjoyable interactions in Vietnamese restaurants when I've gone to satisfy my bun bo Hue obsession, and reassured the waiter that I know about the pork blood garnish and love it. I recall a lovely conversations in a Mexican market when the cashier noticed the bunch of epazote in my cart, and another in a grocery catering to African-American shoppers when I hit the checkout with hamhocks and a mess of greens.

In almost every case, my interest in other people's food seems to surprise as well as delight the folks working these establishments. I'm delighted too, because I dig the cross-cultural bonding moments almost as much as the tasty eats. But their surprise also makes me a little sad, because it suggests to me that there must be few other folks of my ethnic heritage venturing across these cultural culinary boundaries.

At least here on eGullet I see lots of it going on! Do others here run into similar reactions when they venture into markets, restaurants, etc. catering to ethnic groups different than their own?

And is it just my left-over hippie idealism that makes me believe that this kind of cross-cultural bonding over food could, in its own little way, bring greater peace and understanding to the world? After all, everyone has to eat, it's one of the universal simple pleasures of life, and sharing food is such an ancient custom of hospitality...

Posted (edited)
It happened again tonight. (Actually, since it's now just past midnight here, it was technically last night.) I went to one of my favorite local Chinese restaurants, one of the ones that is emphatically not dumbed down to cater to non-Chinese. After exchanging hellos and nods of recognition from the staff, I perused the menu and selected a dish I had tried and loved before--somewhat deceptively labeled "steamed pork with preserved mustard greens" in English, the pork is actually pork belly, very tender and yummy, covered in a brown sauce full of finely minced preserved mustard greens.

And that's when it started happening again: first the fellow who waited on me, and then seemingly all the rest of the waitstaff on duty, became fascinated with this Anglo lady who knew what pork belly was and liked it. I swear, all of the waitstaff dropped by my table sooner or later to see how I was making out. They all seemed pleased as well as surprised, making a point of telling me how this was one of the most popular dishes among their Chinese customers but that the few Americans who came by didn't usually care for it. One even pointed out another dish I might want to try next time, seeing as how I was so open to non-Americanized dishes. It was really a whole lot of fun!

Nor is this phenomenon unique to Chinese restaurants in my experience. I've also had some very enjoyable interactions in Vietnamese restaurants when I've gone to satisfy my bun bo Hue obsession, and reassured the waiter that I know about the pork blood garnish and love it. I recall a lovely conversations in a Mexican market when the cashier noticed the bunch of epazote in my cart, and another in a grocery catering to African-American shoppers when I hit the checkout with hamhocks and a mess of greens.

In almost every case, my interest in other people's food seems to surprise as well as delight the folks working these establishments. I'm delighted too, because I dig the cross-cultural bonding moments almost as much as the tasty eats. But their surprise also makes me a little sad, because it suggests to me that there must be few other folks of my ethnic heritage venturing across these cultural culinary boundaries.

At least here on eGullet I see lots of it going on! Do others here run into similar reactions when they venture into markets, restaurants, etc. catering to ethnic groups different than their own?

And is it just my left-over hippie idealism that makes me believe that this kind of cross-cultural bonding over food could, in its own little way, bring greater peace and understanding to the world? After all, everyone has to eat, it's one of the universal simple pleasures of life, and sharing food is such an ancient custom of hospitality...

Yes I get this to a varying degree, and it is fun! We had Vietnamese nieghbors, and they would invite us over for dinner all the time. My Mother LOVED it. One day they were celebrating the Mother getting her drivers license and invited us to come. That was the first time we had Bun Xeo (One of my fav all time vietnamese foods ever, besides steamed snails in nuoc cham, etc. :raz: ) and the first time my mother saw something like balut! :shock: She was freaked out by that but the family thought it was funny, and we all had a laugh, and a lovely dinner!

Some friends and I had a dumpling making party. One was Chinese and made pork and shrimp, I taught how to make Kimchi pork&beef, and my other friend made ravioli with green spinach with potsticker wraps. The friend who set up the party firmly believes if we make dumplings and send them to everyone in the world we would have world peace. :smile:

I always end up getting food most anglos wouldn't get. Like chicken feet at dim sum. I had people come up to me and ask me over and over if that is what I really wanted, but then they were always gracious after that and told me I should try this and that! :smile:

Edited for spelling and just cause.

Edited by milgwimper (log)
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