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The politics of... Food
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| HardTranceProd |
One of the things about Europe that instantly strikes a visitor from America is how much more delicious European food is.
Bread, meat, vegetables, cocoa, salads, juices, pizza -- they're all so tasty and satisfying, it's unreal. I'm not even talking about nutritious health or anything, I'm just talking about taste.
In America, when you get a sandwich, you can immeditately throw the tomatoes away -- they're tasteless crap. Bread and pizza are bland and artificial. Fruit juices are extremely sweet and have all kinds of additives. Sausage and hot dogs that you buy in a grocery store hardly have any flavor, they're as bland as paper (and taste like it, too).
But in Amsterdam, I had a truly delicious slice of pizza, with real vegetables, at a fast food joint; in a Vienna metro station, bread rolls with jam (Powidlbüchtel) and fruit juice soooo good I nearly cried; in Prague, salads and goulache that put a broad smile on my face. Hell, no wonder Europeans have more fun than Americans, I thought.
I live in Washington DC and even the best restaurants here pale in comparison to the taste of food you can get in some hole-in-the-wall in Europe.
So my question is, why, and have you experienced this too? |
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| metalgearsolid |
| yeeeaaaaaah you have never been to Italy. Any food outside of a restaurant is horrible. The pizza's don't have much cheese or tomato sauce. Also the sandwiches I had there were horrible. I think you don't have a clue what yoou are talking about. Not that European food is bad, theres good like French and there is bad like British. I don't know but have you ever heard of Gino's East? That pizza is good so is the food at Portillo's. You just have to look for good food. It shouldn't be that hard. And the reason why Europeans have more fun than Americans is because they are not as strict as Americans. Europeans don't care what you do for fun and here the law will get you. Also they have more fun because most live in Urban areas instead of teh Suburbs so more ppl in city equals more fun. |
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| HardTranceProd |
You're right, I've never been to Italy (although it's hard to believe Italian pizza anywhere in Italy is worse than American pizza).
And I do know that Chicago has some great pizza.
But still, from my experiences, the contrast was great. |
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| metalgearsolid |
| Another problem in Europe(at least Western Europe) the food seems to have shrunken. They charge you like $7 a sandwhich and its like 6inches or smaller. |
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| Shakka |
Well, that's a huge generalization. There is some great food to be had in Europe no doubt, but there is plenty of too. Same goes for the U.S. If you spend your time at McDonalds or some other low-rent establishment, chances are you're not eating grade A food.
| quote: | Originally posted by HardTranceProd
One of the things about Europe that instantly strikes a visitor from America is how much more delicious European food is. |
You just need to upgrade your wallet and try out some of the better restaurants here!
| quote: | | In America, when you get a sandwich, you can immeditately throw the tomatoes away -- they're tasteless crap. |
Where specifically? I really like the hot-dog/baguettes with dijon that you can get on the streets of France. Much better than most hot-dog vendors in the U.S. for sure.
| quote: | | But in Amsterdam, I had a truly delicious slice of pizza, with real vegetables, at a fast food joint; |
i.e. you were high when you ate it;)
| quote: | | Hell, no wonder Europeans have more fun than Americans, I thought. |
Doesn't hurt that they get a mandatory 6 week vacation every year!
| quote: | | I live in Washington DC and even the best restaurants here pale in comparison to the taste of food you can get in some hole-in-the-wall in Europe. |
I haven't eaten too much in D.C. I have been to several extremely good restaurants in Boston, NYC, Atlanta and Chicago which I'd put head-to-head against any other restaurant in the world.
| quote: | So my question is, why, and have you experienced this too?
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Perhaps on a case-by-case basis, but I still think it's too much of a subjective question that is too dependent on a specific persons' tastes and experiences, but if you think so, then by all means!:D |
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| Sunsnail |
| Yes, I've been to France 12+ times in my life. I would say that food is way more important there to an average person. I would also say that the food is much better generally everywhere. You can't really give any sources and stuff for this type of argument though ;) |
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| HardTranceProd |
| quote: | Originally posted by Shakka
If you spend your time at McDonalds or some other low-rent establishment, chances are you're not eating grade A food.
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Right, but I'm not talking about McDonalds.
(By the way: Do you know how delicious McDonalds is in Europe?! :eek: They use their own products there)
What I had in mind was your average cafe that sells sandwiches. Here we have Quizno's, Panera Bread, and many other chains that are WAY above McDonald's.
Now, I can testify first-hand that the sandwiches in Quizno's are horrible... , in a Subway sandwich, the lettuce is so bland, the tomatoes so disgusting, you might as well throw it in the trash can. The European equivalent would have been more delicious not to mention healthier.
You're completely right about hot dogs, I really enjoyed them in Europe. |
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| shaolin_Z |
All natural organic food (much more common in Europe) v.s. y processed/engineered crap (much more common in the US)
It not like we don't have good food, its just that most of our food isn't organic and therefore tastes like .
EDIT: Plus we have enough immigrants to have a variety of stuff to choose from.:D |
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| Aquarian |
| Since I was little, every single time I've gone to the US and ate at a restaurant, I remember feeling sick afterwards. Except for that one time when I stayed in some fancy hotel. Food was great there. |
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| Q5echo |
i could be wrong, but i don't buy the idea that European food, by enlarge, is not as processed ir "engineered" or chemically "subsidized" as North American food. i believe they are both just as guilty as any other industrialized society.
i think variety is the key to understanding who's food is better for whatever tastes you have at that particular moment whether your a vegan or a carnivore and in my opinion America has an advantage. |
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| shaolin_Z |
| quote: | Originally posted by Q5echo
i could be wrong, but i don't buy the idea that European food, by enlarge, is not as processed ir "engineered" or chemically "subsidized" as North American food. |
Well, it'a not really an "idea." It's kind of "fact." I remember how shocked my brother was when he was in London for a business trip and they had real food there (i.e. natural and not processed/engineered/chemically subsidized). |
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| Goashem |
| i was really hoping this thread will be about why beer goes well with fish but not with cake :( |
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