| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Newo |
Posted - 04/05/2004 : 03:14:39
How come Spain and France are neighbours and Spanish food for the most part is shit and French isn't? Okay shit is a little strong but it's what I feel the comparison with the French food I've eaten leads me to. My mother has a house near Perpignan and last visit she brought down delicious bread, so given how close that is to here what I gather is the bread starts to improve vastly as soon as you leave the Spanish border.
--
"You one of those right-wing nut outfits?" inquired the diplomatic Metzger.
Fallopian twinkled. "They accuse us of being paranoids."
"They?" inquired Metzger, twinkling also.
"Us?" asked Oedipa.
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| 35 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| slaveish |
Posted - 04/10/2004 : 21:21:20
Oops, how could I forget Korean? Makes a close second behind Vietnamese, possibly tied with Japanese. |
| slaveish |
Posted - 04/10/2004 : 21:15:41
As long as this has devolved into a conversation about great international cuisines........okay, everyone knows about Thai, Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Italian, and French- But what about Vietnamese? Gotta be my favorite, hands down. The great fusion of French and Asian cooking! Food writers constantly point to Saigon as the greatest food city in the world. I've got to give a thumbs-up to Japanese, as well. You've got to know where to go and what to order, though. And finally, regarding Ethiopian, apl4eris, if your local place has a vegetarian platter, try that. I have a favorite place in L.A., and that is all I will order. The meat dishes are dreadful- tough, chewy, cheap cuts of meat in gravy. But the veggie platter- to die for. Various piles of subtly seasoned stews on the teff pancake. Mmm. Just moved to New York, and leaving my L.A. tastes behind in order to learn about what is great here! |
| edwina |
Posted - 04/07/2004 : 05:25:04
Cheers for the gazpacho recipe- how silly of me, I thought you actually had to cook it. |
| Scarla O |
Posted - 04/07/2004 : 05:17:47
I love gazpacho - thanks for the recipe Newo.
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| remig |
Posted - 04/07/2004 : 05:08:54
Last summer (where 15 000 old people died from warm in France), gazpacho was the perfect food: vegetables and iced. My dream was a gazpacho swimming pool.
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| Newo |
Posted - 04/07/2004 : 04:50:58
Btw, hereīs how my friend Loli makes great gazpacho:
1 red pepper
1 mediumsized onion
1 cucumber
1 kilo of very mature tomatos
3 cloves of garlic
1 pinch of salt
vinegar
water
Whizz the first five in the blender and add the salt and vinegar to taste, then some water to get it whatever soupy consistency you like. Serve very cold. It is delicious with toasted bread broken up into it (if you can get the tostada bread, all the better)
--
"You one of those right-wing nut outfits?" inquired the diplomatic Metzger.
Fallopian twinkled. "They accuse us of being paranoids."
"They?" inquired Metzger, twinkling also.
"Us?" asked Oedipa.
|
| edwina |
Posted - 04/07/2004 : 04:49:38
Sure, I see your point.
Don't think I'm in the position to make a proper comparison, then, because I certainly don't have an in-depth knowledge of neither Spanish nor French cuisines- not like of the Italian one, anyway.
If they both have as many specialities as regions, then hey, it'd take me two life-times to become an expert. |
| Newo |
Posted - 04/07/2004 : 04:22:33
Spanish food isnīt that bad Edwina, just I find it bad (fatty, way less diverse) in comparison to French food.
--
"You one of those right-wing nut outfits?" inquired the diplomatic Metzger.
Fallopian twinkled. "They accuse us of being paranoids."
"They?" inquired Metzger, twinkling also.
"Us?" asked Oedipa.
|
| vilainde |
Posted - 04/07/2004 : 04:10:22
I like Chihuahua cheese! Believe it or not, it looks exactly like the photo...
Denis
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| Cheeseman1000 |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 14:18:08
Cheers guys, I'm definitely looking forward to eating some SA food, it sounds dead good. Unfortunately, I really don't think we'll be able to make Pretoria in the limited time we have, but thanks hugely for the offer. Perhaps another time... If you're ever in England, I'll take you out for some fish and chips you'll never forget, or maybe cook you the full English, inclusive of black pudding. Mmmmmmm....
 "Join The Cult Of Wormy Cheese Man/In Ten Words Or Less" |
| Homers_pet_monkey |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 13:31:23
quote:
Originally posted by offerw
If anyone considers going out for Sushi in Beijing, Manchester or Seattle.....
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=&art_id=qw1081258584933B252&set_id=1
wilhelm
Yeah I know where that restaurant is in Manchester, I pass it quite a lot. A friend of mine told me about the 'eat from a naked girl' option. I was pretty anazed you could do that.
Hansel and Gretel have formed a band, .....And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Breadcrumbs!!! |
| Homers_pet_monkey |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 13:29:08
quote:
Originally posted by apl4eris
Whoa. I not even sure if it's made from their milk, now that you mention it.
If it is a Miracle, any sort of evidence will answer, but if it is a Fact, proof is necessary. -Samuel Clemens
Oh my god apl4eris!!! You haven't eaten one have you?
Hansel and Gretel have formed a band, .....And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Breadcrumbs!!! |
| jediroller |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 13:21:30
And Simon, "braai" means barbecue...
Yes, I've had the privilege to travel to beautiful South Africa - 4 times.
I have South African friends who used to live in Port Elizabeth (home of the fabled Jedi Rollers!). They moved to New Zealand though, so it's a whole new story now.
Wilhelm, I have unfortunately not had the chance to try pap or marog... I wish I could go back and try now what I have missed!
I also remember the prickly pears you bought from poor people on the roadside... And fresh mangoes for breakfast... *Sigh*
Biltong kinda gave me bad breath though :)
There will always be a place in my heart for your home country, Wilhelm. Despite its unfortunate reputation, I have only shining memory of it and of its lekker people!
--
Everything I say to you is gonna come out wrong anyway |
| offerw |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 11:54:28
If anyone considers going out for Sushi in Beijing, Manchester or Seattle.....
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=&art_id=qw1081258584933B252&set_id=1
wilhelm |
| offerw |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 11:46:40
quote:
Originally posted by jediroller
Ahh... South African food. I'd give up my soul for chicken Sosatie right now. Sweet braai memories come back to me... boerewors...
And bobotie!
--
Everything I say to you is gonna come out wrong anyway
Hey, you've been here before then? Yep, the chicken sosaties and boerewors are typical of the Sunday afternoon braai. Maybe you've been to some restaurants doing some traditional African dishes? Stuff like pap and marog.
Apl4eris, knives and forks are not used traditionally during African meals which makes sharing the food from the same pot lots safer. We've one restaurant here trying to keep things authentic but one ends up with realy messy hands.
Simon, chicken sosatie is pieces of chicken(usually spiced) skewered on a stick, done over the fire. You get incredible lamb sosaties as well,we skewer pieces of apricot, peach or veggies inbetween the meat. Bobotie is like stew but much better. Boerewors is a spicy beef sausage done over the fire. Only very good if you buy it from the right place. You should realy consider checking out Pretoria on your upcomming trip. I'll see to it that you'll have some food you'll never forget.
wilhelm |
| Cheeseman1000 |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 11:00:59
quote:
Originally posted by jediroller
Ahh... South African food. I'd give up my soul for chicken Sosatie right now. Sweet braai memories come back to me... boerewors...
And bobotie!
--
Everything I say to you is gonna come out wrong anyway
That all sounds great, but what the hell are you talking about? Fill me in?
"Join The Cult Of Wormy Cheese Man/In Ten Words Or Less" |
| apl4eris |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 10:54:13
Whoa. I not even sure if it's made from their milk, now that you mention it.
If it is a Miracle, any sort of evidence will answer, but if it is a Fact, proof is necessary. -Samuel Clemens |
| jediroller |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 10:50:55
Ahh... South African food. I'd give up my soul for chicken Sosatie right now. Sweet braai memories come back to me... boerewors...
And bobotie!
--
Everything I say to you is gonna come out wrong anyway |
| Homers_pet_monkey |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 10:47:01
quote:
Originally posted by apl4eris
I prefer the bastardized Europeanized cheese additions to the Chihuahua cheese they use.
If it is a Miracle, any sort of evidence will answer, but if it is a Fact, proof is necessary. -Samuel Clemens
My god!!! They milk dogs now!?!?!?
Hansel and Gretel have formed a band, .....And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Breadcrumbs!!! |
| Cheeseman1000 |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 10:25:25
quote:
Originally posted by Carolynanna
mmmmm, yorkshire pudding.
Indian food is bad for you, how so?
Oh yeah, you've gotta have the yorkshires, and tons of roast potatoes, mint sauce, mmm.
Before I start, I'll make the proviso that I know Tikka Masala isn't a real Indian dish, but you know what I mean. A lot of Indian food has several vats of double cream in, especially the aforementioned Tikka Masala, and Korma as well. There's quite a lot of oil/fat going into many sauces as well. However, there is a lot of comparatively healthy ones: the ones with lentils are quite healthy, and tandoori isn't too bad. It has to be said, its all good.
There's a South African restaurant near me, Wilhelm. What would I expect to be served there? I'm keen to try out some ZA food while I'm over, and I'm also told that there's some really good Indian cuisine in Durbs... Anything else you can recommend? I'm heading through Swaziland and the Drakensberg mtns, anything good here?
"Join The Cult Of Wormy Cheese Man/In Ten Words Or Less" |
| apl4eris |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 09:56:22
quote:
Originally posted by offerw
I've heard Melbourne, Australia is currently one of the greatest cities to be in if you're looking for seriously good food. I've a friend who lives there and every week-end she sends me e-mails detailing yet another night of gastronomic heaven. The Aussies are becoming masters at tinkering with the traditional European ways of cooking and fusing it with Asian influences.
Anyone familiar with African cooking? Probably Moroccan. Down here we've some fairly nice traditional African dishes, lots of maize based dishes and of course venison.
I'm not familiar with many African foods at all. We have a few Moroccan restaurants here that we want to try, and we went to an Ethiopian restaurant a couple weeks ago. My husband loved it, but it was very meat-based, and extremely greasy. The chicken dish that I got had tons of fat and gristle, and it was just overall way too greasy for me. I won't make a judgement based on one meal from one restaurant though. I should say the spice/flavor levels in the dishes (especially the beef dish he got) were fantastic, and I love spiced Ethiopian coffee.
The presentation is really cool, very communal and casual, meant for sharing -they put a giant flat piece of their unique bread on a large platter, and place the food in small piles -you break bread and scoop up the meat or whatever, along with something pickled -maybe peppers? that is very tasty. I imagine I'll give the place another try someday -though man, it sure is a hole-in-the wall dive. Might have added to the loss of appetite.
If it is a Miracle, any sort of evidence will answer, but if it is a Fact, proof is necessary. -Samuel Clemens |
| Carolynanna |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 09:56:04
mmmmm, yorkshire pudding.
Indian food is bad for you, how so? |
| Cheeseman1000 |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 09:53:28
Who'd blame them? heh heh.
Indian food in London is the finest you'll find outside of India, I guess. Every street has a curry house, and its all good. Just to add to the discussion, in many cases its hugely bad for you, which is always good.
Anyone here actually appreciate English food? As in, those not from England I mean. Roast lamb/beef, fish and chips, full English breakfast, that is some gooood eating.
"Join The Cult Of Wormy Cheese Man/In Ten Words Or Less" |
| Homers_pet_monkey |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 09:50:42
Yeah the Aussies know their food. And wine.
I am so happy that so man yof you like Mexican food. It never seems to be at the top of people's list that I speak to. I just love the stuff. It was actually in Australia where I fell in love with it though.
I would really like to try it in Mexico.
Oh and Tiramisu is indeed delicious!!! So light, it's great after a heavy pasta dish. 
Hansel and Gretel have formed a band, .....And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Breadcrumbs!!! |
| apl4eris |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 09:47:12
The Mexican food in England (at least the places I've been to and heard about) absolutely sucks. England does a lot of other cuisines very well, because of the huge immigrant population -especially Indian and Thai. Not many Mexicans cross the border to England.
Mexican food is not as healthy IF you are talking about the bastardized version of the cuisine. True Mexican (native) actually isn't the same kind of spicy, nor does it use as much cheese, and they don't use sour cream. Lots of beans and whole corn, peppers and cactus. I kinda wonder sometimes what the hell they ate as a cereal crop before corn was around. I personally like the spicier incarnation, and I prefer the bastardized Europeanized cheese additions to the Chihuahua cheese they use.
It's weird that French cuisine, being so good, has not been adopted as readily as many other international cuisines in the US. Could it just be a matter of French people not wanting to live here?
If it is a Miracle, any sort of evidence will answer, but if it is a Fact, proof is necessary. -Samuel Clemens |
| offerw |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 09:41:23
I've heard Melbourne, Australia is currently one of the greatest cities to be in if you're looking for seriously good food. I've a friend who lives there and every week-end she sends me e-mails detailing yet another night of gastronomic heaven. The Aussies are becoming masters at tinkering with the traditional European ways of cooking and fusing it with Asian influences.
Anyone familiar with African cooking? Probably Moroccan. Down here we've some fairly nice traditional African dishes, lots of maize based dishes and of course venison.
wilhelm |
| Scarla O |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 06:29:28
Focaccia al formaggio...
Mmmmmm.
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| edwina |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 06:05:58
Tiramisu' is Italian, indeed...
I think it's true that Italian restaurants are not cheap, especially after the introduction of the Euro, but in the trattorias you can normally still eat typical Italian food, overall less pretentious and more genuine than in restaurants, for very good prices. |
| vilainde |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 06:01:45
I'll never thank the Italian enough for bringing us the tiramisu (it's italian, right?). My main problem with the italian food is that restaurants over there are awfully expensive. Well maybe I didn't go to the right places but I had this feeling.
Denis
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| edwina |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 05:43:35
I am actually not sure Spanish food is that bad... ok, maybe a bit too much on the fat side, but I've tried several kind of tapas when I went to Spain and none of them disappointed. As for French food, it's true that the baguette, the pan of chocolat or the quiche lorraine are great inventions, but a lot of the specialities seem to be drowning in greasy sauces- unless I have eaten it in the wrong places.
Being an Italian I'd say we have a pretty good variety, but I wouldn't dare saying it's the best in the world... I'll leave that to the others ;) |
| Newo |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 04:58:38
This post is making me hungry. Iīm going to make pancakes.
--
"You one of those right-wing nut outfits?" inquired the diplomatic Metzger.
Fallopian twinkled. "They accuse us of being paranoids."
"They?" inquired Metzger, twinkling also.
"Us?" asked Oedipa.
|
| Newo |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 04:55:48
I remember visiting lots of great Thai places in London.
--
"You one of those right-wing nut outfits?" inquired the diplomatic Metzger.
Fallopian twinkled. "They accuse us of being paranoids."
"They?" inquired Metzger, twinkling also.
"Us?" asked Oedipa.
|
| vilainde |
Posted - 04/06/2004 : 01:46:43
I'm French and married to a Mexican girl... So I'd say my favorite food is the one cooked at my place :)
Seriously, I couldn't say which is best between French and Mex food. French is healthier and has more diversity indeed, but after 3 years spent in France I'm dying to eat a good gordita de chicharron. I seriously miss the days when I would go out of the office at lunch time and have a couple of tacos "al pastor" for a ridiculously low price. French sandwiches aren't nearly as good as Mexican tortas. Fortunately we're going in June for a 4-weeks vacation in Mexico and we're gonna eat everything we've been dreaming of these 3 years...
Adnan, I don't know if you've ever been to Mexico, but I can assure you that the Mexican food you'll be served in France has nothing to do with the real thing. I know one restaurant in Paris that offers good food ("A La Mexicaine") but it's still not it. All the so-called "Tex-Mex" places suck.
Jim, I imagine England should have good Mex restaurants, they usually have great international food there. Not sure though.
Denis
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| floop |
Posted - 04/05/2004 : 22:04:14
Italian food is better than French and Spanish put together. but Mexican is better than all.
when i first went to Europe when i was 20 i had the same misconception El Barto had.. i thought Spanish food was going to be like Mexican food, and couldn't wait to sample some. i was sorely mistaken. overall Spanish food is bland and un-noteworthy. though they do make up for it with tapas and cider.
you haven't had good Mexican food till you've been to Southern California. or Mexico. same difference.
i'm obsessed Mexican food. i'm obsessed with all food, but especially Mexican food. i seriously want to write a restaurant guide for LA.. i'm still in the research phase.
i was dying when i was on the East Coast last year for 4 months. they just don't quite get it. |
| El Barto |
Posted - 04/05/2004 : 20:33:01
I love Mexican food...GOOD, AUTHENTIC Mexican food. I guess that'll be difficult to find once I leave the US. Mexican food done right is fucking excellent. I was very upset when I went back to my old place to visit my friends, we went out to eat at this kick ass authentic Mexican restaurant and it was shut down...so we went to the newer local one and it wasn't nearly as good. Apparently Brighton has a Mexican restaurant called El Mexicano and some new, cheap restaurant Mel told me about...I'd love to compare.
Also a big fan of Italian, Thai, and Chinese.
 "Join the Cult of Brit / And let your oral hygiene go out the window." |
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