Pasta is British, right?

Question

There's nothing more British than a nice cup of tea, but tea doesn't grow in Britain. Belgian chocolate is renowned but there's no cocoa plantations in Belgium.

Curry is so ingrained in British cuisine when kids are offered food they don't recognize they'll call out "I don't want that foreign shit, bring me a curry." I'd wager many Americans don't know pizza is Italian.

So thoughts, when do you consider their cuisine your cuisine?

Lliam · Accepted Answer

"I don't want that foreign shit, bring me a curry." LOL That's funny. And you gave good examples with tea and chocolate being non-indigenous.

I can't imagine any other culture celebrating and embracing British cuisine.

In Europe, the French, Italians and Spanish developed some amazing cuisine. Spanish food was influenced by north Africa and I don't think it was Italians who originated pasta. Even tomatoes originated in South America.

Most good cuisine is the result of seasonings and techniques from around the world. Trade, colonialism and immigration introduced new foods, spices, fruit, vegetables and flavors. Why did Europeans seek trade routes to "the spice islands" in the first place?

America started out with British and Germanic traditions. But influence from indigenous people, Spain, France, the Caribbean, resulted in the development of uniquely American foods like Cajun, BBQ, TexMex, etc.

With more colonialism and immigration came foods from Asia, India, the Middle East and Africa.

It's interesting to learn the origins of various foods. But I don't take national pride in claiming that foods that didn't originate here are "American".

NathanDavis · Accepted Answer

I just don't bother one bit... with that

if I like it, I'll eat it and love it...

as you've seen on that other previous post with the Ode to the Mole and Mexican food... lmfao, it can be complicated to just pinpoint to either

oh, and to answer your reply to that other comment

some commercial versions of Mole, which come bottled, these can be as simple as that as well... just a mix/paste of some chiles and nuts, and that could be enough to get a great flavor

but, there are so many variety and different recipes as well as "levels" of it... there's commercial brands, there's mixes from traditional markets, and there is homemade versions as well as artisan works of art, made from scratch... lol

ShellyB · Accepted Answer

Well first let me say, I am American, and all Americans know that pizza is Italian lol.

The whole category of food is called "Italian food" including pizza and most types of pasta dishes such as spaghetti or lasagna.

Although, I studied abroad in Italy and learned some Italian cooking, and the way Italian food is usually cooked in America is different. I would call it "American Italian" or "Italian American" food really.

It is an interesting question when you start seeing food like that as "yours" vs something from another place, I personally enjoy Thai food and have it sort of often, I have friends who eat Mexican food a lot, or Italian or Chinese or whatever, I think in general, we know that they are Americanized versions of food in other countries that cater to our tastes and that somewhere out there are "real" versions that are probably better or at least a foodie would think so.

I am not sure there is such a thing as "American food" really, I guess maybe a steak and baked potato but I am not sure that is unique to America, there is moreso regional food here, like there is "Southern food" for example.

artsy_dragon · Accepted Answer

Pasta is from central Asia is most likely the first area to have produced noodles thousands of years ago. From Asia, it traveled westward. The way it reached Europe is unclear, though there are many theories. Some believe that nomadic Arabs are responsible for bringing early forms of pasta westward.

Tea is also from China. Unfortunately we (the British) haven't actually got many original dishes. We'll we do and we don't, it is hard to explain. For example our national dish is chicken tikka masala?

We stole the idea from India. We have done that a lot unfortunately. So yes we have national food but it doesn't have the same flavours and colours as a lot of other countries national dishes.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

I generally honor origins and traditions a fair bit. Many young US citizens don’t really even know what we’re celebrating on “the fourth of July”. When i correct people who don’t say “Independence Day”, they look at me like i’m from Pluto. Ell oh ell! There’s literally nothing more “American” (a misnomer, mind you) than Independence day on the fourth of July. And people don’t know THAT. So it’s not some demented nationalism. It’s just plain ignorance and laziness.

mstbooblover · Answer

"Their cuisine" becomes mine once I like it and prepare it on a regular basis. A nice way towards integration by the way ;0)

Still, basically nearly every cuisine is based only on a few variants of the same principles and ingredients (vegetables, meat or fish, rice or couscous or bulgur or patatoes or pasta, and spices any kind), and yet so many different tastes and aspects.

I like to mix different traditions when I prepare some dish according the inspiration of the moment. The traditions I mean are for instance from Belgium, France, Italy, India, China, Morocco, etc.

bean2k21 · Answer

American food was already here, waiting for us. A pioneer could take a leisurely stroll through the forest and find mulberries, chestnuts, and blackberries. Deer, muskrats, even mountain lions make a fine meal. Squash, corn, avacado, pepper, beans, tomato, and the potato were domesticated by Native Americans, and we merely had to take their land to reap a fine harvest. Fun fact: the Apios americana bears a tuber (much like the potato) with one key difference in that it fixes its own nitrogen and does not require applications of nitrogen on the growing field.

AviatorTom · Answer

Of course pasta is British. It grows on trees outside Sheffield.

As far as who owns a cuisine, we all do. by the way, pizza is not really Italian... Italy invented an early form if pizza but it's current form was invented by Italian immigrants in New York City. And Chinese fortune cookies were created by a Japanese man at his restaurant in San Francisco.

Anonymous · Answer

It is not about origin or ownership it is about association.

So the point at which a thing becomes culturally relevant is the point at which people start using it as a descriptor or sterotype.

As Romesh Ranganathan points out; you might miss racism when you are the only black guy in the room and yet are being described as 'that fat bastard over there'.

(Paraphrasing)

Anonymous · Answer

It's different because in Britain and Ireland tea is made with hot water and milk, the Chinese I believe are lactose intolerant in general. Curry in Britain is different than in China or India. Italian's don't really like Pizza I don't think, it really became popular in America and it tastes a lot better than Italian pizza.

I prefer milk chocolate, Dairy milk.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

Well well well: it is very debatable if U. S. style pizza has anything to do with Italy 😎

''Their cuisine'' becomes ''my cuisine'' once I... ''tasted'' ... one of their women :)

(it's always good to have colonies)

SomeGuyCalledTom · Answer

Britain ruled half the world at one point or another, therefore half pf all other world cuisines ARE "British cuisine". You're welcome, world.

LiamSawyer · Answer

Actually Americsn style pizza was invented by a Jew in Brooklyn and couldn't be farther from typical authentic Italian pizza.

trina_x · Answer

something is your country's food if it was devised there but that includes a variation of other food  so like curry is indian  but there are British curries  i dunno thats my take

SnowedIn · Answer

All great points with which I agree. But pasta isn't British.

AngryCarl · Answer

What I love about the English is the way they select the finest cuisines from all over the world, bin them and have curry instead. Probably with a weak lager.

Ninania · Answer

You're right, as a kid I never questioned the origin of food that my mom made regularly.

HippieVeganJewslim · Answer

Pizza is Italian? Mamma mia, I thought it came from China. I don’t consider cuisines belong to anyone.

Twalli · Answer

When we've changed it so much that it bears almost no resemblance to the original.

jshm2 · Answer

Nothing but potato, wine, cider, and turnip is inherently "British". Nearly everything else is imported.

Guy13 · Answer

I know pizza 🍕 is Italian. New Yorker first wave were Italians and “NY Pizza”

BeMuse · Answer

The tomato is native to South America and Central America...

Red_Arrow · Answer

Pasta is just as British as Chop Suey is Chinese.

Pete671 · Answer

The real reason Romans invaded was actually because the climate is ideal for growing wheat, and it was the Romans that invented the burger, as well as underwater concrete,

Wiredone · Answer

As long as I like it and it tastes good I'll eat it. I don't care where it came from

legalboxers · Answer

thought it was Chinese

Andres77 · Answer

Frankfurters?

Anonymous · Answer

Pasta is Chinese.

Pasta is British, right?

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