May 21, 2011

• Authenticity

  When I was at orientation for my study abroad program, my program director emphasized that “Chinese food in China is SOOO much better than Chinese food in America.”  But you know what?  It’s not.  Chinese food in China is 10x cheaper than Chinese food in America, so let’s just think about even how much worse the quality is and how much more MSG is in it.  It seriously isn’t that much better at all.  To get delicious Chinese food, you have to go to a higher scale restaurant, which will end up being a fusion restaurant, which kills the authenticity anyway. 

  I don’t know how many times I’ve heard, “But it’s not real _______ food!  Real ______ food is so much better!”  But I don’t understand how authenticity makes anything taste better.  It’s really annoying when I’m trying to enjoy my pseudo-authentic food, and someone tries to ruin my meal.  But you know what?  Fuck you.  I like my fake food.  It’s still delicious no matter what you say.  I still love Taco Bell and Chipotle, even though it’s nowhere near real Mexican food, and to be honest, I don’t like real Mexican food.  I still like Olive Garden, which is probably the fakest Italian food on the planet, although I do enjoy me some authentic Italian delicacy.  I know a few people who go to authentic Italian food places and bag on the pizza, because it simply does not taste as good as “fake” pizza.  Even with my own culture, I have to realize that they’re are some pretty tasty knockoffs.  Baoguette in NYC offers these super tasty banh mi, (Viet sandwiches) but they’re nothing like the real ones.  But I still recognize that they are pleasing to the mouth.  However, I’m digressing here, fake pho is disgusting.  Absolutely disgusting.

  So seriously GTFO with your arrogant “authentic food” bullshit.  Food is food.  Authenticity doesn’t make it tasty.  I think it’s called ingredients.

  • 12:11 am
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