Cultural Differences...

paulamathers · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:16 pm Post subject: Cultural Differences...

My boss goes on business trips a lot, and this time he went to Japan. He brought me back some Japanese treats, a huge bag of them. I decided to try them while i was bored at work today. There were little packets of dried fish, dried squid and weird other things that i don't know what they were. The thing that i was most amused by was this long thin tubular thing that looked like processed cheese. I really thought thats what it was! Well, me and one of the managers, Mat, decided to try it. I was very anxious! Mat took a bite first because my phone rang. He said it was lovely but smelt funny. He advised me to just bite it, don't smell it! This made me worry even more! Any way, i took his advice and bit a medium sized chunk from the "cheese". I almost threw up! My mouth was filled with the taste of super strong fish but 10 times worse!!!! the feeling of oil and grease filled my mouth and only the taste of cold coffee was strong enough to get rid of it!

In Japan, apparently these "treats" are considered a delicasy. in England, a delicasy is fresh cream filled Profiteroles, eclaires, expensive chocolates. I find it weird that where one country would consider something a delicasy, another country would consider it repulsive! I don't know if we have any Japanese members or visitors, but if we do i would love to hear their opinion. What do the Japanese think about Belgian chocolates, Cornish Clotted Cream with Strawberry Jam on fresh scones? I don't mean to be offensive to anyone, and apologise if i have offended anyone by insulting their national dishes, im just curious how tastes in food can differ so much between countries. I love the Sushi that you can buy in the supermarkets here, but these dried fish thing and the yellow stuff that i mistook for cheese were really not to my taste at all. Is that how chocolate is for other people in other countries?

Kate · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:37 am Post subject:

Of Paula, you poor thing. I've had that experience and it was nauseating at best.
In some Nordic countries, lard is spread on bread just like butter. Now to me that sounds terrible. In Italy they have veal and prosciutto baby food! Regional taste are interesting. I've seen people turn green at the thought of sucking craw fish heads but I love it. Chitlins on the other hand.....yuck.
Ok international readers, lets answer Paula's question.
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

guido · Site Admin Joined: Oct 18, 2004 Posts: 381 Location: Italy

Ehi! not everybody has a stomach like Anthony Bourdain's !
In some african countries insects and worms are a treat, in south Asia they eat snakes, in China they love dogs...
Probably, in some part of the world, if you offer them a pudding, they will run like hell! LOL
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paulamathers · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:33 pm Post subject:

snakes dogs and worms??????????????? arrrgh!

Kate · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 6:21 am Post subject:

Oh we have a tv show on the travel channel, Strange Foods or something like that. This guy goes all over and eats some really weird things. The episode where he at guinea pigs made me sad because they are so cute. Some of the things he eats , well I have to change the channel!
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

paulamathers · Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 8:47 pm Post subject:

But they're pets and so tiny and cute! Thats horrible!

Kate · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 5:21 am Post subject:

I agree Paula!
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.