*nods* Yeah, I keep being reminded that even the Chinese food in Taiwan is very different from China's. I remember reading an article on how a lot of Chinese chefs ended up moving to Taiwan when the Communists took over and how China had to refocus on its cuisine of late.
I think what separates diasporic Chinese food from things like American Chinese food to me is partially the audience? I am a snob about American Chinese food because it's Chinese food tailored for white people, and more specifically because of the disparities in income, legal status and etc. that separate the people making the food from the people consuming the food.
Um. I guess you could use that argument to talk about class differences with food as well and how fancy restaurants "dress up" "poor" food to appeal to people (fancy corn dogs, frex).
(no subject)
Tue, Sep. 23rd, 2008 02:17 am (UTC)I think what separates diasporic Chinese food from things like American Chinese food to me is partially the audience? I am a snob about American Chinese food because it's Chinese food tailored for white people, and more specifically because of the disparities in income, legal status and etc. that separate the people making the food from the people consuming the food.
Um. I guess you could use that argument to talk about class differences with food as well and how fancy restaurants "dress up" "poor" food to appeal to people (fancy corn dogs, frex).