A la vache!

La vache sacrée même!

The localization of food. A contentious subject. Since I’ve been living in L.A., I avoid tex-mex, thai and sushi bars in Paris at all costs — they’re too “francisés”, as you write. And I avoid French and Italian food here — they’re too americanized, even in the best rated or most expensive restaurants.

But sometimes I fall back, like yesterday. We went to an Italian bistrot, run by an Italian family and renowned chef. The pizza was good but there was this bizarre, chemico-sugary aftertaste. I analyzed it, and concluded it was ketchup lining [as opposed to real tomato puree] — it turned out to be BBQ sauce.

I guess localization is necessary to fit with the local market tastes. I remember bitterly the first time I invited my in-laws for dinner. They were already thrown off balance by me [the Euro from Mars], but to top it up, my father in-law nearly chocked to death on my vinaigrette. Beat his ranch sauce, that’s for sure!

Next time you crave Indian, hop on the Eurostar. London is *ze* place in Europe for it!

ps: talking about la vache:
http://losangelesfrog.blogspot.com/2006/07/laughing-cow.html#links

Bonjour,

C’est peut-être ça la “mondialisation” finalement…

Amitiés,

Didier (photo blog)

I’m totally going to have Indian for lunch tomorrow, but I’m not going to gloat about it and make you jealous.

Oops.

la vache, indeed!

didier, i had a feeling that originally, they really might have had real paneer, which is not very “cheesy” for french standards. perhaps when french ppl ordered this dish with indian CHEESE, they were expecting a fromage-y thing inside. complaints ensued. anyway, that’s my version. haha la mondialisation. does that mean nothing will taste like the original?

frog, you might want to try torrance or gardena for good japanese food. there’s also a few good places on sawtelle in west l.a. between olympic and santa monica.

thanks, b. you are so kind.

Thanks PT! Japanese food in L.A. is GREAT. That’s why since living here, I just can’t eat it in Paris anymore, it’s too frenchified — like tex mex and others. But Paris is great for other foods which are lousy in L.A. I guess each place has its culinary strengths and weaknesses…

Man, I would have died. I love Indian food, it’s possibly my favorite so-called “ethnic” food – I also really love Thai food. But, for some intuitive reason, I have never had Indian or Chinese food in France. I have had good Vietnamese and Tibetan food in Paris, though, but I couldn’t give the restaurant’s name, because I don’t remember what it was.

I remember about 15 years ago going into a French snack bar and getting a cheeseburger. Since they’d run out of sliced cheddar, the cook just slapped on a slice of camembert.

can’t you imagine: THAT version would be at a fancy french restaurant in the u.s. and called the french gourmet burger. and sold for $19. fries NOT included.

btw, carrefour now sells real cheddar cheese. yay!