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Difference in food between Europe and USA

As a general rule, always go local production. Fake "european" food is disgusting trash. Had some actually good local olive oil in San Fran for example, while the "Italian" Olive Oil was something exctracted from a fatberg i think. Local veggies were very textury and a bit flavorless, but not bad. Cheap restaurants are imho much worse than in southern europe but about as bad as northern european ones so if you're used to those you're good (extremely fatty sugary foods).

Good restaurants are good like anywhere else.
 
Fish, seafood, and fresh meat markets are more often seen in rural and often based on the industry localized, rather than just being a thing towns.

"Farm to market." or Whole Foods, Trader Joes doesn't match the quality and adds a lot of fluff and anti-science shit for it to be good.

As a general rule, always go local production. Fake "european" food is disgusting trash. Had some actually good local olive oil in San Fran for example, while the "Italian" Olive Oil was something exctracted from a fatberg i think. Local veggies were very textury and a bit flavorless, but not bad. Cheap restaurants are imho much worse than in southern europe but about as bad as northern european ones so if you're used to those you're good.

Counterfeit olive oil is a huge business.
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/08/olive-oil-fake-larry-olmsted-food-fraud-usda/
 
All the tourists i know who went i usa went in restaurants and said food had too much grease.I ended up assuming that if obesity was higher, people did not have access to qualityf food, and were forced to eat rich food.I also discuss with americans and a lot of them often describe extremely rich food, then again i may just have not met enough people online.I have also noticed they mentioned going to fast food way more often than us. So maybe there is an array of quality foods, but conversations i had drove me to assume there was only bad or rich food.
So people who made choices for low quality fast food experienced...low quality fast food? Someone call the authorities, this is shocking. You still haven't answered my question.
 
Hey, where can I get this chocolate bread? 🍫 🍞

Why I oughta...

tenor.gif
 
So people who made choices for low quality fast food experienced...low quality fast food? Someone call the authorities, this is shocking. You still haven't answered my question.

haha, on a serious note, I think it all boils down to American cuisine being perceived as excessive and low quality. When my friends go to the USA they want the oversized burgers, the unhealthy pancakes/syrup breakfasts and Big Gulps to get the American experience that they have seen on TV!

Nobody travels to USA and be like "You gotta try the filet mignon!"....although they should because USA does steaks right...so so fucking right.
 
As a (formerly) frequent traveller, American restaurant and processed food *is* richer than European food due to the very liberal use of salt, sugar and MSG (which is nowhere near as high in Europe). Restaurant food is also different in that butter is surprisingly much more common as cooking fat and in desserts. Homemade food is different, but since it's also somewhat dependant on processed items (and butter is still rather abundant in some American recipes), it may still taste richer depending on the dish. American gravy and glazings are a good example.

This is probably even more apparent to central and eastern European visitors since their regional cuisines are more plain, so to speak.

Back in the day I used to blame coffee and jet lag for the week-long intestinal havok that I suffered every time I visited the States, but I think it was probably related to the change in diet and the size of rations (which are much larger). I've always enjoyed Southern food in particular, but I've found it requires to adjust my gut for a few days before I can pig out on chicken steak or whatever.

Then there's also the clapping.
 
So people who made choices for low quality fast food experienced...low quality fast food? Someone call the authorities, this is shocking. You still haven't answered my question.

I never saw movies where they eat in similar ways to us. Like in most movies I saw it was food with sauce, hamburgers, burritos,etc, whether it was sitcoms or drama series.
I may also be influenced/biased by what i saw during ads about american food.But if you say there is actually food of qaulity available at least this is reassuring.On twitter people generally talk about taco bell, pizza hut,etc.
 
Must be that American Chefs are mostly classical French-style, so it goes butter first then oil, then spices.
 
This is totally how we eat bread in Norway lol. Although we usually put some sliced cucumber, bellpepper or tomatoes on them like this.

I've seen gaffers refer to this picture as a "hobo meal" etc, but that's just how we roll over here. We like simple stuff.

Yeah thats just a normal piece of bread
 
haha, on a serious note, I think it all boils down to American cuisine being perceived as excessive and low quality. When my friends go to the USA they want the oversized burgers, the unhealthy pancakes/syrup breakfasts and Big Gulps to get the American experience that they have seen on TV!

Nobody travels to USA and be like "You gotta try the filet mignon!"....although they should because USA does steaks right...so so fucking right.

wat. Other than Argentina, we are great at cooking steak.

Hence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5FoX3ju2J0
 
One account that really impressed me was one from an American guy who went to Europe for a couple of weeks, and ate whatever he felt like. He didn't hold back at all, yet he still lost some decent amount of weight. So, when he was back home he thought, why not try and eat a bit less, since I've unexpectedly got a little more fit? Can't be bad for my health.
So he tried, but even by eating way less than he did in Europe, he still gained all the weight he had lost and then some.
 
As a (formerly) frequent traveller, American restaurant and processed food *is* richer than European food due to the very liberal use of salt, sugar and MSG (which is nowhere near as high in Europe). Restaurant food is also different in that butter is surprisingly much more common as cooking fat and in desserts. Homemade food is different, but since it's also somewhat dependant on processed items (and butter is still rather abundant in some American recipes), it may still taste richer depending on the dish. American gravy and glazings are a good example.

This is probably even more apparent to central and eastern European visitors since their regional cuisines are more plain, so to speak.

Back in the day I used to blame coffee and jet lag for the week-long intestinal havok that I suffered every time I visited the States, but I think it was probably related to the change in diet and the size of rations (which are much larger). I've always enjoyed Southern food in particular, but I've found it requires to adjust my gut for a few days before I can pig out on chicken steak or whatever.

Then there's also the clapping.

My experiences are similar.

aaaand I missed my bread and "Aufschnitt"/Lunch meat and Mett.
One account that really impressed me was one from an American guy who went to Europe for a couple of weeks, and ate whatever he felt like. He didn't hold back at all, yet he still lost some decent amount of weight. So, when he was back home he thought, why not try and eat a bit less, since I've unexpectedly got a little more fit? Can't be bad for my health.
So he tried, but even by eating way less than he did in Europe, he still gained all the weight he had lost and then some.

Maybe more sugar?
 
The US is a big place.....

If you're in a major city you can get literally almost any cuisine, and in places like NY or LA it will probably be as good as a good restaurant in its country of origin.

If you're in some landlocked rural area then yeah, you're probably going to be eating more "classic" American fare.

Culturally, I would say most of America doesn't quite value food in the same way that some European or Asian countries do. For a lot of people eating is either something to just get through, or some kind of guilt-ridden series of over-indulgences.

Huge generalizations obviously but you can't really comment too too much on "the food of the US."

I've been to the U.S myself, and there's definitely good food but one thing I realised is that a lot of just typical food you can buy at a grocery store is either much sweeter or much saltier than my palette is used to. There's a lot of really good cafés and things of course, but for example eating a chocolate bar that I buy at the store is so incredibly sweet. Even brands that are sold globally like Snickers tasted really different.
 
wat. Other than Argentina, we are great at cooking steak.

Hence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5FoX3ju2J0

I agree. USA is also the only country that know how to cook steaks and burgers right. I ask for medium rare in UK and get fucking well done whether its burgers or steaks. I once told them to take a burger back and give me a medium rare and only then that they stated that it was something to do with a council/local government regulation that they can't half cook burgers. Not sure why they couldn't tell me that before ordering.

Reese's buttercups are vile shit no matter where you come from.

Come at me.

awww, you'll embrace its awesomeness someday.
 
No really I discuss with American sometimes and I realize we do not eat the same way. I generally eat . We follow here what is called "mediterranean diet" and i realize for example i do not eat as many pizzas or as many meat as they do.

For example my basic lunch includes a slice of ham or some cold tuna, rice/pastas, some cheese, a yoghourt, and a fruit/a compote.

Sounds pretty typical for me

¯_(ツ)_/¯
 
Dude, your red, white and blue bread tasted like cake. I'm talking savoury bread you use to eat sandwiches. European bread doesn't taste like pop tarts. Sugar company got you all by the balls! Life's already sweet enough.

I'm not american.
Sweet breads (including traditional ones) are available all over the globe was all I wanted to point out.

Sour Rye Bread (Latvian) is being successfully produced in US.
It looks much closer to chocolate bread than what has been posted above:

RyeCrumb.jpg



I think people need to differentiate between what is available at all in a country and what is the most popular type to consume.
Obesity figures vary a lot across EU too.
 
I'm not american.
Sweet breads (including traditional ones) are available all over the globe was all I wanted to point out.

Sour Rye Bread (Latvian) is being successfully produced in US.
It looks much closer to chocolate bread than what has been posted above:

RyeCrumb.jpg

Is there anything specifically Latvian about it? Looks like the type of bread you get in any store in Austria
 
In Europe you'll find all kinds of good cuisines if you know where to look.
Quality gradually declines from the south to the north.

In the US the only thing that really stood out to me was BBQ, which is worlds better than what you can find in Europe.
However, I think Austria and Germany have the best venison, although the truly good stuff is seasonal. If you get your hands on some young deer in spring with Spätzle and a good sauce you're going to think god himself cooked for you.
rehgulasch-mit-spaetzle-und-preiselbeeren.jpg

Don't let anyone tell you that Knödel is the way to go.


The quality of cuisine in the US largely depends of the presence of immigrants.
In NYC you'll find decent pizza because lots of Italian immigrants are there.
Yet it doesn't really compare to what you can find in central Europe.

In Austin, TX I went to East Side Pies because it was recommended to me as the best Pizza in town and it was pretty much the worst shit I ever had. Some hipster dudes advertising their "local products"... too bad if your local cheese and ham is garbage tier, your pizza will be garbage tier as well.
Would've been better to import actual good products than use the local ones.
 
Is there anything specifically Latvian about it? Looks like the type of bread you get in any store in Austria

100% of Rye is not that typical.
Surely there is nothing exclusively Latvian in rye, but I simply know it as "Latvian rye bread"
 
This is totally how we eat bread in Norway lol. Although we usually put some sliced cucumber, bellpepper or tomatoes on them like this.

I've seen gaffers refer to this picture as a "hobo meal" etc, but that's just how we roll over here. We like simple stuff.

Same in Romania and I assume this is the norm for most european countries.
 
100% of Rye is not that typical.
Surely there is nothing exclusively Latvian in rye, but I simply know it as "Latvian rye bread"

My Austrian grandmother used to make it on her farm, but true, it's usually mixed flour in stores, though 100% rye is still in every store.

What the fuck is chocolate bread? A dessert?
I don't think it's a thing. Or it probably is, but I've never seen it.
The guy I mentioned simply didn't know anything but white bread. Poor guy.
 
I mean if you think all US food is BBQ or fast food and not regional dishes, then you are just wrong.

In Los Angeles, and in major cities, you can get all kinds of Americanized and original ethnic dishes.

Have you ever had a Salvadorian pupusa ? Or beef tongue tacos? Or Ethiopian food?
 
This. Recently toured across Europe and the lack of food options was frustrating. Most regions offer a few types of foods and there arent a lot of alternative places you can go to to get a different taste. The good thing about the US is the you can find literally anything in a big city. You can eat greasy ass "American" food or the food of any country you want, and the range of quality and variety is really broad. You just gotta search on something like yelp instead of walking into an olive garden or something.
You must've not looked all that hard in your travels. Even in the fairly small, remote city I live in far up in the North, not only do we have lots of "native" alternatives ranging from hamburger & pizza places of different qualities to plenty of fine(r) dining places, but also Greek, Indian, Nepalese, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Canadian, Thai, Italian & other restaurants. Not quite EVERY country represented but numerous enough that you aren't forced to go to McDonalds or anything.
 
I've been to the U.S myself, and there's definitely good food but one thing I realised is that a lot of just typical food you can buy at a grocery store is either much sweeter or much saltier than my palette is used to. There's a lot of really good cafés and things of course, but for example eating a chocolate bar that I buy at the store is so incredibly sweet. Even brands that are sold globally like Snickers tasted really different.

Yes, our typical chocolate is awful, truly. It's so filled with sweet shit that your mouth and throat feel scraped up by the end of a bar.

It's really easy to find the good stuff, too, even at most markets. But if you just pick up a Snickers or whatever, don't expect it to be very good.
 
In Europe you'll find all kinds of good cuisines if you know where to look.
Quality gradually declines from the south to the north.

The quality of cuisine in the US largely depends of the presence of immigrants.
In NYC you'll find decent pizza because lots of Italian immigrants are there.
Yet it doesn't really compare to what you can find in central Europe.

First paragraph it's exactly the same in the US.

Second... Finding good pizza in the US has nothing to do with finding a shop with Italians making the pizza. My favorite pizza place by my house is a bunch of Middle Eastern guys working there place when I go to pick up.
 
As far as gaffers go.

They don't even go to the restaurants. Most of these threads are just "GAF help I saw a picture of a McDonald's the other day and now I'm afraid of diabetes" like shitty food exists nowhere else in the world.

To any Europeans or whatever who are travelling to America and are genuinely afraid of our food, you can almost certainly find whatever it is you are used to if you look hard enough. If there is one thing we do have it's variety.
 
From my experience american food is more of the same but with way more salt and sugar, which can be a bit sickening at times.

And shopping in stores is depressing, there's so much trash food sometimes you just don't know what to buy !
 
First paragraph it's exactly the same in the US.

Second... Finding good pizza in the US has nothing to do with finding a shop with Italians making the pizza. My favorite pizza place by my house is a bunch of Middle Eastern guys working there place when I go to pick up.

The best pizza I ever had was at a joint run by Chileans.
 
The quality of cuisine in the US largely depends of the presence of immigrants.
In NYC you'll find decent pizza because lots of Italian immigrants are there.
Yet it doesn't really compare to what you can find in central Europe.

That's basically a really good way to put it.

But I will say that I really, really don't think most pizza places in NYC are run by "Italian immigrants" anymore. Some are, sure, but your average pizza joint in NY at this stage is run and staffed by either Eastern Europeans (Albania, Serbia, Croatia, that region - here's a thing from 2001) or Latin Americans. That's to say nothing of the quality - some are great, some are bad. But actual Italians making pizza is not really that much of a thing anymore.
 
Bread with 1 slice of cheese and 1 slice of ham toasted is amazing.

Americans call it a struggle sandwich because it isn't loaded with half a pigs worth of ham and a cheese wheel.

The portion sizes over there are insane. Can never finish meals ever
 
Reese's buttercups are vile shit no matter where you come from.

Come at me.

I'm far to passive to "come at you" or be threatening but your words wound me. It's my favorite candy of all time along with gummy worms! I <3 peanut butter/Reeses. If only I could eat them all the time and not have to worry about it all going to my thighs... -sadness-

----------------

While the US definitely has a lot of issues with added fats, sugar and sodium in everything there are really options too. Though being hypotensive I'm kinda thankful with how much salt is in cheap food as I struggle getting enough to not get super dizzy as it is on some days.
 
That like max level cultural appropriation mate...
Mexico is not the US
Salvador is not the US
Ethiopia is not the US

Uh, they started food services for Americans in America.
Same as the Mexican hot dog man is American even he is from Mexico.
LA downtown and Hollywood is full of these entrepreneurs.. Fucking awesome hot dogs.
 
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