What’s a good Asian dish to cook for a very white bread Midwestern family?
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Anonymous
Thank you for this article because I too am from Michigan and have been looking for this! Had no idea it was a Michigan thing. I can still hear my grandfather ordering this every Sunday when we took them out for Chinese. |
Anonymous
| Duck. |
Anonymous
I'm from a white bread Midwestern family and I don't find that phrase rude. It is a good description of much of my larger family and also many school friends who don't eat much spice, only eat white bread (for real), and are hesitant to try food that doesn't look like what they're used to. They can handle crab rangoon, sweet & sour chicken, and fried rice, and that's pushing it. I used to be like that, too, so I understand the mentality, because I grew up in a household that never, ever ate anything more exotic than Old El Paso taco kits. This food culture exists even if you think it's rude to give it a nickname of "white bread" palate. If OP were going to cook something for my parents or aunts and uncles, she'd really have to keep it simple and recognizable, or else I can assure you they would not eat it. It would be an unhappy event for them. It's not just a mid-western thing, though. Spouse grew up in the DMV area and my in-laws are also hesitant to try what they call "ethnic" foods. Anyway, I think OP should make steamed dumplings if that is in her range. Who doesn't love a good dumpling? And it's white on the outside, lol. |
Anonymous
NP In my suburban Michigan upbringing, the pepper in pepper steak was green pepper, not actual pepper. |
Anonymous
You can use scallions. Basil isn't necessary. |
Anonymous
My MIL considers black pepper spicy. She is the most spice averse person I know. She was raised in Brooklyn. I grew up in a small midwestern town in the middle of nowhere, but my parents loved food and ate a varied diet. My mother has all the spices and is a great cook. We enjoy trying new things. |
Anonymous
Green pepper is actual pepper. Black pepper is peppercorn. |
Anonymous
| Just make spaghetti and call it Lo Mein |
Anonymous
The sauce is a black pepper sauce, isn’t it? Or is this different regionally? |
Anonymous
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Did not read it all, but OP, your original post was so odd. Your DH said you would cook "something Asian" and you say "I am Asian."
It would have made sense if DH/you had said Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Kazakh, or Uzbek, or so on. Folks are offering up dishes from all over Asia, which may not be your culture. Why would you be so deliberately vague? Why not identify the heritage? If you won't, then think about what your mom or grandma made, cut down on spices if need be. It seems bizarre if, say, your heritage is Indian and you offer up a Chinese (Americanized, no less) or Japanese dish. What would be the point? |
Anonymous
I think OP kept it vague to avoid being identified just in case. But to your point, why can’t an Indian person cook a Japanese dish? Your premise is ridiculous and smacks of culinary gatekeeping. |
Anonymous
| You need to be "sick" on that day. |
Anonymous
| I think you should go over the top and cook them something VERY authentic from your home country with spices and vegetables that you know they'll never touch. They'll have a bit of cultural exposure, and you will never be asked to cook for them again. Win win. Just make sure DH has the nearest pizza place on speed dial. |
Anonymous
+1, nip this in the bud now I'm Korean, so a suggestion would be spicy seafood stew with octopus if you can find it. |
Anonymous
| Charcuterie board? |