S/O: What explains the Midwestern palate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t people garden and can there? Isn’t the Midwest more rural in overall. Sure there are cities…but more small towns.

My grandmother gardened and canned. My mother was a professor in basic science with a lab at Ohio State. She made a lot of hamburger helper and Salisbury steak with iceberg lettuce salads.
We also had Chinese takeout pretty often and definitely had sushi regularly (There is a Honda plant outside Columbus).
I didn’t learn to can anything until I was an adult and moved to a more rural part of Ohio. My friend from the UK taught me. She was fascinated with rural life and didn’t understand why Americans looked down on it.

I have lived all over the Midwest and really cannot relate to much of this thread. I have never been to a fish fry outside of Lent. I don’t know anyone with a college education who refuses to try new foods. I also know a lot of people who are not white and therefore do not have an Irish or German heritage. I have to kind of agree that this seems like people who don’t like their in-laws or people who currently have a very different SES than what they grew up with.

I will agree that it was hard to be a vegetarian in the Midwest 20 years ago. Your options for eating out were limited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And not just meat and potatoes and bread, but the lack of spice. Why? Isn’t Penzey’s originally from the Midwest? Yet most people I know from the Midwest have significant food aversions compared to people from the coasts.

Spice is traditionally used in hot climates with rotten meat. Good fresh meat like beef and chicken doesn't need spice.

As a relatively recent immigrant to US from the lands of "bland" foods, it's very interesting to me that American definition of flavor only includes the more "Southern" spices. Our food traditionally doesn't use hot peppers or cumin, but with long winters and relatively short agricultural season, there was lots of brining, pickling, salting and smoking various stuff.

I actually think that stuff like sauerkraut, pickles, sausage, smoked meats, etc are pretty common in the Midwest.
Eating fish isn’t as common because catfish are gross and anything else has to be flown in.

My brothers used to fish and we ate what they caught. Very common in the Midwest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And not just meat and potatoes and bread, but the lack of spice. Why? Isn’t Penzey’s originally from the Midwest? Yet most people I know from the Midwest have significant food aversions compared to people from the coasts.

Spice is traditionally used in hot climates with rotten meat. Good fresh meat like beef and chicken doesn't need spice.

As a relatively recent immigrant to US from the lands of "bland" foods, it's very interesting to me that American definition of flavor only includes the more "Southern" spices. Our food traditionally doesn't use hot peppers or cumin, but with long winters and relatively short agricultural season, there was lots of brining, pickling, salting and smoking various stuff.

I actually think that stuff like sauerkraut, pickles, sausage, smoked meats, etc are pretty common in the Midwest.
Eating fish isn’t as common because catfish are gross and anything else has to be flown in.

Please tell me that you are not this clueless! Ever heard of the Midwestern Friday fish fry where people eat walleye, bluegill and lake perch that is from the Great Lakes? If you don’t know that, then you really have no business commenting and you can just sit down.

Most people from the coasts have no concept of how large the Great Lakes are. I grew up sailing on Lake Michigan and we’d sail from Chicago to Michigan and it took 12 hours and you would not see land for at least half that time.

No fish. Arrogance and ignorance all wrapped up into one!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And not just meat and potatoes and bread, but the lack of spice. Why? Isn’t Penzey’s originally from the Midwest? Yet most people I know from the Midwest have significant food aversions compared to people from the coasts.

Spice is traditionally used in hot climates with rotten meat. Good fresh meat like beef and chicken doesn't need spice.

As a relatively recent immigrant to US from the lands of "bland" foods, it's very interesting to me that American definition of flavor only includes the more "Southern" spices. Our food traditionally doesn't use hot peppers or cumin, but with long winters and relatively short agricultural season, there was lots of brining, pickling, salting and smoking various stuff.

I actually think that stuff like sauerkraut, pickles, sausage, smoked meats, etc are pretty common in the Midwest.
Eating fish isn’t as common because catfish are gross and anything else has to be flown in.

Please tell me that you are not this clueless! Ever heard of the Midwestern Friday fish fry where people eat walleye, bluegill and lake perch that is from the Great Lakes? If you don’t know that, then you really have no business commenting and you can just sit down.

Most people from the coasts have no concept of how large the Great Lakes are. I grew up sailing on Lake Michigan and we’d sail from Chicago to Michigan and it took 12 hours and you would not see land for at least half that time.

No fish. Arrogance and ignorance all wrapped up into one!!

No. Just from Cincinnati.

I don’t think you could call Skyline bland though

[Anonymous]

Two things:

1) Cincinnati Chili!

Love it - it’s chili atop spaghetti noodles.

2) Also, Springfield, Missouri is famous for their Cashew Chicken - apparently made up by a Chinese cook at a country club.

[Anonymous]

There are a ton of Polish, German and Russian/Eastern European immigrants who moved to the Midwest. This is basically where the diet comes from IMO.

I love a good pierogi myself, but I find myself getting digestive issues when visiting my inlaws in the midwest. Way too much dairy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s surprising to me is that a midwestern palate exists in 2023. There’s so much variety out there in terms of ingredients and techniques and cuisines, and it’s as simple as using Google and watching a YouTube video. Why would anyone like unimaginative bland food is beyond me. They’re missing out.

People who are stuck with the “unimaginative bland,” and might I add overpriced, food offerings in the DMV are the ones who are really “missing out.” But, hey, keep blabbing about stereotypes and pretending you are special if it makes you feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And not just meat and potatoes and bread, but the lack of spice. Why? Isn’t Penzey’s originally from the Midwest? Yet most people I know from the Midwest have significant food aversions compared to people from the coasts.

Spice is traditionally used in hot climates with rotten meat. Good fresh meat like beef and chicken doesn't need spice.

As a relatively recent immigrant to US from the lands of "bland" foods, it's very interesting to me that American definition of flavor only includes the more "Southern" spices. Our food traditionally doesn't use hot peppers or cumin, but with long winters and relatively short agricultural season, there was lots of brining, pickling, salting and smoking various stuff.

I actually think that stuff like sauerkraut, pickles, sausage, smoked meats, etc are pretty common in the Midwest.
Eating fish isn’t as common because catfish are gross and anything else has to be flown in.

Please tell me that you are not this clueless! Ever heard of the Midwestern Friday fish fry where people eat walleye, bluegill and lake perch that is from the Great Lakes? If you don’t know that, then you really have no business commenting and you can just sit down.

Most people from the coasts have no concept of how large the Great Lakes are. I grew up sailing on Lake Michigan and we’d sail from Chicago to Michigan and it took 12 hours and you would not see land for at least half that time.

No fish. Arrogance and ignorance all wrapped up into one!!

Yes, getting lectured about coasts and water from people who live in a city that has no water but an ugly bloated river has always been laughable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And not just meat and potatoes and bread, but the lack of spice. Why? Isn’t Penzey’s originally from the Midwest? Yet most people I know from the Midwest have significant food aversions compared to people from the coasts.

Spice is traditionally used in hot climates with rotten meat. Good fresh meat like beef and chicken doesn't need spice.

As a relatively recent immigrant to US from the lands of "bland" foods, it's very interesting to me that American definition of flavor only includes the more "Southern" spices. Our food traditionally doesn't use hot peppers or cumin, but with long winters and relatively short agricultural season, there was lots of brining, pickling, salting and smoking various stuff.

I actually think that stuff like sauerkraut, pickles, sausage, smoked meats, etc are pretty common in the Midwest.
Eating fish isn’t as common because catfish are gross and anything else has to be flown in.

My brothers used to fish and we ate what they caught. Very common in the Midwest.

Nothing on earth compares to a freshly caught and fried fish. YUM!

[Anonymous]

There are so many stereotypes about "midwestern food." Some have a kernel of truth to them, but modern midwestern cooking deserves just as much recognition as other American regional foodways. Amy Thielen's "The New Midwestern Table" is a great reference on the origins of this kind of cooking, how it evolved, and where it's going. There are some outstanding recipes in this book. https://www.amazon.com/New-Midwestern-Table-Heartland-Recipes/dp/0307954870

My 74 year old father-in-law is coming to visit us from Texas for a week, and I am joking to my husband that I'll have to cook like a 1950s housewife. He is very meat-and-potatoes, as in separate meat entree, separate potato or rice side, and separate vegetable side (but only certain vegetables). No ethnic foods, no cheese, no sauces, no all-in-one dishes. No pasta except for spaghetti with red sauce. Not much fish or seafood, except deep fried. This is how his mother cooked when he was growing up in the 1950s and 1960s. She was a typical mid-century American cook who stuck to the basics and didn't experiment much at all. She did use convenience foods like Jello, Bisquick, and Cool Whip, and canned and frozen foods as was typical of that era. I think the "bland Midwestern" stereotype has its roots in this style of typical mid-century American cooking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s surprising to me is that a midwestern palate exists in 2023. There’s so much variety out there in terms of ingredients and techniques and cuisines, and it’s as simple as using Google and watching a YouTube video. Why would anyone like unimaginative bland food is beyond me. They’re missing out.

Hon. There is no “Midwestern palate.” OP is in need of attention and to feel better about herself. Your excuse is just ignorance and stereotyping, I suppose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And why do they only use ranch dressing for salads. It’s like a bowl of ranch dressing with a few pieces of lettuce under it.

Where’s a Flip Driscoll haiku when you need one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe cause the main countries of origin of folks from the Midwest are Germany, Ireland, Sweden, etc. Have you had food from there? Those are the foods people grew up with and passed on to their kids.

I don't think it's food aversion as much as lack of access.

Swedish American here - I’m sorry to say that candied/marshmallow yams, green bean casserole, and spray cheese are not swedish delicacies!! My relatives come to the US and always complain about the awful bread, large portions, fried food, frozen entrees, and lack of fresh food.

Now if you want to talk about awful fish pies and fish casseroles, we can blame my people!

Haha, My dad grew up in Northern Minnesota with second generation Swedish/Norwegian parents so he had to eat all of the above! He just decided to take all fish out of his diet.