Obsession of Italians to keep "Italian" food authentic

[Anonymous]

Do other countries/cultures have this obsession? I think not to the same degree. If we think that there was no such thing as Italy nor Italian cuisine until 1861, and that all cuisine was regional, are Italians more ocd than other cultures about "preserving" la cucina Italiana? (don't get me wrong, I like eating in Rome, for an example, their simple pasta carbonara).
Am I missing something and other cultures are just as protective? Where is the Chinese show on Netflix talking about the abomination that is American Chinese cuisine? Or Polish ranting that we got the cabbage rolls all wrong?
Or a German show hating on "German American" cuisines? Isn't is kind of acceptable that some of the best bagels are made in Montreal?
I even think French are not as ocd about it. The attitude I get from the French people I know is, sure your Costco croissant is huge and that is why American are overweight.
Am I wrong? Are other cultures as obsessive with critiquing the variations of their dishes that developed from immigrant populations?
What other countries seem upset about "bastardization" of their cuisine?

[Anonymous]

Well, Italy has nothing else going for them other than their food so they have to be protective. Oh, and Ferrari.

[Anonymous]

I think most cultures would be annoyed if you vulgarize their dishes, and particularly if you mistreat the ingredients, though I agree that the Italians are prouder than most.

If, for example, you put coke in a single malt, or mustard with jamon bellota, or curry inside a pierogi, the natives of these countries would have something to say. And ask Chinese-born people what they make of Chinese-American cuisine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think most cultures would be annoyed if you vulgarize their dishes, and particularly if you mistreat the ingredients, though I agree that the Italians are prouder than most.

If, for example, you put coke in a single malt, or mustard with jamon bellota, or curry inside a pierogi, the natives of these countries would have something to say. And ask Chinese-born people what they make of Chinese-American cuisine.

Sure. But, wasn't it Italian immigrants that were doing all these thing once they left? Here, in Argentina, etc...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, Italy has nothing else going for them other than their food so they have to be protective. Oh, and Ferrari.

And opera. And fashion. And Dante. And And some of the most beautiful buildings in the world. And the dulce vita. And barolo.

You are right. They have nothing except for the finest language, clothes, food, drink, architecture, countryside...

[Anonymous]

You should follow the twitter account Italians Mad at Food. It's gold.

Honestly, the french are similar. And a lot of industries have tried to copy and market Italian products but are of lower quality (olive oil, tomatoes, vinegar).

Did you watch Stanley Tucci's Italy series? Italian people are passionate about their food - it's their livelihood, their traditions, and they are damn good at it, too.

I am 3rd gen Italian and I still have impressions of my great grandparents & grandparents and the traditions we had around food. And it's very region specific in Italy. They are all different.

It's really a way to live, a philosophy of life. I think a lot of Americans miss out on it because they are used to eating bland, processed food. (That's ok too, just missing out on the joy that food can bring.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most cultures would be annoyed if you vulgarize their dishes, and particularly if you mistreat the ingredients, though I agree that the Italians are prouder than most.

If, for example, you put coke in a single malt, or mustard with jamon bellota, or curry inside a pierogi, the natives of these countries would have something to say. And ask Chinese-born people what they make of Chinese-American cuisine.

Sure. But, wasn't it Italian immigrants that were doing all these thing once they left? Here, in Argentina, etc...

As with England, it wasn't the best people who left. It was mostly the poor, the uneducated, and the criminal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, Italy has nothing else going for them other than their food so they have to be protective. Oh, and Ferrari.

And opera. And fashion. And Dante. And And some of the most beautiful buildings in the world. And the dulce vita. And barolo.

You are right. They have nothing except for the finest language, clothes, food, drink, architecture, countryside...

+1. I was feeling that this level of ignorance was not worth responding to. Thanks for having more patience

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most cultures would be annoyed if you vulgarize their dishes, and particularly if you mistreat the ingredients, though I agree that the Italians are prouder than most.

If, for example, you put coke in a single malt, or mustard with jamon bellota, or curry inside a pierogi, the natives of these countries would have something to say. And ask Chinese-born people what they make of Chinese-American cuisine.

Sure. But, wasn't it Italian immigrants that were doing all these thing once they left? Here, in Argentina, etc...

As with England, it wasn't the best people who left. It was mostly the poor, the uneducated, and the criminal.

I'd edit "best" people to the "wealthy and powerful" --- those who emigrated from their countries weren't and aren't "the worst."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most cultures would be annoyed if you vulgarize their dishes, and particularly if you mistreat the ingredients, though I agree that the Italians are prouder than most.

If, for example, you put coke in a single malt, or mustard with jamon bellota, or curry inside a pierogi, the natives of these countries would have something to say. And ask Chinese-born people what they make of Chinese-American cuisine.

Sure. But, wasn't it Italian immigrants that were doing all these thing once they left? Here, in Argentina, etc...

As with England, it wasn't the best people who left. It was mostly the poor, the uneducated, and the criminal.

Omg. Right, most were criminals. Good Lord. Educate yourself, so that you don't continue to conflate poor and uneducated with mafioso. You in fact sound quite uneducated. Immigrants were often from rural, poorer areas of Italy, yes. As were many Immigrants from other countries. No, most Italians do not have criminal ties and I cannot believe I have to say this in 2021.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should follow the twitter account Italians Mad at Food. It's gold.

Honestly, the french are similar. And a lot of industries have tried to copy and market Italian products but are of lower quality (olive oil, tomatoes, vinegar).

Did you watch Stanley Tucci's Italy series? Italian people are passionate about their food - it's their livelihood, their traditions, and they are damn good at it, too.

I am 3rd gen Italian and I still have impressions of my great grandparents & grandparents and the traditions we had around food. And it's very region specific in Italy. They are all different.

It's really a way to live, a philosophy of life. I think a lot of Americans miss out on it because they are used to eating bland, processed food. (That's ok too, just missing out on the joy that food can bring.)

Checking it out now! I did what that chef Gino say, "if my grandma had wheels, she'd be a bicycle!" That was pretty funny!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think most cultures would be annoyed if you vulgarize their dishes, and particularly if you mistreat the ingredients, though I agree that the Italians are prouder than most.

If, for example, you put coke in a single malt, or mustard with jamon bellota, or curry inside a pierogi, the natives of these countries would have something to say. And ask Chinese-born people what they make of Chinese-American cuisine.

Chinese American food does not equal Chinese food. It’s almost like it’s own sub “cuisine”
Like Tex-Mex vs Mexican.

[Anonymous]

Pretty sure every country in Europe feels this way. Food is a large part of every nation’s culture and European countries don’t embrace immigration the way that America does (or has in the past).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think most cultures would be annoyed if you vulgarize their dishes, and particularly if you mistreat the ingredients, though I agree that the Italians are prouder than most.

If, for example, you put coke in a single malt, or mustard with jamon bellota, or curry inside a pierogi, the natives of these countries would have something to say. And ask Chinese-born people what they make of Chinese-American cuisine.

Masala-stuffed pierogi! That sounds fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Wait, the worst immigrated from England here? Sure, if we are talking about indentures servants, but the rest had money, no?
The rest were pretty well off, isn't that why we had Lord Baltimore?