Meringue Tower/Gingerbread Crossroads



Monday, February 02, 2009
0 comments

Post a Comment


As an aspiring epicurean, I firmly oppose the gastrocultural protectionism exhibited by the Italian government's latest ban on ethnic food! A nation must really have no faith in its cuisine if it thinks that an international breadth of food choices will erode its culture. This outright "gastronomic racism" and "culinary ethnic cleansing" might seem ludicrous at first but my heart goes out to all those foodies residing in Italy (native or not)! I cannot imagine Singapore initiating such a law which shouts absurd. I mean, take us for an example, how many of our foods and "traditions" have its roots tapping from Nonya, Chinese, Malay, Indian cuisine. Its a shame that even Italy's Agriculture Minister couldn't look beyond this narrowest definition of "tradition" and "culture".

"Celebrity chef Vittorio Castellani said: 'There is no dish on earth that does not come from mixing techniques, products and tastes from cultures that have met and mingled over time.' He said many dishes thought of as Italian were, in fact, imported.
The San Marzano tomato, a staple ingredient of Italian pasta sauces, was a gift from Peru to Naples in the 18th century. Even spaghetti, it is thought, was brought back from China by Marco Polo. "

- quoted from ST (Singapore) Feb 2nd, 2009

If bolognese had to belong to anyone, its the cow. or tomato-san.

(and to those people calling out to boycott pasta in return : I say "why let your tummy suffer!" )

2/02/2009 10:03:00 PM