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Why does Polish, Czech, Russian or Ukranian cuisine is by no means as widespread as Italian, French, Spanish or even German cuisine.
Do those countries lack of distinctive Dishes?
Because eating out is a part of cultural prestige western nations (especially former colonial powers) diligently protect. So it's perfectly predictable they certainly can't allow some Slavistan xyz country beating them at that.
Actually outside southern Europe (The Latin one), European cuisine is hardly known.
Greece, Italy, France, Spain is what people think about when they say European cuisine.
When was the last time you heard someone say:
- Let's go to a nice Norwegian restaurant!
- I am craving Austrian food!
Can you name a Dutch dish?
European food = French, Spain, Italy, Greece.
Austrian food is pretty popular, it's just typically called German food. Apfelstrudel is famous enough that it has its own Wiki page in two dozen languages: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_strudel.
Why does Polish, Czech, Russian or Ukrainian cuisine is by no means as widespread as Italian, French, Spanish or even German cuisine.
Do those countries lack of distinctive Dishes?
There are certainly parts of the US where many people of Polish, Russian, etc. descent live, and in those areas the cuisine of their native countries are prominent to this day. I had a friend with a Polish last name who came from Wisconsin. She was always talking about pierogis...I had to ask her what they were the first time, as living in California I had never encountered them. She was shocked to hear that, as they are very common in her part of the Midwest.
I think one reason those foods are not as widespread as Italian, etc., is that until comparatively recent times, the countries were not very open for other Westerners to visit. And even when they opened, they were not high on the list of tourist spots compared to France, et al., so the cuisine is just not widely familiar.
And, to be honest, if people think about it at all, they think of Eastern European food as being "heavy" and uninteresting, basically meat, potatoes, cabbage and bread. This may very well be wrong, but it is the stereotype (German food also has this stereotype). So maybe what Eastern European food needs a PR campaign.
There are certainly parts of the US where many people of Polish, Russian, etc. descent live, and in those areas the cuisine of their native countries are prominent to this day. I had a friend with a Polish last name who came from Wisconsin. She was always talking about pierogis...I had to ask her what they were the first time, as living in California I had never encountered them. She was shocked to hear that, as they are very common in her part of the Midwest.
Just adding: There are tons of Polish restaurants in NYC. Throughout NYC, pierogis are pretty common.
Even in Williamsburg VA, there is a Polish food store with imported food from Poland and Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
I made Danish smorgasbord open sandwiches (non meat, only fish/eggs) on Christmas Eve. We had
Speculoos cookies from Belgium too.
For historical reasons, Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Polish, Lithuanian cuisines are all mixed up. And that's why there are identical dishes in different variations in these kitchens. The same borscht is available in Russian, Ukrainian and Polish cuisines. Or dumplings - there are both in Russian and in Ukrainian and in Belarusian and in Polish. Although Polish cuisine is more different than Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian.
Location: Was Midvalley Oregon; Now Eastside Seattle area
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Eastern Europe: The past month we made Borscht stew 2x. Each making is good for 3 days for the 2 of us.
ox-tail now at $12/# cheap. Add in cabbage at $1.29/#, carrots, turnips, potatoes, and what ever, Borscht becomes a very expensive dish.
We also prefer the heavier, multigrain breads.
Last edited by leastprime; 01-10-2022 at 09:26 PM..
Des Moines, Iowa of all places has a bunch of Bosnian restaurants. Saw them on a road trip a few years ago. I found that peculiar. Now I wish I had eaten at least 1 meal there.
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