# Multi-ethnic foods **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 19, 2010, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007 "2010-03-19T14:01:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/21 "2010-03-20T04:29:40Z")
That surprises me, and the family, quite a bit. Does the cuisine vary that much from region to region within Mexico? Totally possible, just…very surprising. ---
**Author:** ![Sonnenstrahl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Sonnenstrahl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonnenstrahl)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/22 "2010-03-20T04:37:27Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I always think of Lox and Bagels as being Jewish food, though it’s probably more associated with NYC than Jews And it’s often packaged here on the west coast as being somehow indigenous to this region, because of the salmon fishing I guess. I’ve seen “West Coast Classic” bagels around here that are just lox and cream cheese with red onion and capers, same as the Jewish/NYC sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/23 "2010-03-20T05:14:42Z")
> [@hellpaso](#): > > How about southern fried pies and Mexican empanadas? Samosas from southern Asia and eastern Africa are also very similar to empanadas. ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/24 "2010-03-20T05:17:41Z")
Cumin is used regularly in Spanish cuisine. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/25 "2010-03-20T05:19:13Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#): > > I am Mexican and cumin is used very little and only for a few dishes in Central México. De veras. In the US there are big differences in cuisine depending on region. Mexico’s a pretty big place, they don’t have the same level of variety? Edit: I guess that’s pretty much what **Taomist** said, on review. ---
**Author:** ![TheTerribleTako](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@TheTerribleTako](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTerribleTako)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/26 "2010-03-20T05:31:42Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > Samosas from southern Asia and eastern Africa are also very similar to empanadas. Empanadas seem to be pretty global. It seems like every Latin American country have their own style of empanadas. Due to their colonial heritage, even Filipino bakeries carry empanadas. Even some Taiwanese bakeries have these meat and gravy pockets as a result of the Portuguese trade routes. It’s not surprising that it’s so popular since hand held spiced meat and vegetables are the original fast food. ---
**Author:** ![foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9a140/32.png) [@foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolscap)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/27 "2010-03-21T04:45:30Z")
My wife once made for me a very russian dish called Bosma she was very worried that I would like it. after all it is a very very russian food.😃 You might know it as “New England Boiled Dinner”:smack: ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/28 "2010-03-21T18:30:59Z")
Seems like flatbreads etc. fit the bill here - most cuisines seem to have some variant. (I have to admit when I first saw this title it would be about non-sensical mashups of foods - like ‘Sushi au gratin’… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/29 "2010-03-21T20:13:11Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > And [Japanese curry](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_curry) is not very close to either of those. Whatever happens, don’t mention the [currywurst](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currywurst). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/30 "2010-03-21T20:43:32Z")
> [@foolscap](#): > > My wife once made for me a very russian dish called Bosma > she was very worried that I would like it. > after all it is a very very russian food.😃 > You might know it as “New England Boiled Dinner”:smack: Ah, New England Boiled Dinner… memories of my childhood. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/31 "2010-03-21T21:06:28Z")
There’s a salad served in India consisting basically of cucumbers and a few other vegetables in a yogurt dressing. The same salad is also served in Germany, except with sour cream instead of yogurt. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/32 "2010-03-21T21:42:12Z")
Swedish meatballs. Not only on Earth, but in every race in the universe. 😉 Tea: associated with the UK, Japan, and China as a their favorite hot beverage. Sausage – various versions in various parts of the world. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/33 "2010-03-22T06:05:22Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > And [Japanese curry](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_curry) is not very close to either of those. And I’m dubious if Vermonters are aware of the Vermont Style Apple flavored curry of Japan? BTW, Japanese ‘vermont’ curry is tasty as long as you’re not expecting ‘real’ curry ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/34 "2010-03-22T08:57:42Z")
Spam is a beloved staple among trashy Americans…and Pacific Islanders. You can add Pacific Islanders to the corned beef list as well. Actually, a lot Indian spices are found in Mexican food- coriander and cumin are foundational in both. I’ve used curry spices to flavor Mexican food in a pinch and it works out fine. Donuts of some sort are found in nearly every culture. China makes a fermented rice cake that is EXACTLY like it’s counterpart in West Africa. Besides the shape, you would not be able to tell one from the other. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/35 "2010-03-22T08:59:06Z")
Also universal is cucumbers in vinegar. I’ve eaten it regularly in America, West Africa, China and India. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/36 "2010-03-22T21:17:34Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Spam is a beloved staple among trashy Americans…and Pacific Islanders. And South Korea! I love Spam and kimchi fried rice! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/37 "2010-03-22T22:02:13Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Actually, a lot Indian spices are found in Mexican food- coriander and cumin are foundational in both. I’ve used curry spices to flavor Mexican food in a pinch and it works out fine. This seems fair, since chilies come from the Americas, but are now present as a staple in Indian, Thai and other Asian cuisines. I for one, am really glad these two areas cross-pollinated. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/38 "2010-03-22T22:20:32Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > And I’m dubious if Vermonters are aware of the Vermont Style Apple flavored curry of Japan? > > BTW, Japanese ‘vermont’ curry is tasty as long as you’re not expecting ‘real’ curry You noticed that too huh? 😃 Dang - now I have to get the wife to make some curry. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/39 "2010-03-23T00:40:33Z")
My first thought is of [Banh Mi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A1nh_m%C3%AC), a Vietnamese/French sub with hot chile peppers, cilantro, pickled vegetables, mayonnaise, and meats on a baguette. They’re freakin’ delicious. ---
**Author:** ![JiveCoolie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eada6e/32.png) [@JiveCoolie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JiveCoolie)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007/40 "2010-03-23T00:58:04Z")
> [@TheTerribleTako](#): > > Due to their colonial heritage, even Filipino bakeries carry empanadas. Our empanadas have hard boiled egg & raisins in them. Well, Grandma’s did, but she did sell a fair amount of food to the local bakery. Another one would be “egg rolls”. Seems like most asian countries have a version, and their own name for it. But if you say, “Two egg rolls, to go” at the filipino bakery, they’ll know you mean lumpia. Same at a Pho place with their Vietnamese version. I guess another one would be steamed buns. I’m filipino and we called them “shoh pows” (spelled phonetically) growing up. They’re like Cho Shu Bai (sp?) that you can get at Chinese places, but it has different stuff inside. And, of course, nothing crosses ethnic lines like a plain old grilled piece of meat. Every culture I can think of has steak of one kind or another. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-ethnic-foods/533007.md?page=3)