New world food or old world food- you choose.

[twickster]

@sjc

I agree that this topic is interesting, but I think it’s useful to point out how wierd it is to ask it.

Weird is what we do here!

[jaderabbit]

@bouv

And here’s the kicker, something you old worlders are neglecting, methinks. It’s a biggy.

Sugar.

Plain, white, granualted, sugar. You old worlders have to make do with sugar obtained from sugar beets. Enjoy your five buck-a-pound bags of sugar. (I pulled that number out of my ass, i have no idea how much sugar would cost if it had to be manufactored from beets. I imagine it must be more than from sugar cane, since there is so much less in a beet, and therefore more are required, which takes up more land, more time, etc…)

In some parts of the U.S., beet sugar is pretty cheap. However, having lived near an sugar beet (http://www.crystalsugar.com/) refinery, I’m not a big fan. It tastes funny, and oh gods the stench of rotting beets. Cane sugar is much nicer.

I think I could live with either Old World or New World. The hard part is that one way I give up sweet potatoes, and the other way, I give up nectarines.

But that said, recipes have used both Old World and New World foods for a very long time, and they’ll probably do so even more in the future. If an Indian recipe says can’t make saag paneer without tomatoes, then maybe I can squeak tomatoes in on a technicality.

[MrDibble]

@silenus

I would sure miss french fries and ketchup, though. A burger just wouldn’t be the same…

Parsnip fries. I’m serious, they are Teh Yummy…

…can’t help you on the ketchup, though. I’m a mayonnaise kinda guy myself.

[WhyNot]

Isn’t ketchup essentially a vehicle for vinegar and sugar, that only bears a passing resemblance to tomato? Surely we could come up with some other base goo and make something close to ketchup sans tomato.

I’m going to have to go old world, I fear. But I will really, really miss cajun food.

[scr4]

@bouv

Lobster (speaking as someone who doesn’t even like this bug, even I know maine lobster is better than whatever lobster might be in the Asian half of the pacific ocean.)

I beg to differ. Steamed Maine lobster is pretty good as far as American food goes, but spiny lobster sashimi and miso soup are divine. (The two usually go together - after you eat the tail, the head is used to make the soup.)

[BluePitbull]

@Antonius Block

O horrendous sven’s World, that hath such choices in it!

So, given that my favorite meal EVAR!1! would include sourdough bread, olive oil, basil, garlic, ginger, mozzarella, and tomatoes, with wine or beer, [but I’d have to sacrifice the tomatoes as a New-World Johnny-come-lately], I think I’ll stick with the Old World.

That sounds like a yummy meal. What is it called?

I love Italian, Chinese, Mexican, European beers and Canadian poutine so it is a tough desicion.