# Why is Jewish American food so terrible when so many US Jews readily appreciate fine food?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-jewish-american-food-so-terrible-when-so-many-us-jews-readily-appreciate-fine-food/616795>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 25, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-jewish-american-food-so-terrible-when-so-many-us-jews-readily-appreciate-fine-food/616795 "2012-03-25T22:47:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-jewish-american-food-so-terrible-when-so-many-us-jews-readily-appreciate-fine-food/616795/101 "2016-10-07T23:16:36Z")

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> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> Yes. Back in the sixties, there was [Bernstein’s](http://www.boweryboogie.com/2011/12/when-schmulka-bernsteins-ruled-essex-street/) Kosher Chinese restaurant in Manhattan

According to both Mimi Sheraton and Arthur Schwartz, one of the reason NYC Jews love them some Chinese food is that everything is cut up real small.

So there might be some pork in there, but if they can’t SEE it, it doesn’t exist.

(This doesn’t count for pious Jews who are really serious about being Kosher, but for run-of-the-mill Jews who don’t give a damn\* but would die of guilt if they ate a big slab of roast pork.)

- I would estimate the percentage of my Brooklyn/Manhattan Jewish friends who give a damn at 5-10%. Most of 'em are atheists like me.

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-jewish-american-food-so-terrible-when-so-many-us-jews-readily-appreciate-fine-food/616795/102 "2016-10-08T00:42:01Z")

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I figure that hot and sour soup is “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

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**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-jewish-american-food-so-terrible-when-so-many-us-jews-readily-appreciate-fine-food/616795/103 "2016-10-08T02:08:04Z")

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I thought the convention is that all Chinese food is kosher by tacit agreement, practically Jewish by association. 😃

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**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-jewish-american-food-so-terrible-when-so-many-us-jews-readily-appreciate-fine-food/616795/104 "2016-10-08T03:54:37Z")

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I always have to link to [this](http://s3.sillylikes.com/uploads/13540678630164.jpg) whenever these two topics coincide.

[QUOTE=a hand-lettered and -decorated sign on a glass door]

The Chinese Rest.  
Assoc.  
of the United States

would like to extend  
our thanks to  
The Jewish People

we do not completely  
understand your dietary  
customs…

But we are proud and  
grateful that your GOD  
insist you eat our food  
on Christmas

Happy  
Holidays!  
[yin-yang] [star o’david]

[/QUOTE]

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