Beautifully conceived and beautifully written, this reads like an anthem. It's a hymn to what I used to believe was truly America, and now I know is America's highest aspiration yet to be realized.
How beautiful, Anand, and so spot on! Traveling the world has opened up countess examples of food possibilities, flavors and spices that my wife and I are so blessed to enjoy upon our return home to the States. We marvel at food preparation, the rich aromas, and the use of ingredients that transform our travel experiences. A visit to the market brings us in touch with local folks and gorgeous displays of color and a wide array of how people live their daily lives that food centers on throughout the world. Thank you for the many ways that food and flavors exposes us to the endless possibilities of coming together in the rich tapestry that we enjoy through the breaking of bread together, and not as a weapon to divide us.
Well other than making me hungry this was great. Think about the foods the enslaved people added to the American diet. Collards are on many menus in fancy restaurants.
Thanks for writing this. As an immigrant I feel this and totally agree. I try not to let the ignorance and ugliness of this stupid discourse seep into my weary bones.
Great article, Anand. JD and Trump play such a dangerous game of identity politics when they evoke the supposed pet-diet of Haitian immigrants. They want to get "their" people to have literal gut-level reactions of disgust to the others. Like the reaction of the RNC crowd when Usha Vance revealed she was vegetarian: not disgust, but... surprise? shock? We have to remember that most Americans have never gotten a passport. I wonder how many have actually ever had Indian food?
I can remember asking my mother as a young child in the young 50's what yogurt is. She said "something health nuts eat." Boy have we come a long way.
I am stuck with a parade of dietary restrictions. I mourn the loss of most dim sum. But thank you for gochujang, which I hadn't heard of. A jar of a gluten free gochujang is arriving tomorrow. Way to spice up my life!!
I feel this (beautiful) piece in my gut!!!! Thank you!!! I never forgot how excited I was when Cabo Verdean food was featured by Chef Marcus Samuelsson's on his show. We all felt SO proud. Relatedly, if people have never watched the first (and best) seasons of Ugly Delicious (David Chang, Netflix) and of Taste the Nation (Padma Lakshmi, Hulu), they are gorgeous illustrations of Anand's thesis. Also, specifically for teachers, those shows are excellent teaching tools, too.
Anand - you are so far from what ought to have been written in your column, I am, as the Brits say, Gobsmacked! Your writing is always so thoughtful and incisive I am very confused. And to provide a food map??
It is so NOT necessary to reassure Americans immigrants do not eat pets, but normal, regular food like everyone else. It does not matter what the dish is named, it will be composed of foodstuffs EVERYBODY eats.
Your first line, if in fact it had to be written, should have been - Immigrants eat what everyone eats - beef, pork, poultry, fish and seafood. Vegetables folks have heard of - carrots, onions, beans, leeks, lettuce; and the carbs with which we are all familiar: rice, wheat, barley. Then you name them all - dtrump, vance, et. al. as dunderheads not worthy of another minute of your time. And you give them not another minute nor second to live in your brain or disturb your heart.
In the late 19th century immigrants to this country were similarly denigrated in all newspapers and publications. The Irish, followed by the Italians, then the Jewish people - the images created of their "natural" depravity and lack of humanity were in newspapers and those hand out sheets that were popular at the time. Perhaps this is why their descendants work so hard to do the exact same thing to the immigrant populations today.
The Statue of Liberty may invite the poor huddled masses but who in America today agrees with her?
Blacks, or African-Americans if you will, have always been depicted with images and words of scorn and hate. The KKK were actually equal opportunity haters - thus the fact that today their slogans easily include ALL people they do not consider Anglo or White.
Americans today are desperately trying to prove to themselves that the fairy tale manufactured about the founding of this country, and the subsequent genocide of Native Americans, as well as the other peoples found to be 'in the way' of Manifest Destiny - eradicated without a thought or a regret - was some sort of unfortunate side effect. Americans today romanticize their relationship with Native Americans, just as they use words like "All are equal under the law" - meaningless sophistry just like vance's defense of his and dtrump's attack on the Haitian community in Springfield OH, and all people of color in America, and the world.
They do not care what I believe, nor do they care about your essay on food; and do not deserve another second of time or attention.
Beautifully conceived and beautifully written, this reads like an anthem. It's a hymn to what I used to believe was truly America, and now I know is America's highest aspiration yet to be realized.
How beautiful, Anand, and so spot on! Traveling the world has opened up countess examples of food possibilities, flavors and spices that my wife and I are so blessed to enjoy upon our return home to the States. We marvel at food preparation, the rich aromas, and the use of ingredients that transform our travel experiences. A visit to the market brings us in touch with local folks and gorgeous displays of color and a wide array of how people live their daily lives that food centers on throughout the world. Thank you for the many ways that food and flavors exposes us to the endless possibilities of coming together in the rich tapestry that we enjoy through the breaking of bread together, and not as a weapon to divide us.
Ummmm...food, just like everyone EVERYONE else. What difference does it make what kind? Variety is the spice of life, hai na?
Well other than making me hungry this was great. Think about the foods the enslaved people added to the American diet. Collards are on many menus in fancy restaurants.
God bless the taco. They helped me be the "cool mom".
Just like America is a land of immigrants unless you are original indigenous Native American, America’s diet is also completely an immigrant diet.
Thanks for writing this. As an immigrant I feel this and totally agree. I try not to let the ignorance and ugliness of this stupid discourse seep into my weary bones.
Here’s to fulsome choices! May our varied palates thrive.
Great article, Anand. JD and Trump play such a dangerous game of identity politics when they evoke the supposed pet-diet of Haitian immigrants. They want to get "their" people to have literal gut-level reactions of disgust to the others. Like the reaction of the RNC crowd when Usha Vance revealed she was vegetarian: not disgust, but... surprise? shock? We have to remember that most Americans have never gotten a passport. I wonder how many have actually ever had Indian food?
I can remember asking my mother as a young child in the young 50's what yogurt is. She said "something health nuts eat." Boy have we come a long way.
I am stuck with a parade of dietary restrictions. I mourn the loss of most dim sum. But thank you for gochujang, which I hadn't heard of. A jar of a gluten free gochujang is arriving tomorrow. Way to spice up my life!!
I feel this (beautiful) piece in my gut!!!! Thank you!!! I never forgot how excited I was when Cabo Verdean food was featured by Chef Marcus Samuelsson's on his show. We all felt SO proud. Relatedly, if people have never watched the first (and best) seasons of Ugly Delicious (David Chang, Netflix) and of Taste the Nation (Padma Lakshmi, Hulu), they are gorgeous illustrations of Anand's thesis. Also, specifically for teachers, those shows are excellent teaching tools, too.
This is a "chef's kiss" of a screed! ❤️❤️❤️
Anand - you are so far from what ought to have been written in your column, I am, as the Brits say, Gobsmacked! Your writing is always so thoughtful and incisive I am very confused. And to provide a food map??
It is so NOT necessary to reassure Americans immigrants do not eat pets, but normal, regular food like everyone else. It does not matter what the dish is named, it will be composed of foodstuffs EVERYBODY eats.
Your first line, if in fact it had to be written, should have been - Immigrants eat what everyone eats - beef, pork, poultry, fish and seafood. Vegetables folks have heard of - carrots, onions, beans, leeks, lettuce; and the carbs with which we are all familiar: rice, wheat, barley. Then you name them all - dtrump, vance, et. al. as dunderheads not worthy of another minute of your time. And you give them not another minute nor second to live in your brain or disturb your heart.
In the late 19th century immigrants to this country were similarly denigrated in all newspapers and publications. The Irish, followed by the Italians, then the Jewish people - the images created of their "natural" depravity and lack of humanity were in newspapers and those hand out sheets that were popular at the time. Perhaps this is why their descendants work so hard to do the exact same thing to the immigrant populations today.
The Statue of Liberty may invite the poor huddled masses but who in America today agrees with her?
Blacks, or African-Americans if you will, have always been depicted with images and words of scorn and hate. The KKK were actually equal opportunity haters - thus the fact that today their slogans easily include ALL people they do not consider Anglo or White.
Americans today are desperately trying to prove to themselves that the fairy tale manufactured about the founding of this country, and the subsequent genocide of Native Americans, as well as the other peoples found to be 'in the way' of Manifest Destiny - eradicated without a thought or a regret - was some sort of unfortunate side effect. Americans today romanticize their relationship with Native Americans, just as they use words like "All are equal under the law" - meaningless sophistry just like vance's defense of his and dtrump's attack on the Haitian community in Springfield OH, and all people of color in America, and the world.
They do not care what I believe, nor do they care about your essay on food; and do not deserve another second of time or attention.