So today we went to Isabel's sister's house to eat lunch (which is a very big affair on sundays.) And the first course (of like hours and hours of eating) was pretty much all seafood. I wasn't aware that there was going to be more food later, so I kinda sat there trying to figure out if there was anything that I could eat. There was this thing in front of me that looked like a funny vegetable. Everyone told me I should try it, so I took a chunk and put it on my plate. Well, after examining it more closely, I realized it had little suction cups. Yes, it was chunks of octopus. :S I couldn't bring myself to eat it, and they all laughed and said that was ok. Other foods included shrimp kebabs, whole shrimp (eyes and legs included. sheesh!), and fried eggs and ham and cheese. Needless to say, nothing very appetizing to a non-seafood person. I tried some of the fried stuff, but I really did not like it.
Later I found out there was yet more food. I figured maybe it was dessert or something, since everyone had already eaten so much. But, to my surprise, they brought out tuna salad, and a huge plate of steak!! Now, in the US I don't eat red meat, but here I've been eating it, just because I don't want to be a burden. So I managed to eat a small steak (on which they put a TON of salt..?) and helped myself to the salad. Here, rather than putting a portion of salad on your plate and eating it that way, they just eat it straight from the bowl. For those of you who don't know, I'm a tiiiiny bit of a germaphobe, so I made sure to get enough salad on my plate before they started sticking their (used) forks in it. no biggie.
After that came the desserts. And man, do spaniards know how to do dessert! There was cake, 3 types of Ice cream, an assortment of shortbread-type cookies, and pineapple. It was delicious.
And, after that (I know, right?!) we had coffee and these yummy cookie things.
All in all, lunch lasted about 2 1/2 hours, but we stayed at the table talking for a good 4 hrs. After awhile, all the Spanish really started to make me sleepy, and give me a headache, so I excused myself and went to chill on the couch. One of the good things about having a family that has a daughter in the US, is that they understand that being around a new language all the time seriously has some side affects, and that sometimes I just need to have some down time, to give my brain a rest.
So, during the meal, I was asked what typical food in America is like. And to be completely honest, I really don't know. Our food tastes are so diverse, and we have the food of so many different cultures, that I decided to ask you guys. So, if you have time, please post as a comment what some of your favorite foods are, or what you eat in your house on a regular basis, so that next time I'm asked, I will really have some solid answers.
Besos!
~Gwen
Hey this is Kevin. I think American food is horrible, greasy, and fried. Most people only like fatty things and a lot of red meat. I myself enjoy Mexican, Asian, and basically healthy food, but it is true we have food from every culture here in America, home of the free and the brave!
ReplyDeleteNice Kevin. Very...patriotic.
ReplyDeleteSo, what is a typical dinner in your household?
Or do you just go to Sumin's for dinner? haha
This really IS a hard question. We get it all the time in India, too. "What do you typically eat for lunch?" or "for dinner" or "for breakfast" (which is a lot easier — yogurt and granola).
ReplyDeleteI never know how to answer. We don't "typically" eat any particular thing.
Mostly, I cook Indian food! Or Mexican. Occasionally, I make the basic American casserole, with ground turkey (instead of ground beef) and some cheese, chopped onion, noodles, seasonings and miscellaneous veggies. We eat lots of veggies. And in winter, lots of soup.
We do eat a lot of chicken and turkey, and unlike SOME people (ahem), we also like fish and seafood. :D I don't touch red meat, because it upsets my stomach. I realize, however, that avoiding red meat is very un-American. :P We also avoid fried things. (Ditto.) And junk food. (Ditto.) And we don't eat a lotta bread. (Ditto yet again. Maybe I'm really NOT an American, after all. I'd better double-check my birth certificate....)
For lunch, we mostly eat leftovers! Well refrigerated, of course. ;D
Sara
Gwen, The USA is the melting pot of many cultures! The foods are from the background of your relatives. Fusion food is typical, meaning a blend of variety of foods from diffeent cultures. In the US salads of a variety of types are first, followed by main course of meat or fish with some kind of carbo; desserts are usually sweet. Be OPEN to anything; clear your mind of past predujices of food. This is your year of experimenting - ENJOY!
ReplyDeleteBill's right about the fusion thing. I sometimes make a spicy Indian tomato dish — and serve it as a sauce over spaghetti. :D Sometimes I add ground turkey to the tomato sauce.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention that almost everything here, at least in my kitchen, begins with onions, chopped or sliced, sauteed in olive oil. There's often a little garlic in the skillet, too. I also use a lot of minced ginger (an Indian touch).
And we use lots of tomatoes (mostly canned) in many, many of our cooked meals.
Most Americans eat a lot of potatoes or pasta, but rice is getting increasingly popular on American dinner plates. If the trend continues, it'll overtake potatoes soon. (I read that item somewhere, recently...)
Hope this helps!
Sara
I can answer that question. It's all the things I shouldn't eat but would love to: pizza, mac & cheese, hot dogs, sausage, bacon, omelets, baked or mashed potatoes, ham, ice cream, potato chips, crackers, sugary cereals, lasagna, dinner rolls, chocolate everything, canned soup, chili, and lots and lots of Lean Cuisines and cereal/protein bars! Oh, wait, the last two ARE what I eat. Thanks for the few moments to get to think about all that delicious bad stuff. Now I'm going to go eat a Weight Watcher's ice cream sandwich. Yuuum.
ReplyDeleteLove,
AS
I would love to go to Sumins to eat.. but we eat random stuff. Mexican, asian, turkey burgers, salads, spaghetti, and so on.. No yucky.
ReplyDelete