Popularizing Korean Cuisine
Dear editor,
Returning to my home country after living in Korea for a couple of years, I crave Korean food that I enjoyed during my stay there. Before I went to Korea, I had no idea what Korean food was.
In the United States, I can say easily that Chinese food would be the most known Asian food enjoyed by most Americans. What is the reason for this? Well, it's simple. It's Americanized Chinese food.
Could Americans really actually eat what Chinese people really eat in their daily lives in China? Most likely not. But when it comes to Americanized or fusion Chinese cuisine in the U.S., it's ``eater friendly'' that everyone can enjoy.
It's like eating pizza from Pizza Hut or Domino's pizza. It's delicious, but not the original like how it is in Italy. When we eat pizza or a dish from a certain country, it gives us a general sense of the culture of that country which we can learn from.
Authentic Korean food is very delicious, but to others who are not exposed to different cultures, it may be hard to eat. Since several Chinese eateries in the U.S. are Americanized, people who are from rural areas can enjoy it even without having any exposure to Chinese culture and still say they love Chinese food.
While the U.S. is a multicultural country that is so diverse, its citizens should learn from the different backgrounds that make up American society. There are close to two million Korean-Americans and it shouldn't be a difficult task in making Korean food popular.
When I say this, I mean out of the Korean community and into mainstream American society. This can be done, but it needs some assistance from Korea and Americans of Korean descent. The objective is to figure out what Korean dishes can be ``fusion'' and enjoyed by anyone. In my opinion, this shouldn't be hard at all.
John Smith
Minneapolis, Minnesota