Food Fantasies

Everyone knows that fashion is not the only industry that has fads come through. Food is another major trendy industry. We've all experimented with the "ethnic cuisine du jour". In my adult lifetime I have seen Indian, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, and the Middle Eastern foods come into vogue. They are all good in their own right and well worth the taste bud journey.

(Hungarian restaurant in Toronto-www.blogto.com)

I also find it strange that some cuisines that are considered ethnic become staples in different cultures. Take America for instance- our staple ethnic cuisines are Italian, Mexican, and Chinese. This is obviously reflective of our immigrant populations. That is how a country gets its staple cuisines.

In the U.K. it is Indian. I also have seen a lot of Thai around Britain when I'm there. In Paris there are a lot of Middle Eastern and African restaurants. One of my best meals of all time was eaten in a little Senegalese restaurant in the Marais. These trends all represent the ethnic "flavor" of a country/culture. (Flavors of Peru catering, http://www.free-press-release.com/)

I would like to put forth a notion of some new food trends. I am bored by the same food tastes but with slightly different "twists". How about something Eastern European? Or maybe Peruvian, Argentinian? Something with an exotic flavor that is not of the Orient? How about something a little Icelandic? Bringing up one of my fav new shows- Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations- I remember seeing him in the Azores. They seem to have some pretty fresh food. How about something Portugese?

(Icelandic cuisine- www.restaurants.is)

I think I get bored easily and that is why I am always searching out what is "up and coming". That is also why I like to travel to places who see food differently than we Americans do. It is also one thing I like about my new fav travel shows (see entry below) because both hosts inevitably try out the food of each locale.

Let's ask more from our food. Let's ask for a journey of the taste buds, an exploration of the soft palette. It promises to be delicious.