Comments on: Food tasting meme http://burlaki.com/blog/2008/08/21/food-tasting-meme/ Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:06:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ilya http://burlaki.com/blog/2008/08/21/food-tasting-meme/comment-page-1/#comment-2193 Ilya Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:00:01 +0000 http://burlaki.com/blog/?p=631#comment-2193 As long as it does not become a defining trait, Jason... :P As long as it does not become a defining trait, Jason… :P

]]> By: jason http://burlaki.com/blog/2008/08/21/food-tasting-meme/comment-page-1/#comment-2189 jason Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:54:26 +0000 http://burlaki.com/blog/?p=631#comment-2189 "American mass-production desserts are too cloying" That makes sense... even though I freely admit to having a sweet-tooth, I tend to dislike most restaurant desserts because they're too ooey-gooey for my tastes. I'm probably more like a European in that regard. That said, there are times when nothing seems to satisfy so much as a cheap, mass-produced Hostess snack cake (preferably a Ding Dong, but a Suzy Q is sometimes nice as well) purchased from my local Kwik-E-Mart. Hey, I <i>am</i> American, even if I fancy myself a little more worldly than most... “American mass-production desserts are too cloying”

That makes sense… even though I freely admit to having a sweet-tooth, I tend to dislike most restaurant desserts because they’re too ooey-gooey for my tastes. I’m probably more like a European in that regard.

That said, there are times when nothing seems to satisfy so much as a cheap, mass-produced Hostess snack cake (preferably a Ding Dong, but a Suzy Q is sometimes nice as well) purchased from my local Kwik-E-Mart. Hey, I am American, even if I fancy myself a little more worldly than most…

]]> By: Ilya http://burlaki.com/blog/2008/08/21/food-tasting-meme/comment-page-1/#comment-2111 Ilya Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:04:00 +0000 http://burlaki.com/blog/?p=631#comment-2111 And to follow up on the unanswered question regarding the comparative sweetness of desserts, our culinary expert posited that American mass-production desserts are too <em>cloying</em>, whereas their Russian counterparts are sweet in a more refined way. When we buy desserts in the States, we stick to European bakeries - mainly Russian or Italian. And to follow up on the unanswered question regarding the comparative sweetness of desserts, our culinary expert posited that American mass-production desserts are too cloying, whereas their Russian counterparts are sweet in a more refined way. When we buy desserts in the States, we stick to European bakeries – mainly Russian or Italian.

]]> By: Ilya http://burlaki.com/blog/2008/08/21/food-tasting-meme/comment-page-1/#comment-2110 Ilya Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:37:06 +0000 http://burlaki.com/blog/?p=631#comment-2110 The author of this Omnivore Meme postulated in a follow-up Q&A that he aimed to include varied foodstuffs (and even inserted a non-food item) to illustrate the breadth of worldwide culinary tastes. IMHO, the list was still slanted a bit towards American sweets and Asian delicacies, but it surely made the point. The author of this Omnivore Meme postulated in a follow-up Q&A that he aimed to include varied foodstuffs (and even inserted a non-food item) to illustrate the breadth of worldwide culinary tastes. IMHO, the list was still slanted a bit towards American sweets and Asian delicacies, but it surely made the point.

]]> By: Jeri http://burlaki.com/blog/2008/08/21/food-tasting-meme/comment-page-1/#comment-1911 Jeri Sat, 23 Aug 2008 07:54:19 +0000 http://burlaki.com/blog/?p=631#comment-1911 I saw this a week ago or so and thought it might be fun to do. I don't drink, which strikes several from the list, it gives me immediate migraines. Otherwise - it looks pretty interesting... It's amazing how limited our American culinary tastes are, even when we think we're being gourmet and eclectic. I saw this a week ago or so and thought it might be fun to do. I don’t drink, which strikes several from the list, it gives me immediate migraines. Otherwise – it looks pretty interesting…

It’s amazing how limited our American culinary tastes are, even when we think we’re being gourmet and eclectic.

]]> By: Ilya http://burlaki.com/blog/2008/08/21/food-tasting-meme/comment-page-1/#comment-1898 Ilya Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:38:22 +0000 http://burlaki.com/blog/?p=631#comment-1898 I am definitely not a stereotypical person when it comes to sweets; most of the people in my family - and amongst my Russian friends - have very proper sweet tooths. Me, I somehow never developed one - and don't feel the need. I can have an occasional treat - be it ice cream, doughnut or a chocolate - but never feel the urge. And, seriously, I have one of the healthiest sets of teeth of anyone that I know :) There is one single cake, made according to my late grandmother's recipe, that Natasha diligently learned while she had the opportunity, that I can eat in large quantities. It is moderately sweet. I suppose that it has such strong childhood memories associated with it that my tastebuds do not treat it as a sweet... I am not sure I am qualified to answer your question about comparative sweetness of Russian desserts, Jason. I'll ask Natasha to render her opinion when we get back from Italy. I am definitely not a stereotypical person when it comes to sweets; most of the people in my family – and amongst my Russian friends – have very proper sweet tooths. Me, I somehow never developed one – and don’t feel the need. I can have an occasional treat – be it ice cream, doughnut or a chocolate – but never feel the urge. And, seriously, I have one of the healthiest sets of teeth of anyone that I know :)

There is one single cake, made according to my late grandmother’s recipe, that Natasha diligently learned while she had the opportunity, that I can eat in large quantities. It is moderately sweet. I suppose that it has such strong childhood memories associated with it that my tastebuds do not treat it as a sweet…

I am not sure I am qualified to answer your question about comparative sweetness of Russian desserts, Jason. I’ll ask Natasha to render her opinion when we get back from Italy.

]]> By: jason http://burlaki.com/blog/2008/08/21/food-tasting-meme/comment-page-1/#comment-1896 jason Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:12:02 +0000 http://burlaki.com/blog/?p=631#comment-1896 I find your abhorrence of sweets interesting... I'm surrounded by sweet tooths here in Utah (I suspect it's because every other conceivable vice is banned or strongly discouraged by the locally dominant faith) and I myself like a lot of sugary things I'd be healthier without (although I have my limits -- most of the sticky-gooey-9000-calorie desserts at chain restaurants make me ill). I guess I'm wondering if this is an individual thing with you or if it's possibly a Russian cultural thing. In my experience, European desserts and treats tend to be much less sweet than American ones, so perhaps Russia is even less so? Any thoughts? I find your abhorrence of sweets interesting… I’m surrounded by sweet tooths here in Utah (I suspect it’s because every other conceivable vice is banned or strongly discouraged by the locally dominant faith) and I myself like a lot of sugary things I’d be healthier without (although I have my limits — most of the sticky-gooey-9000-calorie desserts at chain restaurants make me ill). I guess I’m wondering if this is an individual thing with you or if it’s possibly a Russian cultural thing. In my experience, European desserts and treats tend to be much less sweet than American ones, so perhaps Russia is even less so? Any thoughts?

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